Laws Grant Rights!?
October 2000

   Do you ever get angry when you listen or watch the news?  I often get angry, not just because many of the networks are extremely biased, but because the stories they report are scary in and of themselves.  One of these instances that made me stop and scream at the television occurred recently.  
   While working at my computer, I was listening to one of the major network's in the background.  The news story had to do with a lawsuit being brought against Mp3.com and other such Internet companies.  Somewhere in the story it was mentioned that a particular law "permitting" recording of non-commercial music did not apply to this situation because a computer is not used primarily for recording.  
   When did we start passing laws in order to PERMIT us to do things?  Have we really strayed so far from the true purpose of the law in the United States that we now believe that a law must be passed in order to grant citizens their rights?  
   No matter what your thoughts are on the recording and distribution of music over the Internet, when we start issuing laws that "permit" us to do things, then I fear we have gone done a road from which it may be nearly impossible to return.  
   What is the true purpose of a law?  The purpose of a law should be to punish actions that would be an offense to one's life, liberty, and property. Anything beyond this basic purpose is a dangerous perversion of the law.  
   Unfortunately, most laws passed in recent history are doing just the opposite as they are suppose to be doing.  Legislators are passing more and more laws that benefit only certain people.  This type of selective plunder is a  sure sign of communistic socialism.  Whenever the government "gives" something to one person, it is actually taking away from another.  
   Both the Republicans and Democrats along with most other political parties are guilty of what one might call "Legal Plunder."  The best description of legal plunder and the true purpose of the law can be found in a pamphlet written by Frederick Bastiat.  Frederick Batstiat's work is simply entitled, "The Law."  
   Legal plunder, communism, and socialism are the same thing in their most basic forms.  Items are transferred at one's expense to another.  Whether this is done lawfully or even willingly are of no concern.  It is simply the philosophy that is dangerous.  
   As one person is plundered others will follow human nature which tells them that they should plunder also in order to receive fair treatment.  Thus we see how a proliferation of "legal plunder" laws can fill society.  
   History tells us that once this philosophy becomes entrenched the only way to end it is usually by a total rebellion which usually leads to bloodshed.  Perhaps we can save our country before it meets this endless road, but it becomes less likely each day we let it go.     Do you ever get angry when you listen or watch the news?  I often get angry, not just because many of the networks are extremely biased, but because the stories they report are scary in and of themselves.  One of these instances that made me stop and scream at the television occurred recently.  
   While working at my computer, I was listening to one of the major network's in the background.  The news story had to do with a lawsuit being brought against Mp3.com and other such Internet companies.  Somewhere in the story it was mentioned that a particular law "permitting" recording of non-commercial music did not apply to this situation because a computer is not used primarily for recording.  
   When did we start passing laws in order to PERMIT us to do things?  Have we really strayed so far from the true purpose of the law in the United States that we now believe that a law must be passed in order to grant citizens their rights?  
   No matter what your thoughts are on the recording and distribution of music over the Internet, when we start issuing laws that "permit" us to do things, then I fear we have gone done a road from which it may be nearly impossible to return.  
   What is the true purpose of a law?  The purpose of a law should be to punish actions that would be an offense to one's life, liberty, and property. Anything beyond this basic purpose is a dangerous perversion of the law.  
   Unfortunately, most laws passed in recent history are doing just the opposite as they are suppose to be doing.  Legislators are passing more and more laws that benefit only certain people.  This type of selective plunder is a  sure sign of communistic socialism.  Whenever the government "gives" something to one person, it is actually taking away from another.  
   Both the Republicans and Democrats along with most other political parties are guilty of what one might call "Legal Plunder."  The best description of legal plunder and the true purpose of the law can be found in a pamphlet written by Frederick Bastiat.  Frederick Batstiat's work is simply entitled, "The Law."  
   Legal plunder, communism, and socialism are the same thing in their most basic forms.  Items are transferred at one's expense to another.  Whether this is done lawfully or even willingly are of no concern.  It is simply the philosophy that is dangerous.  
   As one person is plundered others will follow human nature which tells them that they should plunder also in order to receive fair treatment.  Thus we see how a proliferation of "legal plunder" laws can fill society.  
   History tells us that once this philosophy becomes entrenched the only way to end it is usually by a total rebellion which usually leads to bloodshed.  Perhaps we can save our country before it meets this endless road, but it becomes less likely each day we let it go.