If you could get off scot free....

[Dauphin]

...would you commit crimes? Absolute power and all that. Or a similar question, are you an untouchable to use a US prohibition term, or do you have your price? And of course, would you pay your taxes, from whence the thread title borrows its name.

Answers on a postcard please.....

[Jon Miller]

Nope

JM

[LordShiva]

Apart from doing things that shouldn't be crimes anyway (like, serving booze to adults who aren't yet 21), nope.

[Solly]

Yes. My morality is different to the law.

[Perfection]

[Drake Tungsten]

Who would pay taxes if they didn't have to?

[Zkribbler]

Well, Drake, that kinda shoots down the whole governmental financing plan of the Libertarians, doesn't it?

[Aeson]

Nope. If I really did have absolute power, the law would conform to me in cases where there is currently a discrepancy...

If I just wouldn't have to deal with any legal consequences, I wouldn't behave any differently. I already live my life according to my own personal set of ethics and morals, rather than legal restrictions.

[SlowwHand]

It shows.

[Solver]

If I had no legal consequences to any action, I would probably act with minimal differences to how I do now. I believe that laws do not define ethics or morals, and I live according to my morals - however, fortunately for me, most legal restrictions do not contradict my morals. Ain't I lucky!

[chequita guevara]

I'd probably rob banks and take what I want from stores. I wouldn't physically harm anyone though.

And no, I wouldn't pay my taxes if I could get away with it.

[SlowwHand]

I know I'll get argument, but laws are based off morals.

[Solver]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I know I'll get argument, but laws are based off morals.

Laws should be based off morals. As for it being so, I disagree. First, whose morals? Those of the ministers who make the laws, or whose? Second, many laws are geared towards the well-being and integrity of state. Like tax laws. Or take the law that it's a criminal activity to threaten the President / Prime Minister / King / whathaveyou. It's a law about state security, it's a law that should exist, but is it really based on morals, taking threats to the ruling person differently than threats towards an ordinary citizen?

[Kuciwalker]

Not in general, no.

[Pekka]

Depends what the laws are.. in general though, I guess not.. I really have no urge to do things that are currently forbidden by the law.

I might drive very very fast if I'd be in a big wide road and no one was there though.. But I guess that's pretty much about it.