Too much laws in the US

[PhoenixAsh]

I want you to watch this 45 minute video.

CFfVeXhtRa0

[Rafiq]

Sounds like a bunch of Libertarian horse shit.

[NewLeft]

Sounds like a bunch of Libertarian horse shit.
It is John Stossel..

[Prometeo liberado]

Arbitrary enforcement of obscure laws is nothing new. Of course no one cares until it happens to them. My biggest concern is the law governing the use of households for private gatherings. 3 or more people meeting regularly in a private residence are subject to zoning laws and regulations(very expensive). Basicaly meeting in private is pretty much a crime justified by alleging increased traffic and the suspicion of conducting tax evasive business.

[Die Neue Zeit]

Sounds like a bunch of Libertarian horse shit.

Not necessarily, comrade. Arbitrary enforcement of obscure laws was already mentioned, but check this video by CPGB comrade Mike Macnair:

http://vimeo.com/28656760

[Rafiq]

Not necessarily, comrade. Arbitrary enforcement of obscure laws was already mentioned, but check this video by CPGB comrade Mike Macnair:

http://vimeo.com/28656760

I'm no fan of the laws of bourgeois society. But this being fox news... One can almost imagine cries of "socialism" and "beurocracy" infringing on "economic liberty".

The laws are there for the state to arrest anyone they want for any reason, when they deem it necessary. But we should not be complaining about lemonade stands being illegal

[PhoenixAsh]

Wether or not this is from Fox news...it illutrates splendidly the way in which government and the courtsystem are at odds and basically ignore them. It also shows pretty well that the illusion of freedom in the US and the US not being already entirely set up towards a policestate are false.

Offcourse the documentary doesn't contain any criticism of capitalism and the resulting system directly....but if you listen well enough...it is there. Government working for big corporations and creating their monopolies. This is pretty obvious in the segment about the cab system.

[Misanthrope]

Pretty good video considering the source. It's extremely superficial and redundant though. No real analysis other than pointing out the hypocrisy and absurdity of the state. It is extremely sympathetic to the right wing "free" market capitalist point of few.

No real progression of thought through out the video.

[MarxSchmarx]

Wether or not this is from Fox news...it illutrates splendidly the way in which government and the courtsystem are at odds and basically ignore them. It also shows pretty well that the illusion of freedom in the US and the US not being already entirely set up towards a policestate are false.

Offcourse the documentary doesn't contain any criticism of capitalism and the resulting system directly....but if you listen well enough...it is there. Government working for big corporations and creating their monopolies. This is pretty obvious in the segment about the cab system.

I suggest that part of the problem is actually with just how democratic the United States is. Compared to many other liberal democracies, particularly in central Europe and Japan, the elected politicians in America have a lot of power, whereas bureaucracies tend to be quite a bit stronger elsewhere. Both, of course, serve the needs of the ruling class.

The way the ruling class can make sure its lackeys stay in power in a place like America is to have the politicians try to get votes on promises to enact a whole litenay of onerous laws - particularly symbolic laws that are socially useless like bans on cellphones while driving or drug laws and which target private individuals that don't have nearly the power of corporations. Laws that pit certain segments of society against each other - such as the middle class against the poor or straight people versus homosexuals - are notoriously effective. Bones may also be thrown against unpopular industries, such as payday lenders and the most egregious polluters, but the biggest crooks are left alone. The impressive increase in the scope of federal crimes under Democrats and Republicans is probably the most perspicuous example of this phenomenon.

The fact is the ruling class cannot get politicians elected if they nakedly represent the interests of the rich. So to get them in office in the first place, they promise to promulgate oppressive measures which appeal to enough voters. Sometimes the oppressive laws pass (as was the case of drug laws), sometimes they don't (as is the case with laws criminalizing abortion). This is especially effective when foreign wars go sour.

Sadly, majorities of American voters have been buying this claptrap pretty much since the reaction to the 1960s counter-culture, and it shows little sign of dying down.

This is a well known problem of representative democracy, which, strangely enough, both the left and the libertarian right may to some degree on.