Community Law and Order

Our society has blurred the concept of harm by loosening the definition to the point where anyone that feels offended by someone elses ideas also feels they have the right to seek retribution for that percieved offense. They then want that percieved offense prohibited by law and a strict punishment meted out. This way of thinking has muddled our criminal justice system and has led to exclusive law instead of inclusive law (specific law for every infinite number circumstances instead of simple law that includes all circumstances).

The US government at every level must concentrate on its primary role to assist citizens in defending themselves, but first the citizens need a clear definition of crime. There are only two ways that one can harm another, physically or financially, and both usually provide sufficient evidence for compensation of the victim and punishment of the perpetrator. The victim will only choose to come forward if the process is simple and when they think there is strong probability that the perpetrator will be punished. Our current criminal justice system provides neither.

The laws also need to be condensed and simplified so that the average citizen can participate in their government. During the Enron flap I read that there over 3000 laws against fraud, WHY?, fraud is fraud.

If your community wants additional laws locally, so be it, but the definition of harm in Berekeley, CA is very different from the definition of harm in Knoxville, TN. Localized laws allow people to vote with their feet, where nationalized laws make everyone feel trapped.
This idea will never succeed in every community, but it can be done if your community wants to do it. If they don't and you do, maybe its time to move.