I am constantly amazed by some of the differences between the US and the other places I see, particularly where I live in Germany.  Living abroad helps me recognize how some things that I grew up with and was accustomed to in the US are simply crazy compared to the rest of the world.

On my 45-mile drive to work here in the US, I usually witness one of the biggest waste of tax money ever: between 1 and 3 cops hiding in the trees, waiting to catch unsuspecting speeders breaking the law.  In the evenings, on the way back home, that number increases to at least 2-4 cops, sometimes more.

Is this a dangerous stretch of road?  No.  Are there any hidden dangers that the cops are trying to protect us citizens from? No.  This particular road is (like many in the US) well maintained and practically straight as an arrow.  I guess someone, somewhere thinks that the police in this area should be doling out traffic tickets and hiding in the forest – it’s a high priority.  Compare that to Germany: the police there somehow have better things to do with thier time (investigating crimes, responding to calls, etc – things that fall under “policing”).  I have never once seen a cop hiding in the bushes with a radar gun.  Here, its the norm – but it simply isn’t in the rest of the world.

So anyway, I think it’s just CRAZY that police here have been reduced to the equivalent of talking speed cameras, and everyone here puts up with it.  What a waste.

Last night I walked to a nearby pub (at least a mile away, like everything here).  On the way I saw FOUR cops.  FOUR.  In one mile.  What the hell were they doing?  Who knows, but I certainly felt a lot safer knowing that there were FOUR cops nearby ready to ticket me for jaywalking.