What Is the World Coming To?

I saw a story on the television news last week, that I didn’t think much of when I was watching, but afterwards got me thinking.

The gist of the story is a man, apparently driving a hybrid, was at a public place, and was concerned he didn’t have enough charge in his car to get home. So, he saw an outlet and plugged the vehicle up.

Later, the man was arrested. He claims he used a nickel’s worth of energy, and that the authorities were overstepping their bounds to arrest him. I think the incident occurred at a school where he was picking up his son.

The TV went to take a poll on whether viewers thought it was overkill that he was arrested.

As I said, when I first saw it I gave it little thought. But it has given me pause since then. The man is quoted as saying it’s a nickel’s worth of energy.

I don’t know how long the vehicle was plugged up, what kind of outlet it was, or anything about a hybrid. I do know electricity is not free.

I got to thinking, what if his son took a piece of bubble gum at the store without paying for it. Would he have done anything wrong? It’s only worth a nickel.

The overwhelming majority of people who had commented at the time said the arrest was overkill. Perhaps it was.

But, where I learned about right and wrong, true and false, and taking what is not yours, it is wrong whether it costs one cent or a great deal more.

I think I’m old now. I’m having one of those what is the world coming to moments.

But, really, is there any question it was wrong? I mean, he took something that wasn’t his, without asking or compensating the owner, and saw nothing wrong with it.

And, the vast majority of viewers thought the arrest was overkill.

Where I come from, he stole electricity. And, it doesn’t matter how little he took…it wasn’t his.

Call me old-fashioned, call me a prude, and if the responding audience is any indication, I’m definitely in the minority, but wrong is wrong.

What do you think? Go to our Facebook page, or e-mail or call us, or even write a letter to the editor. I’m curious.

Is the value system I was raised with out of date? I’d love to hear from you.