This is a tale of one law that wasn't thought through, and one that was.

The one that wasn't thought through is illustrative of the law of unintended consequences, and of a wider problem.

The one that was may prove to be sadly necessary as the economy continues to unwind, and is deserving of a bit of a refresher course.

The law not thought through was Nebraska's “safe haven'' law.

There are few stories as gut-wrenching, as needlessly tragic, as those involving newborns being abandoned to die. Many states, including North Carolina, have passed laws that allow an infant to be turned over to a responsible person or agency without the parent being charged in hopes of preventing such an outcome.

Nebraska laudably passed its own version of a safe-haven law earlier this year. However, there was a squabble over setting an age cap and the legislation was passed with no cap at all.

That's where the law of unintended consequences came into play. (more…)