The Law

Bad Behavior

People aren't well-behaved because we pass laws against bad behavior. We pass laws against bad behavior because people behave badly.

We're a nation of laws partly because we are often not individuals of principle. If I need a law to tell me not to do something, then I must not hold any values or sense of right and wrong that would prevent me from behaving a certain way. Hundreds, if not thousands, of laws are passed every year in an attempt to get people and companies to play fair and “do the right thing”, whatever that means. From Congress down to local municipalities we are constantly trying to make it a level playing field. Of course, we teach our kids that “life isn't fair”, just in case. 

If it's legal, or illegal, it absolves me of any responsibility for thinking about the consequences of my actions. I become a ward of the state, unable to determine the best course without a statute to promote or prevent my behavior. 

Ironically, people have known pretty much how to get along with each other for quite some time. Morality existed long before it was codified. When Moses supposedly came down with the 10 commandments, I doubt the Hebrews were aghast to find out that killing was bad and that stealing was bad and an embarrassingly limited number of other things were verboten.

Sarcasm aside, people started determining the “rules” for living with each other long before anyone wrote them down. 

We use laws or a lack of laws as excuses for our bad behavior. Spiritual folk often blame it on the devil. (I'm reminded of Flip Wilson)