Why are you a law abiding citizen?

[oneighty]

I am a law abiding citizen because I am afraid not to be. I am afraid I might lose certain incomes I have. I am afraid I might go to jail over a trivial charge. I am afraid I might do something stupid while driving my car and lose my drivers license. I am fearful of policemen because they have the power. Sometimes I fear the things I think.

I guess in a way I am just a coward? I live in fear in our free society.

I guess?

180

[Radical Activist]

1. Who says I obey the laws?

at least not the unjust ones.

[dhinojosa]

2. I do it because my back hurts

I can't mosh. I can't run fast. My hairline receeded. I'm fat, and I have a mortgage.

It's not that I am scared. Life just made me a conformer.

270

P.S. Isn't oneighty an Albuquerque thing?

[oneighty]

5. "oneighty an Albuquerque thing"

I am curious, please explain?

180

[dhinojosa]

8. People around Albuquerque have bumper stickers

That say oneighty (one e) with a moon or something. I found out it was a religious thing with one of the christian churches here. Maybe it's national. I am agnostic, so the if I turn 180, I just get dizzy.

[oneighty]

9. Yes!

When I joined DU I should have spelled it one eighty. But no I gotta be cute and spell it oneighty.

180 was my nickname in the Navy for a year or so. Wally Sechman MN2, gave me that name because whenever I managed to hit the volleyball it went sailing off 180 degrees from my intended course.

Often in life I have been 180 degrees off in my thoughts from other people. The name suits me, but I should have Googled first. Huh?

180

[DELUSIONAL]

3. I am not law abiding -- my internal moral code

at times coincides with many laws. I don't drink and drive because I don't trust the other idiots on the road -- some of whom are drunk.

However if we knew about ALL the laws -- we are probably breaking lots of laws. Like tearing those damned tags off of pillows.

[Az]

4. Because of the social contract

If I expect others to treat me fairly I must treat them fairly. The laws of the land are an effective means of establishing exactly what we mean by this. If I expect others to abide by the laws I must do so too. Not only is this fair but it also sets an example to others. And as our nature is to copy and learn behaviour from others this is the most effective route open to me.

Socrates confronted this very issue when he was on trial. He was accused of teaching his students to be evil. He countered that doing so would be foolish. For in teaching them to be evil they would certainly immediately set about applying such lessons to him as well as everybody else. Thus it was in his own interest to teach them to be good.

[oneighty]

7. Many of us speak of 'revolution'

but the law must be broken to become a revolutionary. At what point does the dictates of an orderly society become weaker than the desire for revolt?

180

[Az]

10. Once it is evident that others are no longer respecting the contract

And that is indeed the case. The religious right has given up on the social contract and is pushing to have its position put ahead of everyone elses.

In such circumstances the contract becomes null and revolution is warranted.

[oneighty]

13. Good point-good thinking

"The religious right has given up on the social contract"

That is so true.

180

[Solly Mack]

6. I'm not exactly a law abiding citizen

I feel no obligation to follow laws I don't agree with

I feel no obligation to follow laws where my freedom/liberty wasn't considered in their making.


I may choose to follow certain laws at certain times but I don't feel I must follow them...and if I don't want to follow a law, I don't.

I'm just not compelled to accept I must hold up my end of the social contract when my government fails to hold up their end.

This has all been exacerbated by having Bush in office...good gracious..talk about the government not holding up their end. He takes the cake.

and if the way I think/live offends people...I'm sorry. You won't change my mind. :)

[Deja Q]

11. If society was free, those making it un-free would be jailed.

That would include the corporate elite, the bought Republicans, the bought Dems, and any religious person seeking to forcibly bestow his vision onto everybody else. (aka corporate or religious fascism. Those aren't free.)

[supernova]

12. It's much less stressful than

than all the hullaboo if I broke the law.

[FloridaPat]

14. You never speed while driving? Always come to a full stop at a stop

sign? I've been know to do those once in awhile.