Yes, I think of that quote often. The thing is, it’s impossible to even know if you are breaking a law or not. Your mind literally cannot comprehend that much information. (Consider that the average person knows about 3,000 words in their native language, and 5,000 if they’re well educated, like say, a journalist).
In Colorado it’s a felony to say something negative/disparaging about the beef industry (there are laws in several state that are similar, known as “veggie Libel Laws”). After SB 510 (The food Safety Act), was passed I found out that it’s illegal to give a tomato (food)plant from one person to another, it’s considered smuggling. Also, until 2 years ago in my state it was illegal to collect rain water, but a businessman was charged and it was fought out, so now you can, if you get a license, but only a small amount (so many gallons).
Arguing in front of a child in this state is a Felony child abuse, also. The thing is, that people think there’s no laws being broken, because few people are charged. But once an agency/person wants to charge you, they look up every possible item they can charge you with. It’s not that you don’t commit felonies, it’s that you don’t know they are even there to begin with. The cops don’t even know them, they have to look them up.
I’m not saying people have to be worried someone will jump out and arrest them at every corner, I’m saying people need to wake up the that fact that as soon as people said it’s ok to take a Felon’s rights, (As in the Any Rand quote), the race was on to turn EVERYTHING into a felony. And that’s what people need to be concerned about. As soon as people say it’s ok for x class to be treated differently, everyone soon falls into an x class. Need more proof, look at hate crimes. Virtually anything can be construed as a hate crime, but it’s never used against people who commit a crime against a say middle class white man. But if someone else, say, a lesbian black woman, is the victim, it’s suddenly a hate crime, added on, with a more excessive punishment. That’s the goal, and I just think people NEED to understand that.
Good post!
I wish I had the time to give you a better response but suffice it to say, I agree with all you wrote.