In a nation of laws, we must enforce the laws that are on the books

We say we are a nation of laws, and in a democracy that is very important. It means the law applies to every citizen equally; and it means political officeholders cannot change the law to benefit their friends, or those who think like they do, without going through the legislative process.

This goes back in history to the ancient Kings who might decide one way one day, and another the next day. Democracy evolved so that laws were written down, and the courts evolved to make sure they applied equally to us all. We are a nation of laws.

So it seems to me we are allowing some very dangerous practices to develop in this democracy of ours right now. Not long ago, for instance, they held the annual Piedmont Park Pot Festival in Atlanta. Possessing and smoking marijuana is illegal, but a few years ago some mayor of Atlanta decided the police should leave this group alone and let them have their little fun. So they simply wink at the law, and have one helluva illegal party.

We have laws on the books that say a citizen of another country must meet certain criteria, and get approval from our country, before he or she can reside legally in the United States. But now we have a bunch of officeholders who wink at that law, and say
all the people coming into this country illegally are not really breaking the law... they are simply undocumented.

So America has a flood of illegal immigrants.
There are several other examples, just as insidious.

There are some who say: if we are not going to enforce a law, we should change it. I don't disagree with that. But until a law is changed ... so long as a law is on the books ... it seems to me it should be enforced and applied equally to all citizens.

Otherwise we are going to see our cherished democratic system of justice come unraveled.

This is Gordon Sawyer, and may the wind always be at your back.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/7/191910