Driving on the Wrong Side
September 3, 1967 was Högertrafikomläggningen in Sweden– the day they switched from driving on the left side of the road (as in the UK) to the right hand side of the road (as in Canada and all of Sweden’s neighbours). The switch occurred in the very early morning hours, as state and municipal employees raced madly about changing traffic signs and road markings, and at a given time, all traffic stopped, moved to the other side of the road, waited ten minutes, then in unison proceeded as they had never done before. Probably nobody but the Swedes could have pulled this off without mass confusion. (In Canada we joked that if we had done it, we would have phased it over several days, starting with trucks.)
As wonderful as the story is, I tell it mostly to illustrate a point, which is this: although some countries drive on the right, and others on the left, not one country in the world leaves it up to personal choice.
Which brings me to my second point: there are many such areas in our lives which are not amenable to untrammelled personal freedom of choice, COVID masks and social distancing being among them, notwithstanding the whining of Faux News and the like. If we’re going to be a civilized society, we need to have rules and conventions which everyone must follow for the sake of all the others.
By way of example, if you can smoke in public spaces, I lose my right to breathe clean air. Your liberty to ride a motorbike without a helmet impinges directly on my taxes and insurance costs. My freedom to drink and drive may cost you your life.
If I want to be a jerk at home, alone, that’s my business. But when my selfish actions cost you money, dignity, your safety, your life or the lives of future generations, then it becomes your business.
That’s the nature of a civilized society.