>There are many parts of the world where this isn't the case.
There are even more parts of the world where the "rule of law" is what opresses people rather than criminals. Dictatorships, third world monarchies, banana republics etc. And sometimes, criminals and an opressive government go hand in hand, as in some latin american countries...
BTW, the district in Indonesia which has the best government is a monarchy (the Sultanate of Jogjakarta). It is a Constitutional Monarchy and the Sultan does not have legislative power (only executive power).
I will admit though that as an American it seems weird to have a Sultan of a small district in a larger parliamentary democracy. It would be like having a King of New Hampshire....
There are even more parts of the world where the "rule of law" is what opresses people rather than criminals. Dictatorships, third world monarchies, banana republics etc. And sometimes, criminals and an opressive government go hand in hand, as in some latin american countries...