Idling Along

The scene was beautiful this morning on our slow walk to the children's school and back. A nice dusting of pure white snow on the lawns contrasted nicely against the blacktop of the 'hood's streets. It was around zero or one degree Celsius and the air smelt fresh....mostly.

In front of a few homes we breathed in the stench of exhaust. Thick, choking, sulphurous, rotten egg with, in front of a few of the older clunkers, a hint of spicy, throat tickling, smell of burning oil. There were no drivers in sight.

I imagine that from the comfort of their homes they must have pushed those oh-so-convenient remote starter buttons so that, other than for the ten second walk to their car, there would be no need to submit their thin-skinned bodies to the harsh, near freezing, elements outside. My gosh how pampered we have become.

I am not sure whether there is an anti-idling by-law in our adopted hometown. If there is not there should be. And if there is it would be great if, every so often, for an hour or so, a town patrol car could drive around the neighbourhood and ticket the idlers. I am sure that in those cold, frigid, inhuman winter months they would catch a dozen people on every outing. Word would then start spreading that the city is ticketing idlers and it would have a positive impact (ie. a decreasing) on the number of needless polluters.

Since logic defies these people we may as well go after their pocket books. I am reasonably sure that they have the ability to subtract the fine from their bank account and get upset about it. Unfortunately the only way to instill change in these folks is still to make it hurt financially as education does not seem to work.

Let me know what you think about what you have just read. Please and thanks!