Final answer:
Effective societal reform involves not just law enactment but also legitimate enforcement, public participation, civic accountability, and consistency with economic principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
In my opinion, the enactment of laws is only the initial step in reforming society; for a law to have an impact, it must be effectively implemented. Here are four points that support this view:
- Legitimate use of power: Laws require the backing of a government that legitimately wields power and can enforce them. Without this, laws are mere suggestions without the means for enforcement.
- Public involvement: Society progresses when its citizens actively participate, deciding and revising laws to ensure they reflect current needs and values, which mitigates the risks of corruption and factionalism.
- Responsibility beyond institutions: Although institutions are put in place to represent the people, in a democracy it is ultimately the responsibility of the citizens to hold these institutions accountable and ensure they act for the public good.
- Economic principles: Laws affecting markets cannot overturn inherent economic principles. For the law to truly work, its implications must align with these principles or risk having unintended consequences that defeat the law’s purpose.
These points indicate that meaningful societal reform requires active government enforcement, public participation, grass-roots accountability, and alignment with economic realities.