Importance of laws in society

Daniela Marulanda.
Grammar.
Teacher Maria Irene Morán
Thursday, October 28, 2010

First of all, we need to know very well what are laws to get an idea of how
important are they in society. Law is a system of rules, usually enforced through
a set of institutions. The law sets the framework for a great many of the
interactions between members of our society (including legal creations like
companies and trusts). Of course, there are different categories of law, each one
with its own priorities. Law is, always, there to maintain the status quo, to
protect property, vested rights, and established relationships. In other words, is the
skeleton of our society because it controls what we do, when we do it and how
we do it. If there were no system of law to control how people operate their
lives then there would not be a society to live in. People would be free to make
decisions based solely on their principle, knowing they would not be punished for
their actions, so nothing would stop them for filling whatever they wished to do.
People would be free to steal, murder, damage, rape, trespass and terrorise what
or whomever they wanted when it suited them, and nothing would be done about.
That’s why a system of rules is needed in society: we need them to regulate
relationships between people with conflicting interests, for example, employers and
employees, landlord and tenants and neighbours. A legal system is the only
procedure which can ensure that human rights are respected.

Law provides a rich source of scholarly inquiry, into legal history, philosophy,
economic analysis or sociology. Law also raises important and complex issues
concerning equality, fairness and justice. "In its majestic equality", said the author
Anatole France in 1894, "the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under
bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread”. There were historical
figures such as Simon Bolivar, who believe in the power of laws - “Compatriots,
weapons will give you the independence, the laws will give you freedom.” On the
other hand, figures such as Voltaire – “the last degree of perversity is to provide
laws for the injustice” – and Descartes - “The multitude of laws often provides
excuses for vices” – view the darkest part of the laws. The same goes to Robert
Turgot -“Everywhere have stronger laws and have oppressed the weak”. Others,
such as San Agustin, who believes that laws were given to make the man better -
“The law has been given for the implore of grace, the grace has been given to
observe the law “ – San Agustin. Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, a polish writer, says his
own opinion “ All of us are equal before the law, but not with those that controls
it". Garry Anderson, a lawyer from Australia says “Law is a little bit like air. It
is everywhere and, without it, our society would not exist.” Writing in 350  BC,
the Greek philosopher Aristotle declared, "The rule of law is better than the rule
of any individual.”

Maybe laws aren’t that perfect, but I can assure that without laws, our society
would not be able to function effectively. Rape, murder and theft would become
an everyday occurrence which means that children would grow up only knowing
this. In their future, those things will be as normal as breath, something that just
happen and nobody do something against it. Nobody want that kind of future for
our future generations, that would be inconceivable!. This is the main reason about
why law is so important to society: to ensure the safety of future generations.
That’s why I believe that laws are the best thing ever happen because without
them, there would be no control. However like most things, they are also subject to
abuse by corrupt individuals who are in a position to do so. Maybe life would
be poor, nasty, brutish and short without law. Not as it is perfect with it, but law
gives us the framework for interaction. I think that without it, every aspect of
each interaction would need to be identified, negotiated, agreed and enforced. The
law significantly reduces the number of matters to be dealt with and provides the
means to enforce such agreements.1

1
Yahoo Answers http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081215132921AAhdeKj
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law
Garry Anderson http://www.abmm.co.nz/uploads/pdf/is_law_important.pdf
Mundocitas http://www.mundocitas.com/buscador/Leyes
Sercurioso http://sercurioso.com/2009/01/10-frases-celebres-sobre-las-leyes.html