LAWS

[Shakan'Dar]

Originally Posted by Captain Teague

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of the possible punishment but also because of conscience.
This is also why to pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servant, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Romans Chapter 13, verses 1-7 New International Version

I actually couldn't have put it better myself, and in fact I thought of this very part of scripture when I saw this thread.

Now you could argue, and indeed I did wonder, how you could justify that with political leaders as corrupt and evil as they might seem now and recently. But then I remembered this part of scripture:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:17-18)

So basically don't hate a government because it does wrong, but don't condone it either. Try to live as well as you can under the laws given you, but don't go against what you know is right.

[Larsa]

I would totally get rid of the child labor laws. I want to work.
I would also get rid of taxation laws.

[Shakan'Dar]

Taxes pay for everything, you need them.

On the other hand, I think children who WANT to work should be allowed to, but there should be strict rules in place to make sure they get decent wage, and are not forced into work, with the employer claiming they're willing, and threatening to hurt the kids if they say otherwise.

[The Man]

There's really no reliable way to determine whether kids aren't just being forced into work by their parents, mostly because minors have next to no rights. I think that's the main reason they're not allowed to work.

[Shakan'Dar]

Originally Posted by Roger Mexico

Yes, quite.
The entire idea Divine Right Monarchies is preposterous. Furthermore, the notion that blindly accepting a government because God demands it is completely implausible and an obvious form of propaganda. Indeed, a government should exist for the service of the society rather than the other way around.

The idea that you should follow the laws that you are under is reinforced by the parts of scripture that say you should live at peace with everyone as far as it depends on you. Breaking the law sets you in conflict with the government, so you're not living at peace with everyone as far as it depends on you if you choose to break the law.

It is also not "blind acceptance" of a government, simply if you follow the rules it sets in place. God has placed all people in authority where they are. If the person who he has placed there creates rules that go against His word, and governs unjustly, then God will punish him. There is a difference between government authorities being unpopular, and being evil.

Going to prison for a law that is unjust is a matter often talked about in the Bible. So many of Jesus' disciples are imprisoned for doing nothing wrong at one point or another. "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome it with good." (Romans 12:21)

"On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." (Romans 12:20)

By living at peace with authorities that are unjust, you pile up the punishment that they are sowing for themselves.

[smattle]

**Necroing this wonderful thread**

Last week we had a brutal case of "DWI" and without a licence, just around the corner from where I live. A guy in his mid-thirties, driving without a licence and with an alc-level of 1.6 got noticed by the police, as they tried to stop him he went off trying to escape. Eventually on a right turn he lost control of his 2.2t. vehicle and rammed into a private parking lot, running over 2 girls in the age of 6 and 8 years. After hitting 2 other vehicles in the lot he tried to back out, hitting one of the girls for a 2nd time. He got stopped by some random passanger who tore him out of his car. The doctors couldn't save the younger one, the older girl is still in hospital.

Now as it turns out, by law the guy can't be punished with more then 5years prison time, what eventually means he's gonna walk after 3 and a half.

For me an epic fail in our legal system.

[DuMbAsS]

Damn man. I just hate how drunks try to run from the cops. They still get caught anyways. That just made things worse.

I haven't paid much attention to the legal system of the US for a while now. But I recently heard that the seat belt law is now being enforced even more as the fuzz is now able to pull you over and give you a ticket without having to pull you over for some other reason. Well something like that. I can understand that it's for safety reasons, but I don't know how well the general public that doesn't wear one is going to take it.

[Lady Lamont]

Ugh, that reminds me of something that happened a while ago...

What really bugs me, is whenever someone goes "I was provoked!" as their response and get off easier. Was talking to someone on the phone, who had been walking around in the city, went into a cafe, came out and saw someone just randomly running around shooting a guy in the middle of the road a while ago.

That assh*le got off fairly easily apparently, because he pulled the "He provoked me / major road rage / mentally unstable" card. He was lucky that a couple of the people he shot survived, except for the main victim who had been walking across the road with his wife and children, who saw him be shot repeatedly by some driver who had a hissyfit over them taking their time to go across the road WHILST it had the green walk light on, as the little kids stumbled slightly and he had to stop and pick the younger one up.

Ugh, just rewrite some of this and don't let this sort of crap get a single bit of slide.

[smattle]

I do remember a case when some old man shot somebody claiming he though it was an animal....later it turned out the guy had been declared clinically insane after he had gotten his licence to carry a gun....So in the end he walked away.

It's quite some years ago now though...and I don't think such bs would be possible these days....but who knows

[DuMbAsS]

Man, I hate that damned law about being clinically insane. Even if it's true. It's more like an excuse to kill someone just like that provoking thing. What I especially hate is how degraded human nature is now and we seem to want to have an excuse for everything. Like how Lady L said that the "Don't Walk / Walk" sign was flashing walk. They should've jailed the bastard (<---can we say that?) for life. Seriously, even if you were provoked you can just sit patiently and wait.

[Lady Lamont]

That's exactly what pisses me off Lai (and yes, you can say bastard).

What pisses me off even more, are people such as Judges or Police officers and the like who get diplomatic immunity, they travel to another country, break the law or help cover up stuff and get away with absolutely NO CHARGES, SENTENCING. Argh, it drives me INSANE!

[DuMbAsS]

Good cause where I'm at, people complain about me saying that.

Personally, I think diplomatic immunity should belong only to higher up political figures. Although it might not even work that well that way either see as some of them are as corrupt as my FFVII game save with everyone at level 99 and nearly every item(that's just a comparison i actually don't have that but you probably got the point).

[smattle]

Diplomatic Immunity is such a sweet thing...unless abused for the wrong cause.

The problem is, everybody who actually has it abuses it for nothing but the wrong cause... :[

[Chaotic Lionheart]

OH **** we have laws now?! J/k but yea laws are okay and all that stuff but corruption is on the rise really its kinda messed up

[DuMbAsS]

Yes. Corruption is really getting out of hand nowadays. You've got to also add that the simple civilian seems to have also gotten...well corrupt.

[Chaotic Lionheart]

True its seems normals are becoming corrupt too it's like a trickling effect

[Lady Lamont]

Exactly, and such corruption has become common-place in society.

Laws... or rather "What laws?", the ones that are occasionally applied whereas the majority depending on class status/ranking/social image which of course revolves around financial statues (or visible/physical appearance) simply try to bypass such things. Hell, if you're going to bypass laws... then at least do it for a good reason instead of trying to save your own sorry ass for getting drunk and causing an accident or some crap that has been thrown around the news like wildfire lately.

[Chaotic Lionheart]

*shakes head* its a sad shape of world when a person can walk for being the right race or have enough cash to bypass laws Justice isnt as blind as the world thinks

[Lady Lamont]

Originally Posted by Chaotic Lionheart

*shakes head* its a sad shape of world when a person can walk for being the right race or have enough cash to bypass laws Justice isnt as blind as the world thinks

That's exactly my point. It completely irks me, if I have an Aboriginal clearly breaking the law against me (sexually harassing me, refusing to leave the premises on request, refusing to go when a security escort was called, verbally harassing other people, and also sexually harassing another co-worker before the police arrived) and I call the police and I'm told that no charges could be laid as it would be racist. Ugh, I'm tired of this sort of stuff happening. Bring back the line of actual crimes and ignore any of the additional stuff, race, social ranking/money... unimportant. Uphold the law properly.

[Chaotic Lionheart]

Adults suck wait nvm I am an Adult legally lol