In answer to your first question," ... isn't that part of the price we pay for living in a "civilized" society?" My reply is NO. It is the price we pay for living in a government controlled society.

In your scenario about driving down my road at 100 MPH and you say you have a habit of it, I'm not going to local government officials to beg (petition) them to come put up a speed limit sign. I would take upon myself to try and get you to slow down when you come past my place.

For the sake of this discussion I'm going to say that you run a "store transfers" truck route for Home Depot so you go by my place usually between 9 and 10 in the mornings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
First I would attempted to flag down by waiving my arms or something because I want to talk with you. So I can explain to you that I am concerned for both your safety and that of my kids and property because I believe your are traveling to fast for the design of the road. Chances are that sooner or later someone is more than likely going to injured or even killed because of the speed that you've elected to drive at down that road so I need to let you know my concerns.

If you haven't stopped to talk me with after three different attempts to get you to pull over and stop and talk my next step in getting you to slow down would be to make a visit to my local Home Depot and ask the store manager to have you give me a call on the phone.

Seeing that you wouldn't stop , I'm guessing you wouldn't call either but I would give you a couple of days before I'd make my next move to get to slow down.

Those couple of days went by and I didn't hear from you, so I'd go back up to the local HD and speak to the store manager but this time I would inform him about your driving speed on my road. Most reasonably minded people would agree that 100mph on that road is too fast and should be a safety concern so chances are he would agree with my reasons for concern.

Seeing the danger that your driving speed represents to HD in the form of liability should lose control and wreck or run over a kid because you couldn't stop in time the manager at HD would most likely call you into the office and have a talk with you at the very minimum. He might also just fire you if he has that capacity in his position because you haven't exercised what would be considered as "good judgement" in your actions and has reflected poorly on the reputation of the company in the community.
If you are able to keep your job then it will be up to you to slow down in order to keep your job because a responsible company like HD won't tolerate irresponsible behavior from its workers.

So my guess is that it would take me no more than three weeks to resolve the issue by doing it "privately" where as if I went the route you suggest of petitioning the the government for a speed limit sign it could be months or even years before it may happen.

Can a sign really " force me to slow down" as you say?

Moving on to the fire... you mean a fire like this one, right?

I'm sorry about your house and barn. What the hell was I thinking burning that pile when it was bone dry and the wind at 20 mph? Contact my State Farm Insurance agent and file a claim for your loss against my home owners insurance policy.

Also, seeing how I didn't have enough common sense not to burn that pile given the conditions that day. Why on earth would have enough confidence in me to follow some regulation? Your property would still be at risk of burning, because common sense can't be acquired or regulated. A person either has common sense or they don't and all the regulations in the world can't change that part of the problem.

As for the lawmakers, I have to disagree about "can't take all the blame" , they were ones' who took the oath to support the Constitution. Or least took an oath of similar wording to support and defend the Constitution so anything they do contrary to it is on them. Sure there are lobbyists who influence them but they (lawmakers) have to do by their oath.

I am in agreement with you on basic laws. Purely basic ones, like don't cause injury or harm to your fellow man. Which is exactly what common law is, basic laws of society to live by.

Thanks so much for the thoughtful response and your continued support. It is truly appreciated that you took the time to read and comment.
Sult