No Swimming

Many years ago a government lived by a new set of laws. One of the new laws forbade swimming. The government was made up of a group of do-gooders who were worried about people, especially children, who could drown if they were allowed to swim. After the No Swimming law was passed anyone caught swimming was fined or sent to jail. People built secret swimming pools and charged bathers money to swim. Those who used the illegal swimming pools were arrested and put in jail for a long time. After a while the secret swimming pool owners started charging a lot of money to everyone who went swimming in their pools. They made so much money that they became organized criminals who fought each other to get rid of competition.

The government started a war on swimmers and spent billions fighting against the criminals in the swimming racket. The government built new prisons to house the offenders, and half the police force was used on the war against swimmers. In spite of all the money spent and all the lives lost fighting against the swim lords, it was a losing fight and many of the children and adults continued to swim. The swim lords became rich and powerful. They were able to influence legislation to make sure that the No Swimming law would not be repealed. They liked the way the government got rid of their competition.

You see, this is what happens when laws are made by do-gooders to protect us from ourselves.