Unenforceable Laws

As we contemplate the opening of the 111th Congress next week, let us hope that some of its members will remember, or at least have their staffs draw their attention to, these wise words uttered by Albert Einstein:

"Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced."

Since opinion polls, and the desire for re-election at almost any cost, now drive political behavior, the consequence is an almost obsessive need for politicians to be seen to be doing something. The result, all too often, is a panderfest of unenforceable law.