Words Gather Here: The Question

To be or ought to be.
That is the question.

The answer is
we ought to be friends.

We ought to balance our appetites and ambitions out of regard for each other, because we do better with mutual respect, restraint and reciprocity. Otherwise there is law, judgment and retribution.

For example, if we agree to obey the speed limit, there are fewer accidents, which keeps kids safe on the way to school. Then in a safer world, we pay less for insurance. Nice. However, some commuters want to get to work more quickly, and don't like reduced speed limits in school zones enforced by cameras and fines.

One commuter is the premier of Ontario who doesn't approve of a "tax" on speeding because, according to him, Ontario is all about BUSINESS (one of the thousand names for god)... unless it interferes with summer recess, June 9 to October 16. Tough job being premier. Maybe we should let him get to the cottage without speed limits.

While Doug is at the new cottage, the old one rents for $750 per night, BYOS (bring your own smoke detector). So Doug can make about 120 x $750 = $90,000 during his four months off from parliament without providing a functioning smoke alarm to his tenants. Maybe there should be a law.

OK, that's a little wacky. But you know what I mean. Doug thinks we shouldn't cumber people with regulations. He's just TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS, which, in his book, is the first commandment. He has a point: laws can be oppressive. LAW is a name for another ontologically untenable god. But it seems like we let business get control of law regulating society in the interest of business. Business within the law, both motivated by regard for the common good would better.