http://crookedtimber.org/2004/05/07/the-cost-of-legislation/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Fri, 25 May 2012 22:06:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://crookedtimber.org/2004/05/07/the-cost-of-legislation/comment-page-1/#comment-27637 Robin Green Sun, 09 May 2004 10:47:57 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1526#comment-27637 Hmm. The government seems to say the law will never be enforced against teenagers kissing or touching. But I wonder if they would now allow, say, a Tatu concert, seeing as Tatu often engage in kissing on-stage and are (or were) underage - and seeing as how that makes their show in a way premissed on an act which is now illegal under British law. Of course, some might say that banning Tatu concerts is a good idea. More seriously, I can sympathise with the government here. They're trying to avoid child abusers being able to get off via loopholes. As with abortion, it's impossible to draw a universally-applicable and universally-acceptable moral line on underage sexual activity - so context-sensitive discretion needs to be exercised by the CPS and by courts. Hmm. The government seems to say the law will never be enforced against teenagers kissing or touching. But I wonder if they would now allow, say, a Tatu concert, seeing as Tatu often engage in kissing on-stage and are (or were) underage – and seeing as how that makes their show in a way premissed on an act which is now illegal under British law. Of course, some might say that banning Tatu concerts is a good idea. More seriously, I can sympathise with the government here. They’re trying to avoid child abusers being able to get off via loopholes. As with abortion, it’s impossible to draw a universally-applicable and universally-acceptable moral line on underage sexual activity – so context-sensitive discretion needs to be exercised by the CPS and by courts.

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/05/07/the-cost-of-legislation/comment-page-1/#comment-27636 Idiot/Savant Fri, 07 May 2004 23:47:57 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1526#comment-27636 So, does this mean that it will be illegal for politicians to kiss babies? So, does this mean that it will be illegal for politicians to kiss babies?

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/05/07/the-cost-of-legislation/comment-page-1/#comment-27635 mdog Fri, 07 May 2004 21:17:27 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1526#comment-27635 The above quote about mutually agreed apon, non-exploitive sexuality would be awesome if it came from anywhere other than the state. sexual respect is way too important to let the government fuck it up. eg look at hate crimes legislation: written with liberatory intentions and now used against anti-capitalist, earth and animal-liberation direct actionists. The above quote about mutually agreed apon, non-exploitive sexuality would be awesome if it came from anywhere other than the state. sexual respect is way too important to let the government fuck it up. eg look at hate crimes legislation: written with liberatory intentions and now used against anti-capitalist, earth and animal-liberation direct actionists.

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/05/07/the-cost-of-legislation/comment-page-1/#comment-27634 bryan Fri, 07 May 2004 18:39:54 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1526#comment-27634 damn that ashcroft. damn that ashcroft.

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/05/07/the-cost-of-legislation/comment-page-1/#comment-27633 jdw Fri, 07 May 2004 17:44:36 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1526#comment-27633 _What the hell is going on over there? What is the driving social force or logic behind this nonsense?_ Seems pretty forward-thinking to me. A spokesman: "We accept that genuinely mutually agreed, non-exploitative sexual activity between teenagers does take place and in many instances no harm comes from it." Can anybody imagine an American politician saying that? What the hell is going on over there? What is the driving social force or logic behind this nonsense? Seems pretty forward-thinking to me. A spokesman: “We accept that genuinely mutually agreed, non-exploitative sexual activity between teenagers does take place and in many instances no harm comes from it.” Can anybody imagine an American politician saying that?

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/05/07/the-cost-of-legislation/comment-page-1/#comment-27632 Gary Farber Fri, 07 May 2004 17:29:00 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1526#comment-27632 "This isn’t the sort of thing I would have associated with Blair, but I’m a very casual observer, from quite afar, of British politics." It's most assuredly the sort of thing associated with the Right Honourable David Blunkett, and, indeed, you've not been paying attention to the Home Offices' many moves to restrict civil liberties and remove protections from law, ever since Blair came into office. “This isn’t the sort of thing I would have associated with Blair, but I’m a very casual observer, from quite afar, of British politics.” It’s most assuredly the sort of thing associated with the Right Honourable David Blunkett, and, indeed, you’ve not been paying attention to the Home Offices’ many moves to restrict civil liberties and remove protections from law, ever since Blair came into office.

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/05/07/the-cost-of-legislation/comment-page-1/#comment-27631 Gary Farber Fri, 07 May 2004 17:23:26 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1526#comment-27631 I posted about this <a href="http://amygdalagf.blogspot.com/2004_05_02_amygdalagf_archive.html#108360858461746601">four days ago</a>. I commend Avedon Carol's (a founder and speaker for <i>Feminists Against Censorship</i> <a href="http://www.sideshow.free-online.co.uk/smay04.htm#041359">comments</a> to you. I posted about this four days ago. I commend Avedon Carol’s (a founder and speaker for Feminists Against Censorship comments to you.

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/05/07/the-cost-of-legislation/comment-page-1/#comment-27630 DJW Fri, 07 May 2004 15:34:03 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1526#comment-27630 What the hell is going on over there? What is the driving social force or logic behind this nonsense? This isn't the sort of thing I would have associated with Blair, but I'm a very casual observer, from quite afar, of British politics. What the hell is going on over there? What is the driving social force or logic behind this nonsense? This isn’t the sort of thing I would have associated with Blair, but I’m a very casual observer, from quite afar, of British politics.

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/05/07/the-cost-of-legislation/comment-page-1/#comment-27629 Justin @ RSR Fri, 07 May 2004 13:41:15 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1526#comment-27629 You make some excellent points. This reminds me of the campaign finance reform bill... both parties expected the courts to deal with the more devious and egregious parts of the law... instead,, the courts have upheld some of the most ugly parts of the bill. The point here: separation of powers is proscribed for tension not assumption and fixing. The system depends on each branch functioning honestly for their own perceived interests, with no pretense. It just doesn't work. You make some excellent points. This reminds me of the campaign finance reform bill… both parties expected the courts to deal with the more devious and egregious parts of the law… instead,, the courts have upheld some of the most ugly parts of the bill. The point here: separation of powers is proscribed for tension not assumption and fixing. The system depends on each branch functioning honestly for their own perceived interests, with no pretense. It just doesn’t work.

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