Don't Back Down

I'm driving to work today. As usual, there's a pretty big backup prior to reaching a particular business park. Starting a few months ago, a member of the Charlotte police department (or some similar organization) started directing traffic outside this business park. He stands near his truck in the mornings, listening to the radio with his headphones on, pretty much oblivious to the goings on of the world around him.

Every so often, the traffic guy steps into the street and blocks traffic so some cars can turn left into the business park and other cars can turn left out of the business park. Invariably, this slows down the oncoming traffic in at least one direction (generally the one that I am traveling). It's annoying, but I figured the guy must be doing some useful service or they wouldn't have him there. Surely he's useful, right?

Wrong. This morning traffic was worse than usual. The only reason I really noticed is because yesterday morning traffic was awesome. And the human traffic signal was nowhere in sight. Sure, I was on the road a couple minutes early, but no way could that account for the difference. So we have an instance where intervention actually makes things worse. Why is it that most people don't look forward to see the effect of their actions, but only look at solving the immediate problem, with no regard for any other consequences?

On a positive note, while waiting in line, I did get to see a man walking through a parking lot. Not necessarily unusual, I noticed the man was vigorously swinging his arms back in forth. Luckily I had a bit more time than usual (see prior paragraphs), so I took some time to look more closely. Turns out he had a cane in his hands that he was swinging all about him.

With even closer inspection, I notice the cane has a red tip, and the man is wearing dark glasses. The evidence points towards this being a blind man. But why in the world would a blind man walk through a parking lot swinging his cane back and forth? That seems like the last person in the world you'd want to be wildly swinging a cane! Unfortunately, I didn't have time to stop and chat, as the traffic guy decided it was time for my lane to move again. Maybe I'll see the blind guy again tomorrow and can find out what he was hoping to accomplish. I hope the traffic guy is there again so I have the chance.