That is, when one of our members is offended by the presense or
actions of another, or by the whole of humanity, and vica versa. Every law that
I can think of addresses this point.
First, there many forms of offense that are not addressed by law.
Second, there are many laws that do not address offense of one member of society by another. I am thinking, for example, of the building codes that prohibit me from building a straw bale house on my property even where it is completely hidden from everyone else and I am the only person who is going to live there. These houses are proveably safe, but in most jurisdictions the building lobby prevents their being built because they are cheap and don't require builders.
There are many other laws that are only marginally, if at all, related to "one of our members is offended by the presense or
actions of another, or by the whole of humanity." It's a law that you can't run for President until you're 35 years old. Who would be offended by somebody running for President who was 34? Just don't vote for them! Who is offended if I want somebody who isn't licensed as a barber to cut my hair for me? And on and on.
I agree with you that our major substantive laws--against murder, theft, rape, etc.--are of that kind. But we have gone far, far, far beyond that. In, I believe, error, but who in the government cares what I think? |
