While driving home the other day, I saw a bumper sticker. It said something to the effect of:

Voting is like driving a car:

Put it in (R) to go backwards

Put it in (D) to go forwards.

Har har. Cute.

But it overlooks something.

You see, “R” and “D” only exist on a car with automatic transmission. You know… a mechanism that removes your need to think, to work. It alleviates you of responsibility, and takes control of your life and driving experience.

A manual transmission makes you do the work, makes you take responsibility. You have to pay more attention, but you have a closer relationship with the road, your driving, and the whole life experience. It’s far more satisfying.

But alas… these days, so few people know how to drive a manual transmission, have never experienced it, don’t know what they are missing, and are too willing to be satisfied by someone else being in control.

*sigh*

Your metaphor… it goes deeper than you think. 🙂