This page is devoted to laws that benefit nobody or the wrong party. The scope and niveau of the content we shall have to define as we go and update the rules (if we may call them that) as pragmatically as possible.

Laws may be categorised arbitrarily as follows (this list is obviously incomplete):
 

1. Laws to protect one's person - laws against murder, manslaughter, assault, bodily harm, administering noxious substances etc.
2. Laws to protect one's freedom - laws against kidnapping, holding against one's will, abduction; the British government's current attack on habeas corpus is a very serious matter indeed which will get more of our attention below ...
3. Laws to protect one's property - laws against theft, fraud, industrial espionage, burglary, wilful destruction, vandalism etc.
4. Laws to protect public order - laws against disturbing the peace (e.g. with excessive noise), rioting etc.
5. Laws governing the use of public facilities, e.g. rules of the road (traffic signals, speed limits, drinking and driving etc) and terms and conditions of public services (you must pay your fare, your water rates, your electricity bill etc).
6. Laws ensuring the correct conduction of business - suppliers have a right to demand payment for goods and services supplied, companies must publish transparent accounts etc.
7. Laws concerning morality - laws against indulgence in certain substances and certain sexual practices.
8. Laws demanding payments to the government - tax, rates, excise duty and charges for creating public records (e.g. (in Germany, at least) change of address on your driving licence).
9. Laws limiting the arbitrary exercising of authority - habeas corpus is a classical example.
10. Laws to protect the power of the government - these are popular with totalitarian and authoritarian regimes.



 

Time will tell if the above list is adequate or even necessary.

In fact pragmatism describes very well what we are demanding of law-givers. It may be as well to clarify at the outset what sort of law we mean. Things like the rate of income tax or the legitimacy of the death penalty are not our topic. Nor, for the moment at least, is the possible legalisation of (say) marijuana. Enough internet space has already been devoted to things as important as these. Far more important to us here are the little prohibitions and requirements that interfere with and spoil the fun of our everyday lives. A few examples:

In Singapore it is allegedly illegal to chew gum in the street.
In California it is illegal to smoke in a bar.
In many parts of the USA it is illegal to serve alcohol out in open (which puts paid to beergardens).  
In Germany, Switzerland and Austria a pedestrian can get fined for crossing the road against a red light.
In England it is illegal under certain circumstances to throw someone bodily out of your house or move a car that is blocking your driveway.  

Of course, after all this moaning, we must give a few examples on enlightened laws, that some other countries would do well to adopt:

In the USA it is legal to start a business in a garage.
In England (in London, actually) there is place called Speakers' Corner, where you can speak your mind in public without fear of arrest. We are given to understand that it is extremely difficult to sue someone for libel on the basis of utterances made at Speakers' Corner. (Personal retribution does not, however, come under this ruling.)

The assertions made above are based on the authors' "native wit" and have not yet been checked for accuracy. We would appreciate any information you can give us to help to ensure the correctness of our statements.

This page is perforce still under construction.