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To: MrLeRoy
"No, but let's also not complacently trust it to make "laws that are of benefit to all of the governed."

It's not just a matter of trust. It's how things are supposed to work. One function of law is to keep us from tearing each other limb from limb, and so at least to some degree we participate in the establishment of laws that protect us from each other much as a parent uses his/her authority to rule over the household. These laws supposedly embody the will of the people and the result is very much like parenting to the extent that it keeps a curb on ill behavior.

Good heavens. It's just a vague analogy here. There are many similarities between a society governed by laws and a household governed by parents. Lighten up.

252 posted on 09/23/2003 12:19:08 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew
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To: Fester Chugabrew
It's not just a matter of trust. It's how things are supposed to work.

To assume that the way things are supposed to work is the way things WILL work is trust---and a healthy mistrust of government is a cornerstone of conservatism.

One function of law is to keep us from tearing each other limb from limb

One person's drug use tears nobody else limb from limb.

253 posted on 09/23/2003 12:25:18 PM PDT by MrLeRoy (The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. - Jefferson)
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