Well everyone, I saw a new low in human behavior today, something that is hard to get over. Sitting behind a Suburban in traffic on Karcher Road, we were waiting to get through the light in front of the Edwards Cineplex in Nampa, the two men in the car in front of us decided to empty their ashtray on the street

Those of us old enough remember when littering was not the big deal it is today. Of course any of us with scruples, no matter how accepted the practice was, did not do it. But thankfully, it has become enough of an issue that rarely will you see someone intentionally throw something out their car window. One look at our roadsides and you have to admit that it is not because we are better people, it is because no one wants to get caught adding to the garbage along our highways. It is still there, probably done in the wee hours.

Well these two gentleman had no scruples, and no care for getting caught. It was the middle of the afternoon, they were on a main thoroughfare, traveling at a very low speed (inching forward in traffic) and the passenger held his arm out the window and proceeded to dump the ashtray on the side of the road. Because we were moving at such a slow rate, the pile of cigarettes stretched for a good five to eight feet. It was disgusting!

I have no opinion on whether people smoke in their cars or not, I believe in freedom in our own spaces. But I also believe in my right to enjoy the beauty of our area, unimpeded by someone's lack of total social responsibility. I don't want what had to be at least a year's worth of old cigarettes littering the side of the highway that I travel almost every day. And in this day and age, in the middle of the day, who would think someone capable of such a thing with no regard for all the cars lined up around him?

I am a firm believer in less government, and more social conscience, but when you see idiots like this you almost understand some of the argument. The problem is, you can't regulate common sense, or decency, or basic manners, and there will always be idiots to remind us of this. I don't want more laws, but I swear, if I could have, I would have chased them down and made a citizen's arrest! (Of course the way things go, I would be in trouble for violating their rights somehow!) Gotta love our political correct society!