tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098620.post5194971878275953766..comments2024-03-15T04:02:42.341-04:00Comments on CrimLaw: Comment Cavalcade (2): On LawsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098620.post-56263355821333290312009-01-18T12:09:00.000-05:002009-01-18T12:09:00.000-05:00Your notion of morality in obedience to unjust law...Your notion of morality in obedience to unjust laws would require that men be angels, or more accurately docile puppies that can be led around by the nose. <BR/><BR/>When the officials who make the laws are immoral and the majority of voters who elect them are casting votes without rational thought [See <I>The Myth of the Rational Voter</I> by Bryan Caplan] ordinary mortals must and will go about their business as best they are able.<BR/><BR/>If the traffic is going 40 mph where the speed limit is 30 but would be 40 if it were set according to traffic engineering standards rather than revenue raising goals, moving with the traffic is not only the moral thing to do, it is the safe thing to do.<BR/><BR/>Shortening the yellow cycle in order to get more camera violations is certainly an immoral act by the officials who do it. There is no moral question at all of the violator because he has been entrapped. Try as he might, if he is the first car in the line he cannot stop in time to obey the light. If justice were to prevail in this situation the officials who decreed the shortened yellow cycle would be prosecuted for every accident caused by the nefarious malfeasance. <BR/><BR/>If you are so worried about moral behavior I wish you would focus your attention where it is most needed: public officials who violate their trust with the people they work for.<BR/><BR/>I am not swayed by the argument that in a republic people get the government they deserve. Perhaps the majority who regularly vote scoundrels into office when they should be throwing them out do deserve the government they get. But I and a lot of other people are not in that majority and we don't deserve any of it.Flash Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15961777081207590217noreply@blogger.com