law

[marycatelli]

The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.

Tacitus

Comments

[ndrosen]

There may be something in that, although a state with few laws may also be corrupt. Orwell’s
Oceania was described as not having any laws, which left great scope for the arbitrary exercise of state power.

[madfilkentist]

Vagueness is also a factor. The enforcers can have vast power through having lots of stated powers or a few infinitely stretchable ones.

[marycatelli]

Contradictory ones are particularly nice.

[marycatelli]

They had whatever detailed things down to the level of "face crime."