Monday, March 5, 2012

The US Code is an App!

The US Code is an iTunes App.  The entire US Code!  On your own iPhone.

The US Code Is described here by Wikipedia.

The Code of Laws of the United States of America[1] (variously abbreviated to Code of Laws of the United States, United States Code, U.S. Code, or U.S.C.) is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal laws of the United States. It contains 51 titles[2] (along with a further 4 proposed titles[3]).

 Imagine it:  All the laws of the land, and we are a nation of laws, on your iPhone.  In your pocket.  Senator Byrd always carried a copy of the constitution in his breast pocket.  Now Senators can carry a copy of all the federal laws.

What is it worth to carry the most valuable document in your pocket?  Close to your heart?  It is as beneficial as wearing a crucifix or sacred medal.  It has good PR value that says this is what the carrier believes in.  What exactly does it say?  Hard to say unless it actually says something with a picture or words on it or the symbol itself is an expression of belief.

The US Code on an App in the breast pocket says it all.  In detail.  Fantastic!  At any given time it can be consulted to find out what the law is and if an individual is or is not breaking the law and if so, what the penalties might be.

H.R. 347 might someday become law.  Become part of the US Code. An amendment to US Code – Section 3056.  If so, creating a future update to the App.

Johnathan Turly discusses H.R. 347 here.

"Coincidentally and often, abuses of civil or human rights in the United States derive from the same source as law made via precedent. That source is vague or overly broad legislation and imprecise use of language.  As a matter of good drafting practice, this is why precision language is encouraged – to provide clarity and minimize ambiguity in the letter of the law. When vague laws create issues in court, the court either makes a ruling creating precedent and consequently a plan of action for how to address the issue moving forward although occasionally a law is overturned in toto for vagueness and the legislature can take a fresh swing writing the law."

However, it seems to be a trend that vague or overly broad language could be fairly described as being purposefully adopted allowing “wiggle room” for Federal authorities to potentially abuse civil and human rights under the color of authority."

Wiggle Room?  Isn't that what Wall Street wants to buy in financial legislation?  That wiggle room in the law that makes the law not applicable to whatever the law states?  If that wiggle room is in doubt then it becomes a matter for the courts, the Supreme Court if necessary, to resolve.  Sounds like legislation by the courts by default (or intention?) of the law making institution of our country?

Dangerous stuff.  That is exactly how laws are bought.  Not necessarily laws blatantly favoring the buyer but laws that are not well written precisely stated laws in themselves but once on the "books", part of the US Code, interpretation is thrown to the courts.  Overwork and under staff and buy the courts as well as those prosecutors that bring cases to the courts and what is the result. 

Result?  How many banksters have been prosecuted.  They crashed the economic system but no laws were broken?  There were laws but they were repealed.  The remaining laws have wiggle room, by design.




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