Jul 16, 2026 · 26 min · 11 segments
When someone refuses to play by the rules, should you keep following them—or fight fire with fire? Constitutional societies depend on more than written laws. They depend on reciprocity, restraint…
Yeah, sure, like, we like the Constitution and freedom of speech and all the other benefits of the rule of law or a rules-based political system.
My book basically argued that that was the driving variable of Anglo-American success, that is, that the constitutional or rules-based political systems of both countries allowed first Great Britain and then the United States to thrive, and I stand by that, but I would emphasize that it's the system that led to the success, not the rules themselves.
There's a natural human tendency to think that if something is good, then more of that thing is better, but that's not always the case.
For example, people like might like having their grandma come visit for a couple of days, but you probably don't want her on your ass 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
lay forth the rules needed to establish the system and ensure its functioning, but then leave the individuals on the ground, that is, the ones who have to actually enforce those rules and who generally have the most complete information, a degree of discretion.
More than anything, the rules should provide the guidelines and, importantly, guard rails against abuse and corruption.
Okay, so this is all getting a little abstract, so let's try to make it more concrete.
Yeah, sure, like, we like the Constitution and freedom of speech and all the other benefits of the rule of law or a rules-based political system.
My book basically argued that that was the driving variable of Anglo-American success, that is, that the constitutional or rules-based political systems of both countries allowed first Great Britain and then the United States to thrive, and I stand by that, but I would emphasize that it's the system that led to the success, not the rules themselves.
There's a natural human tendency to think that if something is good, then more of that thing is better, but that's not always the case.
For example, people like might like having their grandma come visit for a couple of days, but you probably don't want her on your ass 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
lay forth the rules needed to establish the system and ensure its functioning, but then leave the individuals on the ground, that is, the ones who have to actually enforce those rules and who generally have the most complete information, a degree of discretion.
More than anything, the rules should provide the guidelines and, importantly, guard rails against abuse and corruption.
Okay, so this is all getting a little abstract, so let's try to make it more concrete.
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