The Strangers of Today

Long ago the world was different.

People lived in communities in which everyone was known. In these communities concepts like laws and government were elastic.

A good example would be a modern day small town. A young boy goes for a joy-ride in his father's car and gets pulled over by the Sheriff. Instead of writing the boy up and participating in a lawful and extremely regulated legal process - the Sheriff simply drives to the boy's house, talks to the father whom he knows personally, and leaves it in the father's hands.
The Sheriff knows the boy, he understands that kids will be kids, and he knows the father will take care of it.

In a small community this is entirely acceptable. The Sheriff likely knows everyone and therefore he can interact with everyone on a personal and elastic basis that benefits the community as a whole.

However it breaks down when the community becomes so large that the Sheriff doesn't know everyone. Where there the Sheriff's dealings with people he knows and people he doesn't know would create a measure of injustice.

This is the heart of all modern laws and regulations. This is the heart of modern government and society.
Laws are Regulated and Venerated because most people these days are Strangers.
The Constitution simply exists to protect individuals from Strangers. 

In a society where every single person as complete and easy to access to any one else; where they can have an in-depth discussion with them - the need for extensive protective legislation is non-existant.

This is why the world is the way it is today.
Because we live in society of strangers.

And it is suffocating.