alt Hacker NewsThis is a huge problem with our legal system. Either make the law simple and absolute or don't make it a law. Intent should play absolutely zero role. Otherwise, all you get is a corrupt system of lawfare that interprets the intentionally ambiguous law to suit those in power.
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> Either make the law simple and absolute or don't make it a law.
The world isn't simple and absolute, and the law isn't a computer program.
I hit with my car in the night a pedestrian who is spaced out on mescaline and has suicidal tendencies. Vs I hit with my car a neighbor whom I had and have long list of legal disputes and physical confrontations and death threats.
Both hits are the same, resulting damage/death same. Law differentiates on (proven or disproven) intent and resulting sentencing difference may be huge. Or at least should be. World and people are unfortunately anything but simple generic use cases.
Million other cases proving there are good reasons to take intent into account, even if surface for mistreatment is not small. Unjustice otherwise would be bigger IMHO.
>Either make the law simple and absolute or don't make it a law. I
Government doesn't just give up power like that. And they sure don't give it up over the kicking and screaming of the myriad of industries that benefit as middle men and over the kicking and screaming of the "there ought to be a law" class of useful idiots that exist for every exist of policy.
Intent matters.
You cannot reasonably create a law that covers all situations in their entirety. Even if you could, it would become obsolete the second it's in effect