[Kharon]

Sometimes it's instructive to go back to basic principles, we should be schooled in how society causes civilisation, bearing directly on how much governing do we really require.

One notable architect of the American revolution being Thomas Paine. Architect in the sense that he wrote forceful essays which inspired the American colonists. The following excerpt courtesy the Foundation for Economic Education, a US libertarian think tank.

Quote:

"In The Rights of Man, fifteen years later, he wrote that the

great part of that order which reigns among mankind is not the effect of government. It has its origin in the principles of society and the natural constitution of man. It existed prior to government, and would exist if the formality of government was abolished. The mutual dependence and reciprocal interest which man has upon man, and all the parts of civilised community upon each other, create that great chain of connection which holds it together. The landholder, the farmer, the manufacturer, the merchant, the tradesman, and every occupation, prospers by the aid which each receives from the other, and from the whole. Common interest regulates their concerns, and forms their law; and the laws which common usage ordains, have a greater influence than the laws of government. In fine, society performs for itself almost everything which is ascribed to government.

By way of example, Paine pointed out that

for upwards of two years from the commencement of the American War, and to a longer period in several of the American States, there were no established forms of government. The old governments had been abolished, and the country was too much occupied in defence to employ its attention in establishing new governments; yet during this interval order and harmony were preserved as inviolate as in any country in Europe.… The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act: a general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.

It is not true, according to Paine, “that the abolition of any formal government is the dissolution of society,” for in fact the abolition of formal government “acts by a contrary impulse, and brings [society] the closer together.” For

it is but few general laws that civilised life requires, and those of such common usefulness, that whether they are enforced by the forms of government or not, the effect will be nearly the same.

To no one's surprise, The Rights of Man was suppressed by the English government. By the beginning of 1792, it had become a crime to be found with a copy of The Rights of Man in one's possession. A warrant was issued for Paine's arrest."

End quote.

A "few general laws" would do very well in aviation remembering that in regard to safety, by the statistics, by far the greatest general rule is recency. In other words the more that an individual flys his safety increase exponentially. Therefore Government get off our backs.

"K" edit - Nicely done Sandy - rings my bells, it says exactly what I tried to say and more. Here, have a Tim Tam. Cheers.