The article Jon H links highlights a problem in common with most of a book I’m reviewing for Carolina Journal — a denial that there are fundamental differences between individual virtues and responsibilities, and the virtues and responsibilities of magistrates (or government more generally). It is sophistry of the crudest kind to see Jesus’ commandments against personal vengeance, as one example, then try and use that to deny the responsibility — ordained by God, btw — of the state to punish wrongdoing in a judicious manner. The columnist is just seeing the advanced state of such denial in our neighbor to the north.