Should We Obey All Laws?
by Walter Williams
Let’s think about whether all acts of Congress deserve our respect and obedience. Suppose Congress enacted a law – and the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional – requiring American families to attend church services at least three times a month. Should we obey such a law? Suppose Congress, acting under the Constitution’s commerce clause, enacted a law requiring motorists to get eight hours of sleep before driving on interstate highways. Its justification might be that drowsy motorists risk highway accidents and accidents affect interstate commerce. Suppose you were a jury member during the 1850s and a free person were on trial for assisting a runaway slave, in clear violation of the Fugitive Slave Act. Would you vote to convict and punish?
A moral person would find each one of those laws either morally repugnant or to be a clear violation of our Constitution. You say, “Williams, you’re wrong this time. In 1859, in Ableman v. Booth, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 constitutional.” That court decision, as well as some others in our past, makes my case. Moral people can’t rely solely on the courts to establish what’s right or wrong. Slavery is immoral; therefore, any laws that support slavery are also immoral. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions (is) a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy.”
Soon, the Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of Obamacare, euphemistically titled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. There is absolutely no constitutional authority for Congress to force any American to enter into a contract to buy any good or service. But if the court rules that Obamacare is constitutional, what should we do?
Continue reading: http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2012/05/should-we-obey-all-laws/
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Nathan on
-
:)
Good post, Troy!"The State is not armed with superior wit or honesty, but with superior physical strength. I was not born to be forced. I will breathe air after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest." Henry David Thoreau
-
-
But the State is a legitimate entity only as long as it fullfills its contractual obligations to it's members.
-
-
"A strict observance of the laws is doubtless one of the highest duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law, would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means." Thomas Jefferson
-
Permalink Reply by Paladin10 on
-
Having spent 25 years in law enforcement, let me say this about that:
"I refuse to owe my life to a tyrant, a man who flouts the Law by pardoning other men, just as if the Law gave him the right to be their master. The Law does not". Note to Ceaser from Cato after Cato's suicide at Utica.
Semper Fi
-
-
And I'll add to your comment, Paladin, with this:
"It is not enough for law to be meticulous, it must also be just. It is not enough for law to be meticulous and just, it must be understanding. It is not enough for law to be meticulous, just and understanding, it must also be compassionate. It is not enough for law to be meticulous, just, understanding and compassionate, it must be rooted in absolute truth. If man is to rise above mere beasthood then he must obey just law, formulated by just men. I repeat, just law, formulated by just men, and not random and expedient law which is the servant of tyrants." Cicero
-
-
Well said Cicero, friend of Cato, foe to Gaius Juliuis Ceasar.
While I was in law enfocement we had discretion. Letter of the Law is impossible to enforce, however Spirit of the Law, as Cicero points out is formulated by "just men" for just men.....P.S. Nathan....I did have my moments as a bad cop....child sex abusers got no kindness from me......Semper Fi
-
-
I did have my moments as a bad cop....child sex abusers got no kindness from me......Semper Fi
If those were your only 'bad cop' moments ....... you, sir, were NEVER a bad cop!
I would call them 'High speed low drag' moments, Marine!
-
Permalink Reply by karen arsenault on
-
also
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." Thomas Jefferson
-
Permalink Reply by Cryptocurrency on
-
Amen to that...
-
-
Lady Justice is blind folded for a reason and the scales of proof tipped ever so slight. Justice can never practice a double standard or exemption or the belief that some are above the law. All must be treated fairly, equaly and with prudence responsbility and above all respect. The legal system, both criminal and civil provide a proof of guilt, not a proof of innocence. When the justice system enforces laws to crminalize law abiding citizens or congress passes such laws for the same purpose the time of tyranny has arrived. It is by the authority of our God given rights and His law that we are obligated to not only disobey such godless acts but to stamp it out never to have the seed of tyranny sowed again in this great country.
Semper Fi
"Destroying the New World Order"
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!
Latest Activity
- Top News
- Everything
"cheeki kea That's very interesting history. So many things about history that go ignored or…"
Programmed To Kill/Satanic Cover-Up Part 433 (The Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Show)
https://www.programmedtokill.net/projects---- DISCLAIMER! ----Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair u...
American werewolf- 2018
"Yip I've looked again and this is what the creature looks like, even has stripes just like…"
American werewolf- 2018
"The mystery continues I guess. ( reminds me of something out of the under world )"
"Another fine story Doc V. I think it's Dogman the werewolf out there roaming around in high…"
"Less Prone Thanks for you comment Buddy! Dabbling in government kept secrets can cost you dearly. I…"
Sebastion Piñera and 5G
Sebastion Piñera “The start of the bidding process for the 5G network. Let’s listen to the threats…See More
Mike Benz: DARPA & USAID are Weaponizing Music to Control Human Behavior
Watch every episode ad-free & uncensored on Patreon: https://patreon.com/dannyjonesMike Benz is a former State Department official and current Executive Dire...
The Cartel
"In his 1995 book; Bloodlines of the illuminati, Frits Sringmaier listed the following 13…"
"This falls in the category of political assassination, a very shameful policy of eliminating people…"
© 2025 Created by truth.
Powered by
