We all make mistakes. No one is perfect. But sometimes societies create additional rules (laws) that regulate the life of its citizens even when there is no moral conflict.
Definition: Laws are systems of rules that regulate the behavior of the members of a community or country.
When laws are created, lawbreakers are defined as well.
4 Types of Lawbreakers
Defiant Lawbreakers
Plan and simple, these are the bad guys. Defiant lawbreakers know the rules, and intentionally decide to disobey the rules.
This type of lawbreaking is not because of some type of conscientious objection, but because laws prevent the bad guys from reaching their nefarious goals.
Governments should create laws that protect the safety and well-being of their people. These types of laws help maintain order and protect against unruly people and groups of people.
Personally, I believe that this foundational layer of laws serves a specific purpose, but should interfere with daily life or intrude on the rights of individuals.
Unknowing Lawbreakers
Sometimes people break laws out of ignorance. As citizens of a particular society, we need to understand the rules that govern us. But a pressing issue exists. No one understands the complete breadth of the laws.
For me this is a problem. When the majority of a society does not know and/or understand the governing rules, should we question both the quantity and complexity of the laws?
I say yes.
"Good People" Lawbreakers
"Good people" lawbreakers say, "That law is meant for bad people, but not for me because I am a good person."
Individual justification is a slippery slop. It is amazing how easily members of society (myself included), rationalize the merits of our own behavior and attack the intentions of others.
The "that does not apply to me" attitude downplays the evil within while examining the imperfections of others at a microscopic level.
Civil Disobedient Lawbreakers
For me civil disobedient lawbreakers are a necessary part of society, but standing against the government or community comes with a high price.
But the people of society need to take a stand when the rulers of a society are not protecting its people or are overreaching its authority.
Civil disobedience requires that laws be broken. Civil disobedience is a call for reform and the clarification of laws, not necessarily the addition of new, more complicated regulations.
Your Turn
Let's continue the conversation below. Feel free to answer any or all of the following questions.
- Do you think laws are too complex or do you believe they are easy to understand?
- Do you believe laws do a good job of protecting the members of its society?
- Should people who do not understand the law be punished for disobeying the laws?
- When is civil disobedience appropriate?
I look forward to hearing from you.
All engaging comments will be entered into a giveaway for my online course Steem Markdown.
@sumatranate
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