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*American society. Not to say the problem is nonexistent in other countries, but American society minimizes laws (due to worries about government overreach) an

*American society. Not to say the problem is nonexistent in other countries, but American society minimizes laws (due to worries about government overreach) and hand-waives away concerns because either the legal system, or worse "the free market" will decide and make everything just. It incentivizes a complete lack of individual ethics in any decision. "Is it legal? Then we should do it." is the only question being asked.

fallingknife 3y ago
> American society minimizes laws (due to worries about government overreach) Not sure how you come to that conclusion. Here's just one example of the opposite - almost 30% of US workers need a government license just to do their job: https://isps.yale.edu/news/blog/2013/11/is-the-us-%E2%80%9Cover-licensed%E2%80%9D-the-case-for-reforming-america%E2%80%99s-professional-licensing https://isps.yale.edu/news/blog/2013/11/is-the-us-%E2%80%9Co...
- lazyasciiart 3y ago
  That’s part of the same trend: instead of writing laws, the government just says “you must be licensed by x group” and then that group writes the rules.
robocat 3y ago
> American society minimizes laws Not sure that is true. Moreover, contracts, legal threats, laws and liabilities are involved in most transactions, to a far higher extent than many other countries with more reasonable legal systems and laws. The USA is renowned for being an exceptionally litigious society. The USA is also known for its inequitable legal system where you can often win by spending more, and you can often lose just because you are poor. Eminent domain, plea bargains, 3 strikes, harsh minimum sentences, cowboy cops, frivolous lawsuits, ridiculous liabilities, lock and forget, zero rehabilitation, two speed society, defunding, Civil Forfeiture, Bankruptcy, IP laws, etcetera. Even assuming you have minimised laws (I really don’t think that is the case), the emergent effects of your legal structures are perverse and damaging to the US as a whole. The USA isn’t the worst in the world, but it is a long way from being good or fair.
- jstarfish 3y ago
  It's true when it comes to criminal law. We don't enforce much of code unless someone outright admits to a crime or it's really high-profile. Civil law though? You need a private army of lawyers.
refurb 3y ago
Your statement doesn't even make sense. How is "minimizing laws" make sense when people ask "Is it legal? Then we should do it." Sounds like following the letter of the law, not minimizing it.
- MichaelZuo 3y ago
  I think the parent meant minimizing the aspects of the law that aren't written down with letters. Such as the moral/ethical component, and so on.

fallingknife 3y ago

> American society minimizes laws (due to worries about government overreach) Not sure how you come to that conclusion. Here's just one example of the opposite - almost 30% of US workers need a government license just to do their job: https://isps.yale.edu/news/blog/2013/11/is-the-us-%E2%80%9Cover-licensed%E2%80%9D-the-case-for-reforming-america%E2%80%99s-professional-licensing https://isps.yale.edu/news/blog/2013/11/is-the-us-%E2%80%9Co...

lazyasciiart 3y ago
That’s part of the same trend: instead of writing laws, the government just says “you must be licensed by x group” and then that group writes the rules.

robocat 3y ago

> American society minimizes laws Not sure that is true. Moreover, contracts, legal threats, laws and liabilities are involved in most transactions, to a far higher extent than many other countries with more reasonable legal systems and laws. The USA is renowned for being an exceptionally litigious society. The USA is also known for its inequitable legal system where you can often win by spending more, and you can often lose just because you are poor. Eminent domain, plea bargains, 3 strikes, harsh minimum sentences, cowboy cops, frivolous lawsuits, ridiculous liabilities, lock and forget, zero rehabilitation, two speed society, defunding, Civil Forfeiture, Bankruptcy, IP laws, etcetera. Even assuming you have minimised laws (I really don’t think that is the case), the emergent effects of your legal structures are perverse and damaging to the US as a whole. The USA isn’t the worst in the world, but it is a long way from being good or fair.

jstarfish 3y ago
It's true when it comes to criminal law. We don't enforce much of code unless someone outright admits to a crime or it's really high-profile. Civil law though? You need a private army of lawyers.

refurb 3y ago

Your statement doesn't even make sense. How is "minimizing laws" make sense when people ask "Is it legal? Then we should do it." Sounds like following the letter of the law, not minimizing it.

MichaelZuo 3y ago
I think the parent meant minimizing the aspects of the law that aren't written down with letters. Such as the moral/ethical component, and so on.