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By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 25/03/2026

The most important part of any law, rule or policy isn't what it permits or prohibits - it's whether you can *enforce* the law at all. 1/

A stern robed judge at the top of an orange slide, holding a gavel, his feet facing us. He is in a courtroom. On the walls behind him hang portraits of Lina Khan and John Sherman.

Image:
Harrison Keely (modified)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Clay_County_Courthouse_courtroom_in_2007.jpg

CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en

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DocteurCosmos (modified)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Playground_slide_close-up.jpg

CC BY 3.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

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By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 25/03/2026

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog: pluralistic.net/2026/03/25/f... 2/

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Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow – No trackers, no ads. Black type, white background. Privacy policy: we don't collect or retain any data at all ever period.

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Tim Knittel • Bourbon Educator & Events @tim-knittel.com · 26/03/2026

Enforcement is also directly related to the ability to apply actual sufficient punishment to induce compliance. A fine as punishment, for example, is often non-deference for a rich person and is absolutely integrated into business decisions as a cost weighed against benefits of breaking the law.

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