THERE OUGHT NOT TO BE A LAW

One danger of arguing for or against a position is that everyone thinks you are saying, "there ought to be a law."

Take the issue of discrimination on the basis of sex or gender as an example. If you argue against it, people assume you want to prohibit discrimination. If you argue for the right to discriminate, they assume you want to return to Jim Crow laws and force women back to the kitchen.

"There ought to be a law" is the unspoken message underlying much of public discourse. And that message makes people reluctant to listen impartially because agreement might lead to yet another regulation.

On most of the issues I address, my underlying message is "there ought not to be a law."

Wendy McElroy on repressive laws.