Are Laws Meaningless?
Trolling through the news today, it is clear that this country has a problem. People, and companies made up of people, are not willing to accept the rules that are made for them. Forget Paris Hilton, just for today. In this case, I am talking about the passport regulations that the Bush Administration is “suspending” in order to allow people to go on their vacations to places like Bermuda, Mexico, or parts of the Carribean. I guess the State Department is backed up in processing lots of passport applications, and the government of course doesn’t want to inconvenience anyone’s travel plans. So the people can show a receipt that they are waiting on the application. I pose this question: what would be easier for terrorists to forge: a passport, or a receipt claiming the passport was in the mail? I am thinking the latter. But Bush and his cronies would have us believe that it is worth that risk of less security, so that we can make sure some people who were not keeping their passports up to date properly, can go to Bermuda for some fun in the sun.
This is not an isolated incident. I recall cases like major car manufacturers balking on California emissions/fuel economy regulations. The government will pass tough laws, then people or companies will complain that they “don’t have time” to comply, or that it would be too tough to do it in the time frame dictated. So the government, acting like the big wimp that it is, will often turn tail, and bow to the demands of the corporations, or the complainers. I usually lean liberal/libertarian, but Republicans have been talking about this problem for years. Enforcement of laws is not consistent, and needs to be taken more seriously. Before we change laws or “relax” them, let’s try enforcing them, and then see where we get with that strategy. I will not right now espouse how border/immigration law enforcements might be a good solution to the immigration debate. After all, I need some yard work done this weekend, and I want to pay cash under the table. Ssshh!
