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We all want to be masters of our own destiny but we do not live in isolation. Our lives are determined largely by the actions of others. Even so, a measure of control over what we do, where and how we live and our personal behaviour is a clear aim for us all. Society instigates rules to govern some aspects of our lives. These are designed, at least in theory, to maximize societal harmony and minimize personal inconvenience and restriction of freedom.

The concept of this is wholly acceptable. In the beginning we kept to one side of the road to avoid bumping into each other. The rules developed to accommodate fast-moving, potentially lethal cars. Without the rule of the road today the level of carnage would be dramatically worse than it is.

Rules spread. People in positions of power, even quite small amounts of power, find it convenient to shift work and responsibility to others who are unable to refuse it. Necessary and unnecessary rules get mixed up. The syndrome was epitomized for me when I saw this notice in the middle of an empty field. It said only one thing “Do not throw stones at this notice”. So I did.

Today we are overwhelmed by rules many of which are contradictory – by obeying one you break another. That is one reason why we have to be selective about which rules to obey and which to break. There is more to it than that, though. The mathematician George Polya, (1887-1985) said it well:

Pedantry and mastery are opposite attitudes toward rules. To apply a rule to the letter, rigidly, unquestioningly, in cases where it fits and in cases where it does not fit, is pedantry … To apply a rule with natural ease, with judgment, noticing the cases where it fits, and without ever letting the words of the rule obscure the purpose of the action or the opportunities of the situation, is mastery.

Unfortunately it is difficult to practice such commonsense when the law is mostly applied literally and with little reference to justice. It is therefore up to us as individuals to determine which rules apply, when and to what extent.

Bureaucracy is now almost totally out of control. Hundreds of meaningless signatures by people who do not know what they are signing or why, all done on the say so of a professional whose terms and conditions include advance absolution for any possible mishap or mistake on his part are making a mockery of personal responsibility.

While we study the way to reform capitalism, business, democracy, religion and education perhaps we should also take a hard look at the rules that do not seem to make much sense. I for one will pledge my vote to the party that promises to repeal three bits of legislation for every new one it creates.

Perhaps that way we will begin to end the tyranny of rules.