As with lies (see previous commentary), the number and variety of laws seems to be exploding in our Fifty States. And the world. We are constantly amazed by what municipalities, tribal councils, county commissions, State legislatures, and of course, the DC cabal passes and tries to (or pretends to) enforce.
“Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” ~ Isaiah 10
“It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.” ~ James Madison, Federalist Paper #62
Mark Twain famously remarked, “Our lives, our liberty, and our property are never in greater danger than when Congress is in session.” Twain’s skepticism about the legislative process and its potential threats to individual freedom were a major theme of his writing. He didn’t confine himself to just contempt for Congress. He also wrote, “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” This certainly can be shown as a fulfilled prophesy when applied to California in the 21st Century!
It isn’t just the Bible and Americans that have pointed out the dangers and stupidity of too many laws. To say nothing of the content of those laws.
Even the Chinese have done so. Consider just three: Lao Tzu stated, “The more restrictive the laws in the kingdom, the poorer the people will be.” He was highlighting the negative impact of excessive regulation; history has proven him true. (We suggest he understates the situation.) Han Fei, though a “Legalist,” argued that strict laws are necessary for order, but acknowledged that too many can lead to confusion and resentment among the populace. And of course, Confucius believed that moral governance is preferable to strict laws, suggesting that virtue should guide behavior rather than an abundance of regulations.
We dare claim, with some certainty, that for 99% of Americans in 2026, every waking moment is subject to some law or the regulations implementing (and expanding, as in the case of the EPA and other agencies) those legal requirements.
We try to keep these commentaries to between 500 and a thousand words, so we won’t start listing even the most outrageous of laws that are in effect and creating problems for us and all Americans. Virtually anyone over the age of ten or twelve reading this can think of at least a few.
It makes a total joke of the idea of a “free people.”
And we can take no comfort in remembering Mark Twain’s points: right now, or tomorrow, there are thousands of meetings of various “lawmakers” who are energetically creating or “improving” (revising) laws. And more laws. Just as there are judges and justices also hard at work writing interpretations and codicils to those laws. And many more bureaucrats busy crafting regulations to implement those laws.
We do not doubt, and do not contest, the idea that some law is essential to liberty. To its establishment and preservation. But we submit that 99.999% of the words contained in the laws of the American fedgov, the fifty States, the 575 AmerInd tribal nations, the 3144 counties (and equivalents), and the tens of thousands of municipalities and districts are NOT essential to liberty, and NOT essential to society.
What are your thoughts?
About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.
The Price of Liberty 
Laws, more laws, and really amazing laws
As with lies (see previous commentary), the number and variety of laws seems to be exploding in our Fifty States. And the world. We are constantly amazed by what municipalities, tribal councils, county commissions, State legislatures, and of course, the DC cabal passes and tries to (or pretends to) enforce.
“Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” ~ Isaiah 10
“It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.” ~ James Madison, Federalist Paper #62
Mark Twain famously remarked, “Our lives, our liberty, and our property are never in greater danger than when Congress is in session.” Twain’s skepticism about the legislative process and its potential threats to individual freedom were a major theme of his writing. He didn’t confine himself to just contempt for Congress. He also wrote, “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” This certainly can be shown as a fulfilled prophesy when applied to California in the 21st Century!
It isn’t just the Bible and Americans that have pointed out the dangers and stupidity of too many laws. To say nothing of the content of those laws.
Even the Chinese have done so. Consider just three: Lao Tzu stated, “The more restrictive the laws in the kingdom, the poorer the people will be.” He was highlighting the negative impact of excessive regulation; history has proven him true. (We suggest he understates the situation.) Han Fei, though a “Legalist,” argued that strict laws are necessary for order, but acknowledged that too many can lead to confusion and resentment among the populace. And of course, Confucius believed that moral governance is preferable to strict laws, suggesting that virtue should guide behavior rather than an abundance of regulations.
We dare claim, with some certainty, that for 99% of Americans in 2026, every waking moment is subject to some law or the regulations implementing (and expanding, as in the case of the EPA and other agencies) those legal requirements.
We try to keep these commentaries to between 500 and a thousand words, so we won’t start listing even the most outrageous of laws that are in effect and creating problems for us and all Americans. Virtually anyone over the age of ten or twelve reading this can think of at least a few.
It makes a total joke of the idea of a “free people.”
And we can take no comfort in remembering Mark Twain’s points: right now, or tomorrow, there are thousands of meetings of various “lawmakers” who are energetically creating or “improving” (revising) laws. And more laws. Just as there are judges and justices also hard at work writing interpretations and codicils to those laws. And many more bureaucrats busy crafting regulations to implement those laws.
We do not doubt, and do not contest, the idea that some law is essential to liberty. To its establishment and preservation. But we submit that 99.999% of the words contained in the laws of the American fedgov, the fifty States, the 575 AmerInd tribal nations, the 3144 counties (and equivalents), and the tens of thousands of municipalities and districts are NOT essential to liberty, and NOT essential to society.
What are your thoughts?
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About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.