On the morning of April 1, when I arrived at the Metra station, there was a police officer enforcing compliance with the new law governing the crossing of railroad tracks.
It wasn’t “April Fool”; it really was the Nanny State, represented by armed force, ready to ticket me and force me to do community service for failure to conduct myself in a government-approved manner at a railroad crossing.
The next two days two cops were assigned to this duty. For almost five decades I have crossed railroad tracks without government help, and I resent now being treated like an irresponsible child.
If I have to enter a dangerous neighborhood, or if someone threatens my life, will the police be there to protect me? When danger threatens from others, I’m on my own, but when the only danger would be my own carelessness, the government leaps into action to protect me from myself. When will “we the people” demand that government return to its proper, limited role in our lives?
Today, the Nanny State; tomorrow, the Police State. Let’s stop it now while we still can.
