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} Well Supplicant...
}
} I _could_ tell you that mortals, like ants (and hard to distinguish
} from my exalted position) have an obsession with being seen to
} be active, however futile and meaningless that activity may be.
} That passing more laws is such an activity.
}
} I _could_ tell you that mortals crave simple answers to complex
} problems. That passing more laws is cheap and simple. It doesn't even
} require providing sufficient resources for enforcement of those laws.
} It's just pieces of paper.
}
} I _could_ tell you that lawmakers hope that the extra publicity
} accompanying the passage of said laws brings them to the attention
} of lawbreakers, and gives them pause for thought and a chance to
} reconsider their ways. That ignorance is not an excuse, but an
} explanation.
}
} But gentle Supplicant, _those_ answers ignore the fact that your
} lawmakers are selected by the most intricate and democratic methods
} to represent you all. That said lawmakers must therefore be the most
} intelligent and wise of all mortals and that there is an intelligent
} and rational reason for passing more laws.
}
} And that reason is....ummmmm, give me a moment.....it's coming
} to me.....
}
} Ummmm, you don't want to ask me the meaning of life, do you? No?
} Ok, ummmmm....
}
} I must know this one....I'm omniscient....ummmm......Ok, how about
} this:
}
} Every time a problem occurs you create legislation:
} a) specific to the even in question, even if more general legislation
} exists that already covers the specific case; and /or
} b) so generalised, broad and vague that it encompasses, or so lawyers
} can argue, a whole host of actions that were previously not criminal
} (even if morally dubious or questionable under any given morality)
}
} This has two major effects:
} a) the creation of loopholes, as criminals evade the specifics of over
} specialised legislation. This brings the justice system, lawmakers,
} and lawyers who get these scum off, into disrepute.
} b) the dense morass of laws is so complex that no one can understand
} them, even the lawmakers and lawyers. The justice system becomes
} arbitrary as the vagueness and scope of offences means that everyone
} is guilty of something. Even the most law-abiding citizen cannot be
} aware of all laws and is always breaking one or more in some way.
} This brings the justice system lawmakers, and lawyers who pursue
} trivial cases against otherwise honest people, just like you,
} into disrepute.
}
} Obviously, Supplicant, your society passes this point some time ago.
}
} A simple socio-economo-poltico analysis shows that this process is a
} vicious circle. It will degenerate, arbitrarily, into one of two states:
}
} a) the lack of respect for the law yields a state of anarchy
} b) the lack of respect for the law yields a totalitarian crackdown by
} the government
}
} And so the finest minds of your duly elected representatives finally
} see their plan come to fruition. In both states all the lawyers are
} disposed of in the Great Relief of 20xx, and judges are given full
} power as prosecutor, judge, jury and execution. There is no need for
} defence, as noted above, since everyone is guilty.
}
} Everyone is now afraid to break the laws. Or at least until a Judge
} catches up with them. Not being afraid is a sign you are hiding
} something, a criminal offence, and you will be Judged accordingly.
}
} And so, Supplicant, passing more laws does, eventually, stop all
} those who are not afraid to break them.
}
} You owe the Oracle a firmer grip on reality and a Lawgiver.
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