Regarding the "Rule of Law"

There exists a spectrum that on one side represents the absence of law and order, anarchy and at the other end of this spectrum we have total control by the government with no freedom. Over the decades as a society we move towards more laws and less freedom and then later towards more civil liberties and less control, like a pendulum swings back and forth. It is the social contract that we have as a society between the governed and the government. We exchange a few freedoms for protection and safety.

Is there a point at which violations of law on the part of the government threaten to negate the contract? Be they violations of privacy in the form of illegal wiretaps or spying and intrusion, or be they in the form of the government failing follow the laws that they have written for us to abide by as well, can the government violate the contract?

If everyone in the government drives faster than the speed limit, can we as a people be expected to drive the speed limit? Do the actions of those that govern ever excuse the citizenry from the responsibility of having to follow the law? If George Bush did not file taxes, should we? If those that govern us lie, cheat, and steal, can they fault us for doing the same?

I'm not advocating anarchy, I think that we need laws, but is there a point at which people lose faith in the law?

Can we be expected to play by the rules when the people in charge do not?

are unique to that administration/party/person or whether they think they are systematic.

I mean if they are just this administration than getting new guys in and starting some reforms can fix the problem without the need of a revolution.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

in comments attributed to Karl Rove and endorsed on radio this morning by Tom DeLay

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8991717

Isn't Putin building a "permanent majority " in the former Russian democracy?

and I can't find that term ... I knew I shouldn't have thrown out that 1998 edition ...