[_Jim]

I guess there shouldn't be any civil laws at all?

Eventually, with all other things being equal - yes.

It *really* is in the best interest of everyone that no one cheat, lie, fabricate, employ hyperbole, obfuscate the facts, et cetra.

But, we live in world where not every one behaves honestly. Therefore, we establish 'rules' with penalties.

I Still believe that better choices - exercised by a LOT more people - would eventually expose those employers that cheat, those businesses that swindle, those organizations seek to dishonestly do business.

At heart - I am a Libertarian. In practice, however, I will see enacted that legislation that allows our society to 'function' ...

[Dog Gone]

In most cases I think that the free market does enact its own penalties, and leads to better choices. The company I work for today does allow me to sell its stock contributions, for example, and no law requires them to do so.

But a law requiring them to do so wouldn't cost the company a cent, and it would prevent someone from having a sizeable portion of their retirement savings locked into a single stock, something which is universally regarded as imprudent.

Laws which require people or companies to behave in ways that we would expect them to if they were good citizens are NOT bad laws.