The future is scary if we expect government to solve all problems

In the Aug. 2 T.O. Acorn editorial ("Anti-smoking laws have a dark side"), it says, "If Americans continue to expect government to protect us from ourselves, freedom itself is at risk."

I agree, and further contend that all laws have a dark side.

We have far too many laws and lawyers. Law enforcement is lax as a result. Police don't sweat the small stuff because they're overburdened and understaffed. Homicides and burglaries rightfully take priority.

So who's going to enforce a smoking ban or the dog leash law or the 72-hour parking rule or standards on the color you paint your house or public profanity or cellphone abuse?

The list goes on and on, and is delegated to impotent bureaucrats in our local governments, who do little or nothing.

Should common sense and courtesy prevail, the "small stuff" would never happen. But with rudeness at epidemic proportions, the "small stuff" gets bigger. It seems as if we are all big children whose parents never taught us manners.

So we have more laws.

Democracy requires the active participation of an informed population. "We the people" have surrendered our will to the government. We're too "busy" to vote, let alone study the issues.

Freedom is a responsibility that no one seems to want; therefore, we don't deserve it. Let Big Brother tell us how to live.

We're more concerned with the cars we drive, the clothes we wear and the contents of our wallets. We want to be famous and rich, like rock stars and movie stars and pro athletes. We embrace cruel humor, egregious excess and vanity.

So is fascism coming back?

I don't know, but I genuinely fear for my children's future, and not just because of global warming. Steve Gunner Newbury Park