tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post2572327997242146102..comments2023-06-15T09:13:45.467-04:00Comments on Liberty's Torch: A Maxim, The Law, And The State Of The NationFrancis W. Porrettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-47384858842303163112013-01-29T14:11:43.996-05:002013-01-29T14:11:43.996-05:00A fine essay, in my view. Tightly reasoned and we...A fine essay, in my view. Tightly reasoned and well-written. In support of it I recommend Harvey Silverglate's <i>Three Felonies a Day</i> and Philip K. Howard's <i>The Death of Common Sense</i>.Phaedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16200997676524151248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-27955637857468437352013-01-22T07:26:00.683-05:002013-01-22T07:26:00.683-05:00ReBlogged @ http://daksbays.wordpress.com/2013/01/...ReBlogged @ http://daksbays.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/courtesy-of-libertys-torch/DakWolfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-40764853263134358552013-01-17T18:54:03.025-05:002013-01-17T18:54:03.025-05:00Well said, Fran!Well said, Fran!furballnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-21629659755972019652013-01-17T11:56:07.515-05:002013-01-17T11:56:07.515-05:00"I have no idea how old that maxim is. It ori..."I have no idea how old that maxim is. It originated long before America. Probably it was coined in Europe, when Europe could still be non-sardonically called Christendom."<br /><br />Close, but no cigar. The maxim dates back to the Roman Republic, which makes it not merely older than the designation of Europe as "Christendom", but literally older than Christianity.<br /><br />Of course, the main thrust remains correct...the notion that ignorance of the law is no excuse builds upon the assumption (valid when first articulated in Latin, and continuing to be at least mostly valid through most of the centuries since) that ignorance of a law one is in the process of violating can only be of the utterly willful (and hence culpable) variety, rather than genuinely innocent. That is, that the law _makes sense_.<br /><br />Needless to say, this hasn't been the case in any Western society in my lifetime, or yours either.lelnethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08600824544185328505noreply@blogger.com