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Society should have 7 fundamental rules above the law (lemmy.cafe)
submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by to c/unpopularopinion@lemmy.world
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I think that society should introduce 7 fundamental rules, which would be above the law. No law may overwrite those rules, change them or be against them:

  1. One should act with compassion and empathy
  2. One's own sense of justice must be put above the law
  3. Bodily freedom is supreme
  4. Freedoms of others, including freedom to offend, must be respected. One who violates the freedom of others gives up their freedom
  5. Unscientific beliefs are not allowed
  6. All who commit wrongdoing must rectify it.
  7. Above rules are interpreted according to common sense

Another thing I want to introduce, which is not a formal law, is optional taxation. People may choose not to pay taxes, but they would need to pay for public services.

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[–] 1 point 5 days ago

I think justice is the ideal of law, and it is more important in that respect. I think a theoretical perfect law would be identical to a comprehensive, self-evident definition of justice. However, I think it's wise to presume that any law falls short of that ideal, and your "rules" are, technically, still laws.

They're kind of superlaws* to other laws, sort of the way the US Constitution is a superlaw to US federal law, which is itself a superlaw relative to state laws: the sublaws are still enforced, but when a sublaw contradicts a superlaw, the superlaw prevails. But, declaring themselves to be above the law doesn't make them not laws, it just makes them the top layer over all other laws.

I think it's important to never confuse laws with justice, because they never 100% line up. People tend to commit atrocities when they make that mistake.

* sublaw and superlaw are my own terms for this relationship. IDK if there's an official term for the relationship between hierarchical bodies of law

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