Monday, June 9, 2025

day no. 17,031: subjects and citizens

“Laws multiply when the lawgivers want to have subjects instead of citizens. When laws swarm like the frogs of Egypt, the reason for it is to increase guilt. This guilt means two things—one is that when there are multitudinous regulations, they can always get you for something. Second, it turns everyone into a lawbreaker.” — Douglas Wilson, Mere Christendom

When you imagine yourself a god, you must demonstrate your claim, if only to prove to  yourself that you may have a point. So, it begins by speaking authoritatively about everything. If you are the author, you must prove it by flexing some editorial privilege. You determine what is canon and what is fan fiction. 

In God's case, nothing would exist if He did not speak it authoritatively into existence. In the state's case, everything is under its authority because it reserves the right to redefine anything, like marriage. It does not make rights, it guards the ones God gave. It does not create the earth, it protects the borders of its nation that God sustains. It does not generate income, it collects taxes from the labor of the people that God permits to prosper. The only thing the state makes is laws. And so they do... a lot.

If you're not God and you want to make a case that might be, you must drum up as much legislation as you possibly can. This gives the appearance of omnipotence by extending its sway into every nook and cranny. It provides the illusion of omniscience by getting into everyone's business. It supports the suspicion of its omnipresence by being involved in everything you do everywhere you go.

"If men will not be governed by the Ten Commandments, they shall be governed by the ten thousand commandments." — G..K. Chesterton

God is the Author of the universe and gave us ten good laws. The state is a petty despot over a sliver of the land and cannot stop itself from printing new commands (or currency). When you don't have real gravitas, you have to fabricate your own. When you're not the Designer, you have to concoct a designer knock off. Those who lack gravity often attempt to make up for it by producing as much fakakta force as they can. The end result is mountains of legal code and the opportunity to catch you out if you should consider leaving a comment regarding the Emperor's new clothes (or lack thereof).

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