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RE: How Democracy Dies...
That's a pretty bold statement @joshuaatiemo...
Im not sure where your journey through life has led you my friend - but I went through communist Eastern Europe in the late 1980's as communism was collapsing, and through quasi-fascist south america in the 90's when people were starving for no apparent reason other than greed...
Now take this for what its worth - and consider that I will readily admit to having "socialist tendencies" in my personal ideology - when I say democracy is by no means perfect, but its the hands down best system EVER... Im sure we would all like to see a total egalitarian society - don't hold your breath...
Edit: What evidence can you give to support your "scam" hypothesis ...
Let me ask you a question. You don't know me...but let's pretend I'm a friend of your's who is asking you, for this question. (thought experiment)
If I don't obey a threat of the politicians (law) because my conscience/moral compass says it's bad. What do you personally advocate that must happen to me if I do not obey the law?
This is a good one - Sorry it took me a while to get back to you, I wanted to think about it before answering.
I was told by a judge once 'Ignorance of the law does not excuse you from having to follow it". That would be my position for a majority of potential scenarios - do the crime , pay for it...
Now to consider a circumstance where one of my friends, or even family, outright rejects a specific law directly because of moral and/or ethical grounds.
First I would have to weigh the potential consequences of his or her actions - does the action create unnecessary harm to others, and will this persons actions create future consequences to him/her self.
Finally I would have to determine if I agree with their position or not, whether or not I have the same moral and ethical reservations that would cause me to do the same, and I would have to weigh the overall cause and effect from both perspectives.
I would make a decision based on these factors, however I don't think I could give any genuine course of action to a hypothetical situation. The severity of the "crime" would have to be considered, as well as who the person was to me...
I like some of my friends more than others, I would be willing to die for some of them, and I wouldn't piss on others if they were on fire... :)
Thank you for the cool "thought experiment" @wordsword ... I am curious though - where this fits into the theme of this particular post...
I give you an example and then I leave you.
My grandparent broke the law by hiding jews in the attic. (1940-1945)
I'm glad that you still in some cases would follow your own moral compass and not only the abstract arbitrary opinions (laws) of politicians and judges. They are humans too, with their own moral compass. If they have one that is, and if they have one they don't follow it, they only follow the abstract arbitrary opinions (laws) of jet someone else.
Thanks for you replies :)
Edit I added a sentence
edit again ;) Come to think about it, you always make the decision yourself. If you sometimes would reconsider that means you always make the decision to reconsider or not. And blindly following the law is also making a choice. Escaping responsibility is impossible, it it's always the individual who makes the decision and is responsible for what happens. i.m.h.o.