The Nasty Numbers-- better late than....

I'm sorry this took so long. Too much going on, and a lot to learn as well.

As background, it is worth learning that the role of the lawyer in this country changed under FDR. During and after his administration their role expanded. More served in government and saw their new role as one of doing good/achieving social goals, through legal channels and the work of the courts. Washington DC,outside the government proper, began to fill with lawyers as lobbyists and litigators creating a climate that encouraged the growth of the number of lawyers running for office. That confluence has brought us to where we are today. And here, at last, is that figure I promised: The Legal Reform Now website puts the percentage of lawyers serving in the Obama Administration at a whopping 80%.


That is a shocking figure when you compare it to the level in past administations even though it includes Mrs.Obama! There are twenty two lawyers in the White House Counsel's office and "several dozen" with Obama elsewhere. Under George W.Bush they made up 38% of the Legislature and the Executive branch.In other past administrations lawyers in the Executive branch were in the range of 35% to 6o%.

What is my objection to all these lawyers? It has to do in part with the idea of their administering the laws they created, but even more its their 'legalthink'.
Would you expect to see only french chefs in the UN kitchen? Same deal with lawyers in the US legislature. We need far more than one mental cuisine in government.


Looking at the time it has taken me to get back to this decided me to apply a little discipline, and pledge to let no more than one week pass between postings. It's not that I consider this blog all that important to the world at large. It is, rather, that I use it to get my own thoughts together, to form an information based opinion, and to classify events in the world by their importance level in my own mind. In simple terms, it helps me know where I want to go.

A final thought on this day 1-19-10. Go Brown!!!! Lt. Col in the National Guard and a lawyer as well. In my book one redeems the other!