The bus is an everyman’s transportation
and a quintessential socialist device.
The passengers have to sacrifice
direct access to their destination
In favor of economic protection
and environmental preservation.
If the bus were to stop for every individual
the ride would be interminable.
So we surrender a few minutes
for everyone’s benefit.
My socialism is synonymous with this cooperation.
Where we donate part of our wealth
to the common wealth.
In a $10,000 car, by yourself, you worry.
You control your arrival time
and your accident rate.
On a bus, with others, you relax.
You watch your fellow people,
your passengers of life.
The couple holding hands
The person giving up their seat
The beautiful girl with the lingering perfume
The man who shares his paper with you.
And for one brief moment
we all realize
That we are all heading in basically
the same direction,
That it is more efficient to work together,
That we can’t live in the isolation
of $50,000 automobiles,
And that where we are going is not as important
as those we go with.