justplainbil

Just Plain Bill

Law of Unintended Consequences

Several years ago, I heard a question that has intrigued me ever since. The question was, “What was one of the most important contributions to the settling of the Wild West of our great country?”

After guessing that it was the Colt pistol, the Winchester rifle, or several other “obvious” answers, I was amazed to learn that barbed wire was the top, consensus answer. My first reaction was one of astonishment, which was followed by doubt, until I read that the somewhat orderly control of livestock was of critical importance in the development of our open spaces. Up to that point, ordinary wire fences were of little value in keeping horses and cows under control.

Maintaining “control” in those days was critical to survival and for taming the Wild West.

Fast forwarding back to present day, I’m reminded of all the things that I, and millions of others, consider important to control.

I think of maintaining control while driving a car. I especially think of those things we do to ourselves to risk losing control…things that may inhibit our driving skills.

Because of my age, I can remember when cars did not have any power assist for brakes or steering. My first car – a 1937 Dodge – required some physical effort for doing both tasks efficiently. There was no way I could have been putting on make-up, drinking a hot cup of coffee, reading a paper or map, and especially no way I could be talking on a cell phone or texting while driving that ’37 Dodge. Even a steering aid called the suicide knob would not have allowed such liberties while controlling my car.