Funny thing happened recently. A friend of a friend removed me as their friend on Facebook. What prompted this was two separate discussions involving the Arizona immigration law that passed earlier this year where I politely stated my views. I am not bothered by this, it was not someone I have ever been close to. But if I had to state my case over I would make the following two points:
- You cannot make generic laws and expect them to be interpreted for a specific groups of people, needs, wants, or ideology. It applies to everyone. Here is an example: If you and a friend are walking around in a public park and one of you has an open container, say a glass of wine to be civil, and a cop stops your friend. While the officer is dealing with your friend you could go to jail if you happen to not have any ID on your persons. It is a stretch but laws can be interpreted strictly for their intended purpose or loosely as a means to an end for law enforcement. They are their to protect your rights, or at least that was the idea.
- You cannot expect a). smaller government, b). lower taxes, and c). high level of services from law enforcement and social services when you pass laws that over burden the system. You only get to pick two. Actually if you expect C then both A and B are out, but you get the point. Small and Nimble or Large and Prepared, take your pick. You cannot have both.
Treat the symptom, add resources, or change the system, but do not expect magic and miracles from a system that is already overloaded.