The Accretion of Law

[96Qowner]

We have too many laws. This is something that makes me crazy. Law isn't fair, Law isn't just. Law should always be the last resort, not the first.

We need to turn some of these legislators into delegislators.

Government itself is choking on accumulated law. The simplest choices take years to grind through labyrinthian requirements mandated by obsolete laws. Good public management takes superman, because accountability is nonexistent. Firing an insubordinate civil servant is even harder than firing a teacher.

Forget about building public works - that occurs on a tectonic time frame, with shovels in the ground maybe a decade or longer after the decision is made. Wind farms off the Massachusetts coast were approved this year after a decade of review by 16 different agencies - and then challenged again the next day by a dozen lawsuits.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/201 ... erica.html

[audtatious]

Laws are made to fix issues where other law is being ignored.

SOSDD

[stebo0728]

Im with you 96, we have WAY too much law these days. Like Ive asked before, when are most laws necessary going to be already in place such that new laws are a rare thing? It really comes down to legislated lifestyle, and both parties are equally guilty. Repubs tell what you cant do and who you cant do it with, Dems tell you how much money you can make before your "evil rich" but either way, its time for g'mnt to just GTFO except where absolutely necessary. I know many folks here will disagree, but I think this is the heart of the Tea Party movement. We just need to slam our hand down on the reset button for a minute!

[IBCoupe]

I have to object: it's not enough to complain that we have too many laws, or to suggest that we should have fewer. If you want to make yourself useful, start with USC section 1 and work your way up, and point out the laws you think are superfluous.

It's as if we forget that laws are passed individually - no Congressman said, "Hey, you know what? I think I'll vote in favor of this, because we need more laws. I don't care what they are, we just ought to have more of them."

Find a law you perceive as superfluous, unnecessary, or harmful in the Code. Start with the older ones and work your way up, to avoid any partisan bickering. Then we can have a real discussion about dealing with the so-called problem of "too many laws."

Until then, it's just whining.

Of course, there's always the possibility that you're proposing that the government do just that, but it'd probably take some kind of Congressional commission or administrative agency to get that done, and you'd probably have to get Congress to, you guessed it, pass a new law.

[AZhitman]

I'm in full agreeement with your plan, IB, but first, don't we have a Prez who promised to do that very thing to the BUDGET?

Yeah, let's knock that task out first, and then we can start whittling down some US Code.

[heliochrome85]

I'm in full agreeement with your plan, IB, but first, don't we have a Prez who promised to do that very thing to the BUDGET?

Yeah, let's knock that task out first, and then we can start whittling down some US Code.

when exactly has congress done what the executive branch wanted? You forget the democrat's majority includes people like Lieberman who is less trustworthy than a Lohan in rehab.

[IBCoupe]

Hey, Greg, I'm not suggesting that we wait for Congress to do it. If we, as individuals, are going to stand up and make the claim that we have too many laws, let's be serious about it:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/browse.html

[srellim234]

They could start here

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/04/1 ... alize.html