Any law the people have to follow, should the government be held to that law as

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   SportsBetterposted 12 years ago

   Any law the people have to follow, should the government be held to that law as well?

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   BobMongerposted 12 years ago

   You would think so, but the government would argue they are "special." Taxes, for instance: If I were to go to my neighbor and tell him he had to give me 23% of his earnings or I'd have him thrown in jail I would be charged with extortion. The same can be said of car insurance laws.

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   JohnGreasyGamerposted 12 years ago

   I agree with BobMonger on this one. Whether it's a politician that has the power to rule a thousand nations or a peasant with every affliction and more, they're both as worthless as each other. Just because someone is a president or an emperor or a deity of some ancient religious order, doesn't mean you're above everyone else. If you abuse your power, you'll notice the people you lead doing the exact same thing.
   
   "Just 'cause you got the power, that don't mean you got the right!" From Motorhead's "Just 'cause you got the Power".

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   Bretsukiposted 12 years ago

   Good question. I am guessing that by the government you are talking of individuals within the government of a nation. As a government is a body made up of many individuals acting as a means of administration.
   
   One of the fundamental issues of a Republic like the United States is that the Law is supreme. No-one from the lowest to the highest is outside the law which is created for the common good.
   
   If I can be punished for breaking the law as a citizen or visitor to a nation then everyone else, should be subject to the same punishment for breaking that same law whether they are within the government or not.
   
   For governments as special bodies there are exceptions. A government can declare war on another nation in order to protect the individuals who are citizens of their nation. I as a individual cannot do that. Governments can order someone put to death by due process of law. I cannot. Governments are therefore sometimes above the law proscribed for the individual but individuals within a government should never be above the law if that same law can be applied to the individual citizen.

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      SportsBetterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, Individuals within the government.

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   Attikosposted 12 years ago

   The operational word in the question is "should." The answer is yes.
   
   The problem is it's academic. The overriding question is, who rules the rulers? Regardless of the old canard that we are the government, it's clear enough we don't.

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   Mitch Alanposted 12 years ago

   There needs to be a reminder, to the public, that our government is...of, by and for the People...and that the government is made up of people. Then the public, once reawakened, can remind those same government officials of that fact. They should be held responsible to the same laws that they pile on us. Most of the laws passed are overreaching and un-Constitutional based on the  limits put forth in the enumerated powers. If the law makers were held under every law they passed, they might pass fewer laws.

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   Larry Wallposted 12 years ago

   There are laws for government and laws for people, and they are not the same. In most cases, when government buys something like a car, they have to come up with specs, advertised for sealed bids and open the bids and usually are required to take the low bidder, which may not be the car they were hoping to get.
   
   As an individual, you are free to pick and chose the exact same car, you want.
   
   You cannot kill someone unless it is self-defense or to protect someone else. If you do the government will arrest and prosecute you in accordance to the law.
   
   There are concepts, honesty, integrity, fairness and others that should be practiced by individuals and by governments. However, the rules can dictate how governments should operate are different than the laws enacted by governments to, at least in theory, provide a safe environment, where criminals are arrested, trash is collected and streets are maintained.

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   montecristoposted 12 years ago

   Yes. The leaders should lead  by example.

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      JohnGreasyGamerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thing is though, that's what every leader does. If they commit crimes, they're still leading by example. So "leading by a moral example" would be a better choice of words ^^

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   Agantumposted 12 years ago

   Yes.  Government of the people by the people is an idealistic dream if some rules don't apply to everyone or everybody, corporate or government.

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    whonunuwhoposted 12 years ago

    Officials of the U.S. Government oversee the laws and help create them. WE are all subject to our laws, including the ones who help put them in place.

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       SportsBetterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, but it doesn't seem like the ones who write them follow them.

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       Attikosposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Presidents ignore the traffic laws when they travel. They get personal perks without having to declare them income as private persons must do.  The list is endless. Equality under the law is an illusion, not a reality.

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       Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       There are lots of cases where traffic laws are ignored for good and proper reasons, such as emergency response vehicles and funeral possessions. Usually, the police are present to control traffic so that no harm comes to anyone.

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    ib radmastersposted 12 years ago

    The question is too broad to answer.
    The real question would be when is the government not held to the same law as the people, and why?

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