How to Approach Unjust Laws

Today in the United States there abound thousands of unjust laws restricting harmless and even productive actions on the part of millions of essentially good, conscientious private citizens. Economic regulations inhibit our freedom to produce and trade with others and prevent many citizens from amplifying the wealth of virtually everybody. Campaign finance laws such as McCain-Feingold prevent us from donating our money to candidates who we believe will bring positive changes to government. These laws thus perpetuate the injustices of the status quo. Government agencies from the Internal Revenue Service to municipal governments require us to waste hours of time on obscure and useless paperwork instead of using that time to create something productive. Policies such as affirmative action actively punish currently living individuals for crimes that happened centuries ago, while government protection of and even support for abortion enables the killing of about 1.2 million unborn persons per year.

But how do we, as private citizens seeking justice, approach these unjust laws? What is the best way to act in order to ensure that the harms of these laws are minimized and that they are eventually repealed - without bringing harm on oneself or those for whom one cares?

The first and most obvious response is to proclaim the injustice of such governmental mandates and restrictions whenever possible. Fortunately, speech in the United States is still largely free, and one cannot be governmentally penalized for expressing views that disapprove of the political status quo. If you consider any law unjust, spread the word by writing and speaking about it where you have a chance of getting a receptive audience. Engage in private discussions and publish your thoughts online; both methods cost virtually no money and might even enhance your reputation as a valuable voice in the political and social discussions of our time.