In the distant past—it seems a long time ago now—the law was known to and understood by the general community. It was, in substance, customary law, developed over the ages and aptly called the Common Law. That more people can write and read is not the only reason why those who govern us have tried to put so much of the old law, and too much new law, into writing. They frequently assume too much: that they can say it better than it has been and will be said and developed in reasoned decisions over time. Even allowing for increases…