Politics of "Bans"-Musings -1

Bans are Slothful Governance  

Our political and social leaders continue to use Bans and Prohibitions even in the face of strong evidence of their ineffectiveness and in many cases bad and vicious outcomes.

Banning or prohibiting is politically and administratively easy; a stroke of pen literally, in response to pressure from any righteous group large enough to carry some political weight.

Our leaders are savvy politicians. The bans and prohibitions are useful and easy tools in the scramble for moral high ground, beneficial in electoral politics. And also help  to draw the attention away from their own failings and misdeeds.

 However, enforcing bans and prohibitions takes much administrative and managerial capacity and energy. The outcomes are questionable and we as a society keep lurching from one ban to the next without any succor.  

In addition many forces- largely the underground which is fundamentally inimical to the society are let loose. 

To confront and control ganglands evermore admin capacity and energy is expended. We generate a vicious cycle- a downward spiral. 

Clearly, bans and prohibitions don't work; at the minimum, do not achieve the stated objectives.

Is there a better way? Surely methods can be devised for better social and political and even economic ends.

We will have to analyze, understand and re-state the objectives sought to be achieved by of Bans and Prohibitions.