BullfrogKen
Moderator Emeritus
0to60 said:You're contradicting yourself. If the law, in some cases can even persuade, then it can stop evil people from doing evil things, at least in some cases. If you don't agree that laws can influence a person's behavior, then that throws into question much bigger things. If laws are ineffective, why have them at all? Do we even need a gov't at that point? I think that's a bit absurd. Laws obviously DO have some effect
No I'm not.
As in the traffic light analogy. The law stating that I must stop at a red light doesn't make me stop. I chose to comply.
The law persuades people to obey the speed limit (or more likely not exceed it too much). The penalties for speeding persuades most drivers to obey the law. But sometimes you'll see someone blow by you doing 90 in a 55.
The law didn't stop him. The most the law can do is punish him. He still drove 90 mph down the highway. He's done it before, and he may do it again if he thinks he might not get caught.
In it's most basic form the law exists to keep people within a civilization from pursuing their own "justice" when they - or their loved ones - are wronged. You see evidence of a lack of the rule of law when people involved in criminal enterprise exact justice on those who broke a contract, or didn't pay their bill, or did any number of things the court system will not use the law to bring someone to justice.
Don't pay my bill when I remodel your house? I'll serve you a summons to appear in civil court.
Sexually assault my daughter? The DA will charge you with a felony and prosecute.
Don't pay me for the drugs I fronted you to sell? I can't serve you to appear in civil court.
The law can only punish what society deems unacceptable behavior. It can never prevent it. Otherwise we'd have no rapes, or robberies, or murders now, would we?