Is it the state or the people deciding what laws should be punishable or outlawed?
As we all know, time changes and so do attitudes and what were considered laws yesterday seem to be broken with impunity today.
When wrong was done to an individual in the past, if it could be proven, that wrong could be dealt with through legal means, or the state’s involvement. But, Lo and Behold, these days anything goes.
Let us start with driving on our public roads. One ought to have a legitimate driver’s license, and an insured vehicle and follow all guidelines established by the state as it relates to road use.
This means, where you could park, where you should overtake, what speed limit should be considered, what brightness of lights you should drive with, who has the right of way, what considerations should be adhered to and if in breach, especially if you are involved in an accident, the lawmakers would decide if you were wrong, or right and what course of action you should take, meaning: you had the freedom to drive a vehicle on the public roads but had to comply with all the laws and ensure rules of the road are not being violated, but the lawmakers today seem unable to deal with the offenders and culprits.
The same applies to breaking and entering one’s premises, if found guilty there were and are consequences, but a court case can take a lifetime to be heard, meaning that justice is not always served in a timely manner.
We have heard and know of rape cases and child molestation, knowing full well who the culprits are, but there’s never justice for the victims and the saga continues. We hear about price-controlled goods, yet daily such laws and rules are being violated by the private sector and the cost of goods goes up daily and there is no way for the law to step in, or for the loser to be compensated for their losses.
People rent and destroy property and, in some cases, refuse to pay the agreed rental and your loss becomes your problem.
The big questions I ask are: Are the laws of the state still valid? And are they still working? And can they be enforced? Or, are we doomed by individual actions regardless of the crime? Are we supposed to sit back and do nothing, say nothing and get no answers, or no satisfaction just because lawlessness is the new norm and justice has been thrown out of the window?
When it comes to killings, should the guilty be freed to roam?
Should money be the result of not being incarcerated? Is it about the one caught with the gun, but not about the ones bringing them in, or facilitate the availability? What is really going on? Who is in charge? Who decides who should be set free, or who should be the scapegoat?
Has our democracy changed? Are we now governed by thugs, or are we just not paying attention to all the ills of this modern society?
Now there is a new development property owned by the state that cannot be regulated or controlled by the state, designated spaces for vending in the city cannot be controlled and opening and closing times cannot be enforced or regulated.
What times we live in today!
I simply wonder how tomorrow will be…
If the government of the day decides to enforce what is necessary for growth and development, are they considered to be against the people and should be criticized and condemned?
And does the opposite side have a working plan that differs from the present government? If so, when do we see the blueprint, considering the silly season has started?
Questions, questions and questions, but where are the answers?
As Jimmy Cliff sang, there are more questions than answers – and obviously, we’re still waiting for the replies from the authorities.