A Brief History
On September 5, 1698, Czar Peter I of Russia (Peter the Great) enacted a tax on beards. This tax targeted the nobility in an effort to “westernize” Russia and proved highly unpopular. Many laws in the US have also been unpopular, and today we ask you to tell us which law you think is the worst law in US history, giving you some samples to choose from.
Digging Deeper
- “Blue Laws” against Sunday business practices
- Income Tax in 1861 and again in 1909 with the 16th Amendment
- Insanity defense
- Mandatory use of automotive seat belts, first in New York, in 1984
- Military Draft
- National 55 MPH Speed Limit, from 1974 to 1987
- “Obamacare,” also known as The Affordable Care Act, from 2010 has been criticized by some for being too intrusive and by others for being not intrusive enough!
- Prohibition, from 1920 to 1933 outlawing alcoholic beverages
- Red Light and Speed traffic cameras
Question for students (and subscribers): What historic law do you hate the most? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Bastiat, Frederic. The Law: The Classic Blueprint For A Free Society. Simon & Brown, 2010.
Lewis, JA. SILLY, WACKY, CRAZY, FUNNY, TRUE LAWS!!! Independently published, 2017.
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