Why do people rely on their government to dictate social norms?

Question

Why don't people let popular demand and common curtsy dictate social norms?

Great answer Larry R. but don't you think the cure is worse than the disease?

Answer 1

I think I understand what you are asking.
While Larry had some interesting things to say, it does not explain the fact that we as a people are passing laws such as "anti-hate" legislation to cover an area of misconduct that is already being covered by other laws. Societal pressure provoked additional laws making it more of a crime. For instance, for many years there were laws on the books of every state dealing with assault and battery, even degrees of that up to felonious assault. With a few specific assaults, even murders, society felt there should be additional laws covering the cases where members of minorities are targeted. For some reason, society feels the *reason* to assault and batter another is more wrong than the actual deed. In other words, we are passing emotions into laws.

Why this is done is because Americans (as well as other so-called "free" governments) are demanding those with the guns enforce their version of propriety and this is where democracy shows to be little more than a bully. Even though the minority prefer something, the majority can overrule them and outlaw their choice.
Take, for example, neighborhood organizational committees. These serve to limit what can be done as well as mandating what must be done to one's own property. Those entering assume their rights will be protected but some of the actual occurrences prove otherwise such as in one such Las Vegas community, a man chose to put a Marine flag on display. The committee told him to take it down or replace it with an American flag. Same can be said about the color one wishes to paint their house or front door or in one city in Oklahoma, which type of vehicle can be parked in front (pickups of any style or type were banned).

It all seems to me to be controlling other's behavior whether it affects the controller or not, a sort of "do as I say, not as I do". Busybodies, in other words.

Answer 2

Because of moral relativisim and fear of embarrisment.

Until the 60s social norms were just that, social. There were Republicans and Democrats, but we all shared pretty much the same basic mainstream Protestant ideology. JFK made his religion a big part of his campaign, (he was Catholic, believe it or not it was an issue) he cut taxes to stimulate the economy and ran on a platform that said the USA wasn't anti-communist enough, (he said we had a "missile gap" with the Russians) and sent the first troops into Vietnam. That would make him a far right Repulbican today. Heck even Ted Kennedy was pro-Life up until 1971.

During the 1960s that broke down. Moral relativisim, the absurd idea that some things could be right or wrong in some situations but not others, or that something could be true "for me" but not "true for you" started being taken seriously. People started to do things that ran counter to the accepted and conventional morality... like divorce, sex outside of marriage, drugs, etc.

Many of these things were legal, but were "just not done". The "rules" against them were enforced by comunity social norms. You would do, or not do, something because your neighbors, or the folks at church, or the guys in the bowling league, or the PTA or the Elks Club expected you to do (or not do) it. P.J. O'Rourke said once (I paraphrase) that the biggest reason his sisters were afraid of teen pregnancy was that if they got pregnant they would be thrown off the Cheerleading Squad.

Well when the smoke cleared and the 1960s were over, things were different. We spend our time watchin TV instead of going to bowling league or being in the PTA. We don't belong to fraternial organizations anymore. We don't know, talk to, or care about our neighbors. We don't have time to be involved in the community, most of us don't go to Church except for Christmas and Easter.

So the enforcement mechanisim for social norms broke down. Having all the ladies at the Episcopal Church Women lunch talk about you isn't the stigma it used to be.

Still some enforcement mechanisim is needed, at least for some social norms, and the only mechanisim left that everyone recognizes is the government... mainly because the government will come and toss you into jail for not recognizing it's authority.

So while in the 1930s if you didn't support your kids everyone would talk about you and shun you and not respect you, now you get a child support order slapped on you by the judge.

Answer 3

Probably the education system we've been brought up in has led us to believe that its is government that rules the people. Not the other way around. Even though we teach democracy, history books all say things like, "The U.S. government declared war on Iraq." Instead of saying, the United States of America and its people, declared war on Iraq.

Answer 4

i think society does dictate social norms and govenment, police, schools etc are social institutions. as a society our morals and values are dictated by what is socially acceptable but we each have our own ideas about what we consider to be morally right and wrong. thats where conflicts can happen.

Answer 5

Not all do. I strongly oppose the "social norm". Iam not in for the marriage divorce alimony cycel.

Answer 6

Where are you gettinig your information? I think we already do. That's why Jon Stewart wins more awards than Katie Couric.