An Essay about Laws - Is It Utopia?

some little thing I was working on recently:

1. Dec 9, 2004
   
   Laws:
   
   There is a tendency to say that we live by the laws which we choose here in America, and I suppose this is also true for any where else in the world. If you are living in America though, there is an almost cultural understanding that “we are a nation of laws” and it is repeated often in any reference to any country outside ours as if Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin thought this idea up all by themselves for the first time.
   
   But they didn’t. And they knew it. But we are a nation of children seeing with eyes that can take no responsibility for our actions, and does not have a long attention span, and a sometimes mercifully short memory. We childishly destroy that which we do not understand or are afraid of, and dare to call ourselves “civilized”. Oh, there are those who understand this national interest and pastime of pretending we are better than the rest of the world as part of the game of life, as if it is rather amusing and clever that we get away with much in the world and profit from it too. Oh—profits—that could be another discussion, I suppose. But there are profits in our laws. Some, who would not otherwise profit, find ways to change the law, so that they might participate in the never-ending child’s play of “mine is bigger and better”.
   
   In the arrogance of men who must write local laws that include and at times, supercede, what I am simplistically calling God’s laws (and here you may choose any God’s or Goddess’s law, or indeed call upon any logic of laws that seem so obvious to hold true and generally covers the following: To not murder, to not steal, to not practice incestuous breeding, to not lie, to take care of your neighbors, resources and community.) But we have laws that allow most of these actions to occur, except incest. Everybody pretty much agrees on that one. Then we are told that we chose these laws by our living here and enjoying the fruits of those laws that protect us and give aid where needed.
   
   So given that idea, when did we choose? At birth? We are covered by and must submit to all the laws of this land before we are capable of understanding them. And I suppose, in theory, when we reach an age of legal majority, such as the age of 18 years, which is surprisingly young, if we continue to live here and abide by these laws (as best we can, for the law giveth and the law taketh away sometimes) then the choice has been made. But did you really choose or was it a matter of tradition and complacency? When you vote for a congessman or any political office, you are making a choice, but many of the greater public feel that choosing another to represent your choices is increasingly proving to be irrational or at the very least, not truly representative. While I understand the sheer mass numbers of items to be ruled on for so many cannot be continuously voted on by every individual, for we would be able to do nothing else and thus render some of need moot. However, it is the numbers of laws necessary to govern all matters of human living in this country that truly puzzles me at times. Why can’t it be simpler?
   1. NO KILLING – Not by individuals, not by the states, not by anyone.
   2. NO HURTING of people physically, except in life or death self defense. Hurting people emotionally or mentally, is to be avoided if possible, but if brought before the court of your peers, can be prosecutable. So think before you act or speak.
   3. NO STEALING – If by any action or transaction you are stealing from someone or some where, then you may not do that.
   A possible sub to #3, above, is NO Cheating. The shortcut is abhorrent unless it is a life and death matter. Keep all you dealings fair and above board.
   4. Tithe 10-15 percent to maintain public holdings and roads. A.k.a., a flat tax.
   5. Treat all individuals equally and fairly, as if they are your own selves. A.k.a., Do unto others…
   6. Allow everyone to move freely upon the planet.
   7. Freedom of expression, voting, and pretty much the Bill of Rights, as we know it.
   8. Basic Needs for ALL, including medical care.