--- In [email protected], George Martin <command...@...> wrote:
> Governments generate social rules, designed to accommodate what's
> "fair" (for most people).
I don't think that social rules are necessarily developed by governments.
Social rules (good manners) are adopted voluntarily by members of a society out
of necessity and passed down as traditions. However, government laws are
perfectly capable of rendering certain social rules obsolete.
For example, consider welfare laws that entitle individuals to receive livable
wages regardless of their productivity. Those individuals no longer need to
worry about adhering to social rules such as conduct and appearance standards.
The paychecks will keep coming regardless of how rude or unkempt the individual
is.
As the welfare state expands, social rules become less relevant. Maybe that's
why each new generation of citizens is considered to be more rude than the last.
---Sasan
