Line by Line - Verse 57, Lines 6-7

-- In the kingdom the multiplication of prohibitive enactments increases the poverty of the people;
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

The more laws and restrictions there are,
The poorer people become.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

When there are many restrictions in the world
The people become more impoverished
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

The more restrictions
a nation imposes,
the poorer its people become.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

From my perspective -- remember that I'm a socialist -- the problem with regulations is that they are too often pointed in one direction: toward the 99 percent. The regulations that govern our lives are numerous and rigid, while the regulations that govern the lives of the elite are less numerous, very flexible and, in some cases, nonexistent.

Even worse, the state spends inordinate amounts of time, resources and money ensuring that we peons toe the line, while looking the over way when it comes to the rich and powerful. Time and time again, we receive the shaft. Time and time again, the rich receive pardons and bailouts.

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