It is the holiday season again, and this is the time of year when I conduct my annual White Elephant gift exchange. Every year there is at least one student who tries to fudge the rules and cheat just a little bit by giving a second hand gift, or having mom go out and choose something stupid.
The rules are very clear: 1) Buy a gift valued between NTxxxx and NTxxxx. 2) Choose the gift yourself. 3) Choose a gift you wouldn't mind getting yourself.
These simple rules outline a sort of Rawlsian idea of Justice as Fairness and I can often use it as an example to teach some very basic ideas about justice, law and following even the little rules.
I will choose some examples in society where people try to "cheat" just a little bit and decide to break a small rule, that can have dire consequences. I usually choose construction codes and traffic.
Someone had decided to blow a red light, because they were in a hurry, and killed her aunty.
As a cyclist this really strikes a nerve. I am even more upset when I think about how the government spends money on cycling tourism over making an overall riding environment that is safer by enforcing the laws and managing safe bikeways.
I am sure this is "bad voodoo", but here is a sample of just some of the stories that have been circulating over the past month or so from the English speaking press.
Taiwan's traffic situation is much worse.
- Texas Cyclist seriously hurt.
- Washington County cyclist killed in Oregon crash.
- Hawaii Pacific cyclist killed on bike.
- Hit-and-Run Driver Let off.
- New Zealand Woman gets life ... of self-haterd after killing three cyclists.
- Aussie Drunk Kills Cyclist.
- Five New Zealand cyclists killed in one week.
- 15 yo. Vancouver rider in serious condition after being struck by a car.
- Cycling brothers killed in collision.
- Seven Italian cyclists killed in head-on collision with a car.
- Dead cyclist gets... a memorial.
- Dead cyclist's family gets... settlement.
- Widower rides century for wife killed by car.
- Baltimore family gets cash for cyclist's life.
- Cyclist injured in collision with a van.
- Cyclist hit, driver flees.
- 5 cyclists die in five days.
- Boy almost becomes 6th victim in recent spate of cycling deaths.
- "Dad's Army" Cyclist Killed.
- Riders stage tribute to fallen rider in Redlands.
- Driver gets 90 days in hit and run.
- Louisville man guilty in cyclist's death.
- Los Altos woman killed on bike.
- Vancouver cyclist injured by car.
- Injured cyclist eager to trade millions for his old life.
- No charges brought in Montreal cycling deaths.
- Dead cyclist identified.
- Cyclist fatally doored in Harlem.
- Another cyclist from club dies beneath auto.
