09-28-2016, 04:46 AM
(09-28-2016, 04:43 AM)taramarie Wrote:(09-28-2016, 04:29 AM)Galen Wrote:Hm I did not know that. The only thing I can think of that is ignored here is the law against drugs like marijuana and P. Those two drugs are quite common here and most people ignore that law. Even i have tried it once (marijuana)....boy that was interesting experience and for some reason hilarious! I would not have thought though that it would lead to other forms of lawlessness. There is an anti child smacking policy here as it is viewed as abuse. Some think it is nonsense and continue to do it anyway. I do think that is an invasive law.(09-28-2016, 04:17 AM)taramarie Wrote:(09-28-2016, 03:58 AM)Galen Wrote:Yes I agree. Thinking about it in my DM to you I realized it is a lot easier to enforce certain laws only if people think and act in a certain way anyway. Our mindset already is not a gun happy one (when compared to America or certain states in America anyway....noting the differences state by state!) Culturally we are friendly if shy and you never really hear of anything to do with guns. It is more of a private thing people have rather than a whole debate on it. I would be amazed if America actually began to have that mindset given 1. each state is different and 2. the history is quite different and 3. the constitution and 4. it is viewed by many as their control of the government and therefore their freedom. We do not have anything in common in that regard. NZ was founded on people looking to start a new life somewhere exotic who were on good terms with mother England. We do not have the same connection with guns and it is not viewed as a necessity. We do not have the division so laws apply to all and it is not separated state by state as we are one nation. I am skeptical about laws destroying a culture. I cannot think of any law here that has done that so far. Maybe in somewhere like America that demands its freedom.(09-28-2016, 03:19 AM)taramarie Wrote: Well defective maybe in America. Here we have strict laws which most of the time also do work. I feel quite safe here. Different culture and the strict laws tend to keep us safe.
Culture has more to do with it than laws. If anything more laws tend to destroy the culture. I suggest reading Our Enemy the State which will give you an idea of the process as it took place in the US even though it can happen anywhere. Social convention is a surprisingly powerful way for societies to organize themselves. According to evolution life does this all of the time.
Think of the effect that Prohibition, War on Drugs and Civil Forfeiture have had on attitudes. They are all recognized as being unjust by very large segments of the population. They are ignored and evaded as much as possible and that attitude tends to spread to other laws. The average American commits commit three felonies a day. When that happens its more a matter of trying to avoid punishment rather than trying to be a law abiding person.
Take a look at the Code of Federal Regulations sometime and its growth and the problem becomes clear.
NZ is simply saner than the US at the current time. Definitely won't improve in the near term.
Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard. -- H.L. Mencken
If one rejects laissez faire on account of man's fallibility and moral weakness, one must for the same reason also reject every kind of government action. -- Ludwig von Mises
If one rejects laissez faire on account of man's fallibility and moral weakness, one must for the same reason also reject every kind of government action. -- Ludwig von Mises