No Rule Of Thumb!

 

This week governments are our topic. Especially the laws they enact and enforce. Without any guide rule, whatever the people will bear doing without, can become against the law to possess or do. Any penalty can be imposed too that the people will allow those convicted to suffer. Entire businesses can become criminalized if the population ruled will condone it. 

Without a rule of thumb, what can a ruler decree as outlawed? What can become criminalized? What can be required by the people by penalty of law? Anything! A lawgiver has carte blanche when it comes to making rules where there is no guide rule. Even eating eggs can be criminalized. Selling eggs could be a major crime with a task force to look into it. Isn't that what happened during the prohibition of alcohol. An entire industry was outlawed to protect the people from the horrors of alcohol consumption. Public nudity, gambling, drugs, and sexual services are all likewise prohibited to protect the people, granting crime very profitable businesses to indulge in. 

What is the penalty for eating eggs in our hypothetical example? Anything the ruler thinks people will allow. If the king decrees execution shall be the penalty for selling eggs and 25 to life the sentence for eating eggs that would be similar to current thinking about the drug laws. People get locked up every day for choosing to get high instead of getting drunk. Drug dealers are treated like public enemies! In the name of God obey the king...

Is this too hard to see? Is it beyond understanding that the religions outlawed sex outside marriage, and nudity, and taught obedience to local rulers who then outlawed things as vice that they did not want the people free to indulge in? What is even harder to remember is the people were illiterate peasants when this was done. When will the people say enough is enough. Get the golden rule to be harmless as the guide in lawmaking. No more edicts, decrees, or simple majority rules!