Woohoo! Yeah, I think I've confused myself. I think its standard to test a criteria advanced by going to the extremes. It saves time. If you say 'this is the criteria we should use' then it only makes sense to determine what outcomes fall under said criteria. So when you say we are policymakes unto ourselves, that we can decide independently which laws we can cast aside (as long as we feel they are 'unjust') - then I test that criteria. So my examples aren't bizarre - then are on point - but they are extreme, and in evaluating a criteria you'd want to know what you're allowing on the extremes. Fair enough. I use silly myself instead of stupid and/or jackass.
