"Lawful" Does Not Mean Moral

J.D. Tuccille writes:

Psychologists have put a lot of hard work over the years into mapping our moral development as we grow from childhood, into adolescence and then into adulthood. Part of becoming an adult is getting beyond the idea that the law is the ultimate arbiter of what is right and wrong. Adolescents think the law [is] the last word; adults understand that the law is always open to evaluation, and that good laws that respect individual rights should be obeyed, but bad laws that violate our rights should be opposed and defied.

This is a truth I wish every editor, publicist, teacher, preacher, and lecturer would keep hammering into American heads until they get it nailed fast there, never to come loose. It drives me to the point of insanity when I read comments defending police brutality or drug raids simply because it's "lawful." Of course, it's "lawful." The State is a territorial monopolist of law and ultimate decision-making. It can and does write the laws so that its behavior will be "lawful." Thus, the State can steal because it writes laws granting itself the power to tax. It can murder because it writes laws which allow it to declare war. Its agents can invade the homes of peaceful citizens and murder them and/or their pets because it writes laws making certain drugs illegal and then grants itself the right to search people's homes. Its agents also reserve the right to shoot innocent civilians and since the survivors can only come to the State to protest any of this behavior, it will say that its actions are "lawful." 

If Americans would quit worshipping the State, perhaps such common sense would finally penetrate their ossified intellects.

Comments

[Wolf]

Preach brother!!!

[Sal]

"...adults understand that the law is always open to evaluation, and that good laws that respect individual rights should be obeyed, but bad laws that violate our rights should be opposed and defied."

Might one venture to say that our country is then comprised primarily of adolescents?? :-)

Great post...Love the Nockian quote.