Jonathan H. Adler Quote

“Through the rapid proliferation of laws reaching every corner of human existence, “the government is manufacturing more criminals now than ever before.” The list of illegal activities includes more minutiae than one would think possible. Beer-makers are barred from listing alcohol content on bottles, and liquor distilleries cannot advertise on TV. Filling one’s own prairie pothole can land a property owner in jail, as can protecting private property from unlawful intruders. Placing handbills in neighbors’ mailboxes is strictly prohibited, and attempting to sell nectarines of an improper size is a federal offense. Companies are no longer allowed to give salaried professionals partial days off without pay, and in Texas it is a crime to call oneself an interior designer without the government’s permission. It is perhaps easier to recount all that remains legal than all that is now prohibited.”

~ Jonathan H. Adler

Tyranny Now, LIBERTY, p. 55, November, 1994.

Ratings and Comments


Brian G., Orlando

Nothing could be more true! We started out with only 3 crimes punishable by the federal government: treason, piracy, and counterfeiting. Now there are thousands of federal statutes. Americans are starting to second guess the "land of the free."

jim k, Austin, Tx

Here's a good one, If the cops find one hemp plant anywhere on your property they can and will take your property. Hemp was so useful in many products that some of the original States required that citizens grow a certain amount. Now you go to jail for growing it or even having a leaf or seed in your possession, plus having your property confiscated. Nixon instituted this war on drugs in 1970 and now our jails are full of non-violent offenders. His war on drugs is 100 times worse than anything he did at Watergate.

Mike, Norwalk

An extremely terse start to an enormous body of slave's rules. Accurate and to the point.

dick, fort worth

It's not the proliferation of laws that is the problem, but the intent. Our drug laws are as seriously poor as the really stupid laws barring hemp use. But what would we do if we didn't have laws to enforce food and drug safety, minimum wages, safe working conditions, etc, etc?? Rely on the forces of capitalism? Ha!

Mike, Norwalk

dick, talking about really stupid laws (unlawful rules), the list would have to include food and drug safety, minimum wages, etc. No one needs rely on the forces of capitalism but rather, real and true justice. By way of example: if a food or drug harms someone, justice should be implemented to its fullest. Food and drugs under such microscope would excel in quality instead of just trying to meet an all powerful bureaucratic minimum.

Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown

More correctly, the criminal manufacturing department of the government is manufacturing their quota, but the law- abiding department of the government is challenging by creating the law-abiding adult citizen.

Mike, Norwalk
  • Reply
Mike, Norwalk Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown 8/16/24

Only the religiously mentally ill will believe the government (god) can create anything;  ESPECIALLY, a law-abiding adult citizen (slave).

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