| Interesting conflicts of interest......Anyway, the coercive power of the state does not vitiate its enactments. Coercive force is employed when an action is considered socially harmful enough to criminalize it. Otherwise, it remains a matter of civil law or informal social sanction. Laws may be just or unjust, but they are not automatically unjust because of the use of force, or it would be wrong to punish a thief or murderer. Democratic deliberation, including the ability of interested parties to petition the legislature, testify before committees, and lobby for their point of view, is the best means we have available to pursue good policy and ensure against the charge of partiality. We generally accept the right of the legislature to enact laws, even when we disagree with the law, because someone has to decide. Thus, it is no small point that the increase in taxation has occurred within the rules of democratic governance, and it is, in the end, silly to stress that one can be punished for non- compliance with the tax collector........... |
