Justice and the Island of Tagg - PowerPoint Presentation Example

? Justice and the Island Of Tagg Task Justice and the Island Of Tagg Introduction A just law promotes coexistence among individuals in the society. Indeed, just laws promote mutual understanding among citizens in the society while unjust laws dictate to the people policies that governs them. Unjust laws oppose cultural values of the members of a society. According to Edlin (2008), formulating a just law requires a consensus from both the authorities and the public. Formulating a law without a consensus in the society will result to enactment of unjust laws. This is because the law will not reflect on the values of the minority in the society. Generally, unjust laws infringe on the fundamental rights of people such as the right to liberty (Edlin, 2008). Indeed, any law that disputes the right to life is unjust. Just laws Just laws enhance peaceful coexistence amidst the members of the public. They are laws used for upholding morals of the members of the public. Importantly, just laws strengthen the relationship amid the state and the citizens. Religious laws that uphold human dignity are moral laws. Environmental laws are “just laws” because they ensure protection of the ecosystem. Constitutional laws in most cases are just because they recognize the rights of individuals in influencing decisions on national debates (Sandel, 2007). Any law that has its basis on eternal/ natural law is a just law. Generally, just laws advocate for the respect of human life. Just laws should stipulate on the measures to be taken to uphold human dignity. A law is only just when it enhances positive development in the society. The values advocated for in just laws cuts across the values of the world’s cultures. Criminal laws are just and unjust depending on individual’s perception on crime. A policy that allows for vagueness can be just in various ways. Abolishing capital punishment is just in formulating laws. Fair interpretation of the law promotes justness in the society (Sandel, 2007). Nevertheless, an ideal situation cannot exist in a society regardless of the law in place. It is interesting that majority of the populace refer to specific laws as just; for example, the laws that protects life. Respecting or disobeying a law does not make it “just or unjust” at whatever circumstance. Just laws categorize the needs of the people in the society. Unjust laws Unjust laws deny citizens the right to utilize public resources for their own benefit. The council of elders should scrap laws that discriminate on gender in the island of Tagg. Laws that compel the state to make decisions on behalf of the citizens of the island of Tagg should be rejected because they are unjust. Authorities ought to repeal laws that prohibit freedom of expression among citizens of the island of Tagg. Repealing the laws benefits the public by giving them the right to access information. Laws that allow authorities to refute the public the privilege to access vital information are unjust because they create tension and anxiety among members of the public. According to Sandel (2007), a law is unjust based on an individuals’ rational thinking. Comparison between just and unjust laws According to Walzer, (2006), Laws are constructed social limitations to human behavior. They are devised to ensure order in the society. Each individual in the island is held responsible for maintaining the laws of the land. Laws can be just or unjust. In the case of Tugg Island, a just law is the one seen to represent an individuals and the society equitably. It elevates the human personality no matter the race, status or gender. It is rooted in the moral and religious laws of the people. An unjust law is one that is in disharmony with the moral laws (Sandel, 2007). For a law to be just one must have an understanding of the wrong they did and the punishment or reward should commensurate to the offence. Therefore, any law that lowers the human nature is unjust. Unjust laws relegate people to the status of animals or things. It classifies people and accords them second-class rights to accessing resources. Unjust laws lead to inequitable development and downgrade a group of people into low-quality life (Edlin, 2008). They are economically and sociologically unreasonable. A just law applies democracy and where democracy is viewed to be unjust; the law equalizes all persons such that the law elevates no one. Nonetheless, unjust laws uplift a person or a group of person. This accords them above the law rights and power to decide on what is made into law. Therefore, they make laws that do not bind them. The elders of Tugg must revise its policies and laws as to embody all members of the society. However most western investors and tourists entering the island grant institutions power over people. This is contrary to the laws among the Tugg that do not have institutions and leave people to act from moral conscience and guidance by the elders. Nonetheless, the outside influences must respect the communal system without perceiving it as uncivilized. The Tugg Island is not controlled by police and does not have a structured judicial system. An ideal justice system is when a majority obliges the minority to observe laws that it is ready to follow itself. Policy Recommendation The council of elders in Tagg Island must adopt a just philosophy as their key legal and political tool to controlling the wellbeing of the nation. This is because; the perception of justice is synonymous with high quality life and fairness (Rosen, 2006). It entails an integrated religious, moral and political based guiding principle to define rational justice measures. In addition to the sophisticated court system, Justice also encompasses the holistic approach of carrying out public duties, resource allocation and settling conflicting issues in a society (Walker, 2011). The Tagg Island is confronted with fundamental uniqueness from its location and demographics. In addition to its unique cultures, resources and environmental wellbeing, the country is also a tourism attraction site. For this reason, it receives diverse visitors ranging from; researchers, investors, missionaries and tourists. This is crucial to the economy and importance of the island. The elders should come up with legal precepts to ensure harmonious integration of all sectors in the society. These are to uphold peace and order that will enhance sustainability of the island (Rosen, 2006). The Tagg Island has special legal and political requirement vital to the sustenance of the economy. Majority of the land is controlled communally. Therefore, the elders must ensure that there is equitability in the redistribution of resources. This promotes communal solidarity and prevents chaos brought by dissatisfaction (Walker, 2011). Legal applications that grant other people more rights and access to resources must be revised to accommodate locals fairly especially, where resources are scarce. The foreigners and investors ought not to be perceived as the enemies of the Tagg people. Therefore, the laws should mandate investors to observe ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’. Consequently, public wealth should be committed to the welfare of all persons and not a few that have influence (Sandel, 2007). The council of elders in conjunction with the people should ensure that the society is compensated fairly before the repatriation of earnings by investors. Additionally, laws should be reasonable and should appear rational to the eyes of both the natives and foreigners. The needs and inclinations of the aliens should not be elevated as to overlook the contribution of the natives. A just system to grant the natives the rights to determine on sensitive issues of leadership, resource control, land rights and safety should be enacted. This will not only be respectful but also beneficial to the people. Additionally, it would be radical to device ways to extend unchallengeable rights to the natives in order to reduce exploitation from outsider investors and elites who are mainly from already developed nations. Conclusion The residents of Tagg Island are unique in their indigenous lifestyles. The people live simple lifestyles since they depend on the environment directly for resources. Hotels and oil firms are some of the development features in the island. Considering legal and cultural integrations is vital in protecting the livelihoods of these people. This is because they are constantly prone to exploitation and degradation of their culture and resources by outside influences (Sandel, 2007). Acts of aggression, segregation, economic sabotage and political greed must be checked to curb modern day injustices. This is cemented by fair sharing of income and equitability in application of laws as defined by their legal principles. Additionally, the elders must Endeavour to appreciate the laws of the outside world. This will guide them on relating with other people and maintain sufficiency and development within the island. References Walker, A. (2011). Fighting poverty, inequality and injustice: A manifesto inspired by Peter Townsend. Bristol: Policy Press. Rosen, L. (2006). Law as culture: An invitation. Princeton, NJ [u.a.: Princeton Univ. Press. Walzer, M. (2006). Just and unjust wars: A moral argument with historical illustrations. New York: Basic Books. Gert, B., & Oxford University Press. (2005). Morality: Its nature and justification. New York: Oxford University Press. Edlin, D. E. (2008). Judges and unjust laws: Common law constitutionalism and the foundations of judicial review. Ann Arbor, MC: University of Michigan Press. Sandel, M. J. (2007). Justice: A reader. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Read More