What’s mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have

been paved. There’s not a problem in America today, crime, drugs,

education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn’t be remedied, if we just

had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character. People that live

at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That

it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it’s worth it, if

at the end is home…a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.

We wouldn’t have near the trouble with our educational system if our

kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom

they learn how to get along. There was less crime in our streets before

they were paved.

Criminals didn’t walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew

they’d be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun. And

there were no drive by shootings.

Our values were better when our roads were worse! People did not worship

their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they

didn’t tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would

choke you with dust & bust your windshield with rocks. Dirt Roads taught

patience. Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn’t hop in

your car for a quart of milk, you walked to the barn for your milk. For

your mail, you walked to the mail box. What if it rained and the Dirt

Road got washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and

had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn, had a

pony ride on Daddy’s shoulders and learned how to make prettier

quilts than anybody. At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap.

Most paved roads lead to trouble. Dirt Roads more likely lead to a

fishing creek or a swimming hole.

At the end of a Dirt Road, the only time we even locked our car

was in August, because if we didn’t some neighbor would fill it with too

much zucchini. At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra

springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you’d have to

hitch up a team and pull them out. Usually you got a dollar… always

you got a new friend…at the end of a Dirt Road.

– Paul Harvey