Beware the Good Samaritan

[divvy]

The Good Samaritan

Have you ever been stopped in traffic near a busy intersection when a “Good Samaritan” was waving someone across two lanes of traffic and a left turn lane? What we actually have here is one fucking idiot trying to help a second fucking idiot endanger the rest of us.

The first fucking idiot is really an attention seeker. Their ego will hump and swell at the thought of getting a pat on the back from a total stranger for being “good”. The second fucking idiot is too stupid to realize that they should not be attempting a left hand turn at all. Even if the idea of turning right first and then finding a better spot to turn around enters their feeble mind, they will quickly dismiss it as an inconvenience.

So off we go. The first fucking idiot spots a second fucking idiot with their left turn signal on. Seeking their pathetic affirmation, the first fucking idiot stops backs up traffic which screws everyone else who is behind them. The line of traffic behind the first fucking idiot now blocks the sight of the two adjacent lanes. The second fucking idiot can only see a smiling face behind the wheel with a hand waving them through. The second fucking idiot pulls out and suddenly discovers that there is a car in the next lane coming fast. The squeal of rubber encourages the second fucking idiot to step on the gas when suddenly, to his dissatisfaction, he discovers there is another car careening towards him in the left turn lane. With panic, our second fucking idiot goes for broke and floors it. He soon discovers that both lanes he is trying to merge into are filled with cars busy accelerating from the traffic light. There is a gigantic collision resulting in an explosion of parts and a half dozen innocent people get injured. Why?

Because fucking Idiot number 1 needs a little love and affirmation. They are politically correct so they don’t want to see idiot #2 sit there until they learn safe driving skills; especially when there is a public ego boosting affirmation of their love and generosity at hand. In reality, this fucking idiot has no morals because they live to serve their own image. Good is only whatever makes them feel better. Fucking idiot #2 is less culpable because they are really too stupid to be called an idiot.

So what does this have to do with the health care debate and politics in general? You mean to say that the politically correct really endanger us all by enabling stupidity?

[rfranklin]

1. I believe that in my state of NJ you are liable for accidents if you wave someone on...

You have taken responsibility for whatever collision happens when you direct traffic.

[divvy]

2. As it should be. I was really writing about the perils of the Good Samaritan in politcs.

maybe it was not very clear. But, they still have the same effect only without the liability.

[Duer 157099]

3. Wow. I thought this post was really about driver's education

Because I know exactly what you mean and totally agree, even if I have been guilty of being The Good Samaritan, although I take care to not do it in the situations you describe. But I see plenty of others who do.

But it applies just as well to the health care debate, good one.

:thumbsup:

[Uncle Joe]

4. What is your definition of politically correct? n/t

[divvy]

6. Well ...

I was thinking about folks who really have no convictions. They just want to be nice, or to appear good. This leads them to say things like "oh we must not stoop to their level" or "we must be above all that" when dealing with hoodlums.

We are getting REALLY bad at fighting. More people today believe that global warming is a hoax because of the republicans PR campaigns. A meer 2 years ago, it was the other way around.

Same with the health care debate. We are letting the stupid dictate the best plan because we want to be nice.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Would the Good Samaritan believe in

Universal Coverage; aka Medicare for everyone from the cradle to the grave or a for profit insurance industry?

[divvy]

8. I would say that the good samaritan does not have morals

The good samaritan only knows that the want to be nice. They really know nothing about issues, and would be unwilling to fight for any position. They just want to be nice, and loved.

Those stuck in line behind the good samaritan are the ones with knowlege of the issues. Any for profit insurance industry will require heavy regulation to keep from bankrupting us all. One way would be to have a public option, another may be for a single payer. We never get to that because a few of us are too busy holding the rest back and waving idiots through out of turn.

[Uncle Joe]

11. From your definition it sounds like the for profit insurance industry would not be Good Samaritans,

because if they just wanted to be nice and loved, they wouldn't be trying to bankrupt us all.

[Bluerthanblue]

12. wow.... your definition of good samaritan says

more about you than you than you may realize.

The entire concept of "health care for all" is one which is embodied by the need for empathy- the need to 'do the right thing' even if it costs you- and you don't personally benefit.

:shrug:

Just because something is unpopular, and difficult doesn't mean you should avoid doing it. ???

[WeDidIt]

5. Most states will hold the waver responsible for any accidents

I've waved people on. It's a common practice, but you do it under the right circumstances.

Coming up to a red light where there is an entrance onto the road from a business and somebody is stopped there waiting to get into traffic. Light's red, you'd be the one blocking their access, being nice says wave them on to get into traffic before the light turns green. I've done it many times. Nothing at all wrong with that.

But the multi-lane waver onners are SOBs that deserve what they get when they are held financially liable for their wrecklessness.

[Fla_Democrat]

9. Sounds fucking idiotic

:evilgrin:

[Fumesucker]

10. They've gotten the decaf to the point it tastes almost as good these days.. n/t

[JackRiddler]

13. I'm glad you've got a looooong strictly metaphorical story that helps you to think.

It may not correspond to anything real, but if you think it does, it liberates you from thinking about anything else.

Facts, logic, reality... that stuff just gets in the way.

Let's leave history, economics and philosophy to the eggheads, shall we? Everything you need to know about political strategy may be found in Aesop's Fables.*

But, brevity, you know? Soul of wit.

Let's boil it down to what you're really saying:

Always turn right. Left turns don't exist.

---

(* - actually, you could do with a few lessons from The Art of War.)