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What is Legislation
What, then, is legislation? It is an assumption by one man, or body of
men, of absolute, irresponsible dominion over all other men whom they can
subject to their power. It is an assumption by one man, or body of men, of
a right to subject all other men to their will and their service. It is an
assumption by one man, or body of men, of a right to abolish outright all
the natural rights, all the natural liberty of all other men; to make all
other men their slaves; to arbitrarily dictate to all other men what they
may, and may not do; what they may, and may not, have; what they may, and
may not, be. It is, in short, the assumption of a right to banish the
principle of human rights, the principle of justice itself, from off the
earth, and set up their own personal will, pleasure, and interest in its
place. All this, and nothing less, is involved in the very idea that there
can be any such thing as legislation that is obligatory upon those upon
whom it is imposed.
From: Lysander Spooner's
"Natural Law, or the Science of Justice: A Treatise on Natural Law, Natural
Justice, Natural Rights, Natural Liberty, and Natural Society; Showing that
All Legislation Whatsoever is an Absurdity, a Usurpation, and a Crime.
Part First."
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