[traviskicks]

"Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against - then you'll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens' What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."
- Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, 1957.

[traviskicks]

3 years old, but...

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.

[Rocky]

Excellent quote from Atlas Shrugged. It captures the attitude of politicians, judges, bureaucrats, and activists of special interest groups today. It’s why our society is so screwed up.

[Lusis]

If this isn’t argument against Homeowner’s Associations, I don’t know what is.

[FFranco]

I heard or read somewhere (I can’t give a source) that the average American breaks 12 laws a day. I know I violate traffic laws every day, including speeding, failure to signal, not always turning into the right lane, etc.

Where I live, we had a traffic cop who would ticket anyone going even 1 mile over the speed limit. His attitude was the law’s the law.

Code enforcement and zoning laws are the worst. They can measure the height of your grass, and ticket you if it’s a tenth of an inch too high, They can force you to plant a lawn even if you don’t want to. The best solution is to live in an unincorporated area, but then you can be annexed and lose your freedom.

[muir_redwoods]

"“No big deal,” King says. “We waived. He seemed fairly nice.”

A minor point but this is an example of why the writing in newspapers is so careless

[FreedomPoster]

That’s the first quote on my profile page.

The other quote that works here:

In a mature society, “civil servant” is semantically equal to “civil master.”

— R. A. Heinlein

Our society has become far too mature.