Laws Useless When People Ignore Them

[From article]
“A society’s first line of defense is not the law but customs, traditions, and moral values,” wrote Professor Walter Williams a few years ago. “They include important thou-shalt-nots such as shalt not murder, shalt not steal, shalt not lie and cheat, but they also include all those courtesies one might call ladylike and gentlemanly conduct. Policemen and laws can never replace these restraints on personal conduct.”
[. . .]
As a “continuing body,” the Senate’s procedures are supposed to remain in force unless a two-thirds supermajority votes to change them. In this case, a 52/48 all-Democratic majority voted to change the rules, and so the rules have been changed. After all, who’s gonna stop Harry Reid? The Senate page boys? Legislative majorities are here today and gone tomorrow, but legislative mechanisms are supposed to be here today and here tomorrow and here next year. If a transient party majority can change the rules on a single, sudden, party-line vote, than there are no rules. The rules are simply what today’s rulers say they are. After all, banana republics and dictatorships pass their own rules, too – to deny opposition politicians access to airtime, or extend their terms by another two or three years, or whatever takes their fancy.
[. . .]
The law is applied according to whim, which means there is no law.
[. . .]
A government that lies to its own citizens should command no respect. To accord them any is to make oneself complicit in their lies, which is unbecoming to a free people.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1113/steyn112413.php3#.UpJut900i6Y

Jewish World Review
Nov. 25, 2013/ 23 Kislev, 5774
When a society's first line of defense fails
By Mark Steyn