Driving one day in Geneva years ago, I met a “traffic jam” at a popular junction. Everyone was maneuvering to get ahead. Chaos. Car horns were honking (unbelievable!). Was I in Lagos? The problem: both the traffic light and the traffic camera that catches violations broke down.

Once everyone could see that the mechanism that enforced order and accountability wasn’t functioning, human nature took over. An illuminating moment. The Swiss are an ordered society. But that’s because the law is enforced if you break it.If you break a traffic rule you won’t

see police anywhere except there is an accident. But the cameras capture your vehicle number and you promptly received notice of a fine in your mail box. If you fail to pay it, life can get, well, uncomfortable and complicated! That’s how and why functioning societies work.

Accountability. Consequences. In some countries, police will show up, make a show of admonishing you, then tap your window. As you wind down, he will lean into your car, his hands inside your car and out of public view. You might “greet” him, “beg” him, or argue! #WhyWeArePoor