Legend has it that a group of world’s most prominent jurists once gathered together - I think in London - to study the Ten Commandments. They came to the conclusion that these were the most perfect set of laws ever devised.
Well given the claimed authorship, they would be wouldn’t they?
The eminent advocates went on to proclaim that if only everyone were inclined to keep these laws, we could create paradise on earth.
No more stealing, no killing, no bearing false witness, no adultery heaven forbid, and of course the tenth commandment, thalt shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods - believed to be the one most broken - the sin of envy.
Envy is said to be what drives the free enterprise society. Coveting thy neighbour’s goods impels us all to strive for more and more and keeps the commercial sector humming.
I think about all this as I watch TV One’s line-up of prime-time reality shows that deal with a variety of crimes in our communities.
On Border Security both here and across the Tasman we are entertained as travellers devise all kinds of cunning plans to bring illegal drugs, food or other contraband into Australasia through airports awash with customs officers. The film crew then visit postal centres where sniffer dogs find illegal substances in the most unlikely places.
The Force, Women in Blue, Police Ten 7, and Highway Cops all feature an army of police men and women who have to face frightening crime scenes plus a myriad of disturbing practices, much of these fuelled by alcohol.
In Coastwatch we see our coastline plundered, mostly by indigenees or Asians, who seem to think that the common-sense laws put in place so the endangered food source can be maintained for all does not apply to them.
Water Patrol police find the same attitude by many of those boaties they pursue who feel it is their right and privilege to take the harvest from the sea in larger quantities than is allowable or in sizes smaller than the law prescribes, often endangering themselves and their passengers with too few lifejackets.
What really gets me is the cost to society as a result of these illegal practices and just how our country, or any country for that matter, can afford to pay their law enforcement people from a diminishing pool of taxpayers.
The jurists made the point that if everyone obeyed the commandments the savings to society would be astronomical.
We wouldn’t need politicians; there would be no laws to pass. Without laws we wouldn’t need a police force and we’d have no need for lawyers, nor the judiciary. No courthouses, no police stations and no house of representatives.
You’re warming to this aren’t you?
No need to lock your doors; you could leave the keys in your car, walk the streets with impunity all hours of the day and night and the Rolf Harris’s of this world would be non-existent. More families would pray together and stay together.
Presumably world peace would break out leaving beauty pageant contestants speechless and the armaments industry would die a natural death.
And yet there are downsides. Reality TV would be a thing of the past and there be no more dramas; just comedies. Newspapers would be bereft of headlines and the written word would be dull and boring.
No gossip, so conversation would be bland.
Without envy a certain amount of sloppiness may creep into our lives. If we’re not keeping up with anybody we might just let standards slide.
Politicians, policemen, judges, soldiers, sailors and airmen, although paid out of the public purse, pay taxes, and money is made round to go round.
Lawyers may not be missed, but we are constantly entertained by public figures. Hone Harawira’s iniquity and Kim Dotcom’s excessiveness are just two examples.
Looking back the column does read like a sermon. I must check and see if there are any vacancies at Westminster Abbey.
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