"Legality, alone, cannot be the talisman of moral people." - Walter E. Williams
"How does something immoral, when done privately, become moral when it is done collectively? Furthermore, does legality establish morality? Slavery was legal; apartheid is legal; Stalinist, Nazi, and Maoist purges were legal. Clearly, the fact of legality does not justify these crimes. Legality, alone, cannot be the talisman of moral people." - Walter E. Williams
While the US has been the closest thing to natural rights with law, there are many exceptions that start nearly immediately after the constitution was signed. The primary differences were people would not accept those laws, and the courts supported the peoples natural rights when they fought back against an unjust government, well the exception of forcing whiskey drinkers to pay for the revolutionary war, that seemed to be OK even then.
http://www.my-west.com/books/tag/hips...
Hipshot Percussion summed it up in one sentence:
"Just because it's the law, don't make it right."
Just because something is legal doesn't mean it's the correct thing to do.
Look at the Constitution. It is an incredibly short document for all its scope. That power of implementation comes because of the principles of natural law upon which it was written - laws which are simple and intuitive. Look at the legislation we have so many problems with - from the Patriot Act to the ACA! These are monstrosities simply because they were worded in such a manner as to avoid being principles-based.
I don't recall seeing much tort reform in the ACA. John Edwards' (remember him?) $300 haircut comes to mind. Some working stiffs health care bill had that covered.
I don't think these things happen all at once, but eventually they get entrenched. I figure if the plumbers and electricians unions were in charge it would only be a matter of time before you'd have to hire a licensed plumber to fix a leaky faucet or a licensed electrician to change a light bulb. Oh wait, actually, the town code where I live is almost that bad.
Blarman, you left out the convoluted tax code. As blustery as Ted Cruz gets about eliminating the IRS, it'll never happen. Would anyone here really think one set of attorneys (legislators) will eliminate the income stream of another set of attorneys (tax lawyers)? Does anyone here think whole industries like H&R Block et al and their shareholders will just go away without a screaming fight in the courts? About 15 years ago I read an article that showed it cost this nation about $800 BILLION per year to comply with the tax code, which included costs from individuals to the biggest corporations. That's a lot of transaction where nothing is actually produced. I figure today it's up to a cool TRILLION. I don't think the beneficiaries of that legislated government teat are going to give it up. Eliminating the welfare state would probably be easier. Just sayin'.
Edit: I forgot to add: As put to me by one of my lawyer friends, who was getting tired of lawyer jokes: If the people don't want lawyers drawing up the laws, then don't vote them into office. Good luck with that.
I agree with you about the burden of government as well. I think the current economic burden of government regulations is $2 TRILLION annually. You said it well when you said "That's a lot of transaction where nothing is actually produced."
legal is also moral, and sometimes not. . they are
two different worlds, and each deserves its requisite
respect. . morality -- reverence;;; legality -- skepticism. -- j
.
I'm also expecting to hear the following~
Oh, but it's the law! What's wrong with you? You belong in jail!
What you better do is shut up and sit down!