The second fundamental problem with the statement is that disobeying unjust laws often has the opposite effect of what was intended or hoped for. Most anyone would argue, for instance, that our federal system or inconic taxation is unfair in one respect or another.

Yet the end result of widespread disobedience.  in this  case  tax  evasion  is  to  perpetuate the  system. Free-riders only compel the government to maintain tax rates at high levels in order to ensure adequate revenue for the various programs in its budget.

Yet another fundamental problem with the statement is that by just a violation of one sort of law, we find ourselves on a slippery slope toward sanctioning all Types of illegal behavior, including egregious criminal conduct. Returning to the abortion example mentioned above, a person strongly opposed to the freedom-of-choice position might maintain that the illegal blocking of access to an abortion clinic amounts to justifiable disobedience. However, it is a precariously short leap from this sort of civil disobedience to physical` confrontations with clinic workers, then to the infliction of property damage, then to the bombing of the clinic and potential murder.

In sum, because the inherent function of our laws is to balance competing interests, reasonable people with different priorities Will always disagree about the fairness of specific laws. Accordingly, radical action such as resistance or disobedience is rare]), justified merely by one’s subjective

Related posts:

1. Our Duty to Disobey Unjust Laws