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PERRIN LOVETT

~ Deo Vindice

PERRIN LOVETT

Tag Archives: trade

New Year, Same Government

01 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

budget, Courts, D.C., freedom, government, guns, jobs, Obama, Republicans, Second Amendment, standing army, terrorism, The People, trade, tyranny

Alabama and Clemson are on a collision course for the College Football Championship. That’s good. The administration is on a collision course with the Second Amendment. That’s bad. Sorry, no Archie Campbell funnies to follow.

Hussein Obama has a list of new years resolutions at the top of which is banning guns. He can’t do it outright: the law and 100 million armed Americans are against him. But he will try to sneak in a few executive orders in an attempt to abridge your rights.

His efforts, coming next week, are aimed at closing loopholes (aka the law) by placing more innocent people under the government’s microscope. The government is nothing more than a giant series of lies.

Hussein Obama claims he wants to combat gun violence, that he will preserve the right to bear arms while keeping arms out of the hands of an “irresponsible, dangerous few.” Lies. Smoke and mirrors. He wants more state control over guns, your life and everything else.

If he wanted to stop the irresponsible and dangerous he would disband the standing army and disarm federal agents. Better yet he would start to dismantle the government entirely. It serves no honest, legitimate purpose. If he wanted to combat gun violence he would try to get more people to carry guns in more places. An armed society is more polite and far safer than the alternative.

The people are justifiably concerned about terrorists. If Obama cared he would round up and deport, imprison or execute the terrorists. He dies not care. At all. He wants more jihadi savages in America so he will import more, many more.

He wants more foreigners period. He wants more visas for them and less jobs for you – no jobs, really.

If the foreigners can’t come here, then he will ship the jobs and money to them, i.e. ObamaTrade.

And, what will the beloved Republicans do about all this? Not nothing. No. They will go right along with the plan. Paul “Blackbeard” Ryan and company have consistently supported Obama’s health care tax, his budgets, his wars, his spying, his job-destroying trade programs, his immigrant, terrorism invasion, and anything else he wants. It is what they want. More power, less freedom.

The gun rules and the visa swarm may end up in court. The black-robed Sayers will be thrilled to have something to do. The problem is that, as with any bi-polar person or group, there’s just no telling what they will do once the mess hits the bench.

No money, no jobs, no guns, no liberty: Happy new year from your psychotic friends in D.C.

200xNxguncontrol.jpg.pagespeed.ic.XNtXdANPK7

Yep.

Traders and Traitors

20 Saturday Jun 2015

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns, News and Notes

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

America, Congress, Democrats, H.R. 1314 (2015), law, Obama, Republicans, Rick Allen, Rush Limbaugh, The People, trade, welfare

I can’t let this story go. I wrote recently again and again about H.R. 1314 (2015). President Obama (Democrat) and his Congressional Allies (Republicans) are pushing like all Holy Hell to enact new, secret and unprecedented trade authority.  This may spell the end of employment and prosperity in America.  Ho Hum.

The Trade Act of 2015 does the following:

* The TPP was constructed in secret by corporations. Congress and the public had no input. This is fundamentally undemocratic and undermines transparency in government.

* It is a trade deal that increases corporate power and CEO bonuses.

* Thousands of jobs out-sourced to countries that do not respect human rights or worker’s rights.

* It allows transnational corporations to sue countries if they believe they have been harmed (sometimes speculatively) in a trade agreement written by corporations and behind closed doors.

* Expands the deregulation of banks, hedge funds and insurance companies. Remember the Wall Street crash of 2008 due to deregulation? Regulations keep corporations honest and prevent them from harming us.

* Harms environmental regulations in counties that are part of the TPP.

           – Remember NAFTA and CAFTA? Well, here comes SHAFTA.

Do you like secrecy, unregulated bank power, and Washington control of … everything? Like your job?  Hate it? Want to give it to some H1-B foreigner?  If so, you’ll love H.R. 1314.  It covers the globe where NAFTA and CAFTA left off.

Remember, just for now, that we have a two-party political system. The Democrats and Republicans are diametrically opposed, remember? Rush Limbaugh says so.  Pay no heed to the support for H.R. 1314 and the corresponding Congressional votes.  The Two Parties are really different despite their similar support for the destruction of America.

A week or so back I recounted the story of my phone call to Rich Allen, he of Congress, supposedly representing me:

Last week, prior to the vote and temporary corporate profit defeat, I called my Congress Critter, one Rick Allen, for his input.  While I live in his District, he does not necessarily represent me.  Since the departure of Ron Paul I have had no semblance of representation in Washington.  So it goes.

Amerika being what it is these day I was unable to speak directly with my employee. Rather, I had a conversation with a polite young fellow named Eric.  He laughed and admitted, yes, much of the Bill is secret. (F’ing hilarious!) He did note that I could read all about the public parts – see Thomas quotes, above.  True to his position and the nature of his work he would not say definitively whether my boy Allen was in favor of sending more jobs oversees and more money to Wall Street.

As an aside, Allen did vote against the Bill.  Then he immediately voted to keep it alive for future consideration.  How very political of him.

Eric was well aware of the TPA chant at the baseball game.  Though he was not present he did state that several of his office mates were.  I warned him of what Marcus Aurelius said about this kind of thing.  The Roman leader and philosopher was solidly against jingoistic public displays of partisan passion.  My warning was likely lost – then and now.

       – Perrinlovett.com, Id.

On June 18, 2015 the Republican dominated House, in utterly insane fashion, voted 218 – 208 to move the Trade Act along and voted more of your jobs towards destruction.

Capturevote

My Boy, Allen, voted along with the 218 of Death.  Thomas.

I called “my” “representative” Rick Allen to discuss his vote.  I called his office at (202) 225-2823 (call them for grins and giggles). Rick’s polite young colleague, Ethan, answered.  I thanked him and the whole office for the vote.  I noted that I do not like my current job and that a foreigner should take it over.  I thanked them all. I then asked how I could apply for welfare. Ethan said he would not answer my rhetorical question. I am happy he could disseminate my sarcasm.

This Bill will become “law.”  Brace yourselves for third-worldom and the happy trappings thereof.  Contact your Congressman.  Join the discussion!

Secrets of the Trade (and other Bullsh*t)

14 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

America, Amerika, Boehner, CAFTA, Congress, Constitution, corporations, Democrats, economy, evil, freedom, government, H.R. 1314 (2015), jobs, Marcus Aurelius, money, NAFTA, Obama, politicians, President, Rand Paul, rats, Republicans, Rick Allen, Ron Paul, secrets, SHAFTA, The People, Thomas, TPA, trade, Trade Act, Wall Street, Washington, White House

Recently I wrote of the coming wave of destructive evil from Washington (the latest, as that tide ever brings the same).  Courtesy of Barry Obama and John (the tan smoker) Boehner “your” federal government is moving towards new, secret, and purely ruinous foreign trade powers.

Frequently I deride the horrors of politicians and politics in general – see these links for details.  The New York Times and NPR report that, as of Friday, the malicious train of ObamaTrade has been temporarily derailed.  I say temporarily because things like this are usually a done deal once they start.

“Eighty-six Republicans voted for the program, more than double the 40 Democrats who supported it. But the trade adjustment assistance bill failed when 303 voted against it.

Republican leaders then passed, in a 219-to-211 vote, a stand-alone bill that would grant the president the trade negotiating authority he sought. But that measure cannot go to the president for his signature because the Senate version of the legislative package combined both trade adjustment and trade promotion.”  New York Times.

I was pleased the popular press reported on this issue – they lacked the zeal these reserve for important stories (say, about Caitlyn Jenner) – but they did, at least, report.  I was a little dismayed they left off important reference information for the inquisitive public. The Bill in question is H.R. 1314(EAS), the Trade Act of 2015.

This gem of K Street legalese would, among other things, amend the Tax Code of 1986 in order to help large organizations make more money at your expense.  It would also grant the President new and unprecedented unilateral trade powers.  Pay no heed to that Congressional consent nonsense in the Constitution.

Get a load of this:

(b) Principal Trade Negotiating Objectives-
(1) TRADE IN GOODS- The principal negotiating objectives of the United States regarding trade in goods are–
(A) to expand competitive market opportunities for exports of goods from the United States and to obtain fairer and more open conditions of trade, including through the utilization of global value chains, by reducing or eliminating tariff and nontariff barriers and policies and practices of foreign governments directly related to trade that decrease market opportunities for United States exports or otherwise distort United States trade; and
(B) to obtain reciprocal tariff and nontariff barrier elimination agreements, including with respect to those tariff categories covered in section 111(b) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3521(b)).
(2) TRADE IN SERVICES- (A) The principal negotiating objective of the United States regarding trade in services is to expand competitive market opportunities for United States services and to obtain fairer and more open conditions of trade, including through utilization of global value chains, by reducing or eliminating barriers to international trade in services, such as regulatory and other barriers that deny national treatment and market access or unreasonably restrict the establishment or operations of service suppliers.
(B) Recognizing that expansion of trade in services generates benefits for all sectors of the economy and facilitates trade, the objective described in subparagraph (A) should be pursued through all means, including through a plurilateral agreement with those countries willing and able to undertake high standard services commitments for both existing and new services.

            – H.R. 1314, Sec. 102. TRADE NEGOTIATING OBJECTIVES.

More:

(4) AGGREGATE REDUCTION; EXEMPTION FROM STAGING-
(A) AGGREGATE REDUCTION- Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the aggregate reduction in the rate of duty on any article which is in effect on any day pursuant to a trade agreement entered into under paragraph (1) shall not exceed the aggregate reduction which would have been in effect on such day if–
(i) a reduction of 3 percent ad valorem or a reduction of 1/10 of the total reduction, whichever is greater, had taken effect on the effective date of the first reduction proclaimed under paragraph (1) to carry out such agreement with respect to such article; and
(ii) a reduction equal to the amount applicable under clause (i) had taken effect at 1-year intervals after the effective date of such first reduction.
(B) EXEMPTION FROM STAGING- No staging is required under subparagraph (A) with respect to a duty reduction that is proclaimed under paragraph (1) for an article of a kind that is not produced in the United States. The United States International Trade Commission shall advise the President of the identity of articles that may be exempted from staging under this subparagraph.
(5) ROUNDING- If the President determines that such action will simplify the computation of reductions under paragraph (4), the President may round an annual reduction by an amount equal to the lesser of–
(A) the difference between the reduction without regard to this paragraph and the next lower whole number; or
(B) 1/2 of 1 percent ad valorem.

            – H.R. 1314, Sec. 103, TRADE AGREEMENTS AUTHORITY.

Make any sense to you?  Of course not. And, this is the part that is open for public inspection.  A shadow bill, the real law, is still locked up and under armed guard in the Capital basement vault.  What kind of government operates like this?  Sadly, “ours’ does.

secret-doors-matt-boyle-breitbart-640x480

(Breitbart.)

Members of the respective houses of Congress can (allegedly) enter the vault to read the shadow text.  Rand Paul did so.  “’I think I am not supposed to reveal the details of it, but I can tell you it was about 800 pages long,’ Paul said.” Breitbart.  “Paul said he thinks the secretive process makes it look like the government has “something to hide” and that he thinks if Obama opened up the process it’d make it easier for several Senators—and the American people—to truly understand what it is they’re voting on.” Id.

They do have something to hide.  They always do.  The details are in the vault, so to speak.  The fact that a U.S. Senator has to keep mum about the text demonstrates this without question.

Another telling facet is the desperation among Republicans and the White House to pass this filth.  “The fate of the trade legislation now depends on Obama’s ability, along with business-friendly interests, to persuade dozens of Democrats to switch their votes before a planned do-over vote early next week.”  Washington Post.

The President is literally pleading with his own party to help him screw the American People.  He’s already won over many of the “loyal opposition.”  At a Washington Nationals ballgame last week “a bizarre scene unfolded as the crowd crammed inside Nationals Park lurched into a chant about the legislation. ‘TPA! TPA! TPA!’ chanted Republican congressional aides seated near the first base dugout when Obama stepped onto the field at the top of the fourth inning.”  Fox News. “TPA” refers to Trade Prostitution Act.

Another telling feature is the desires of large U.S. corporate interests to pass the Bill. The more power their political puppets have, the more money they can make.  You and your retirement plans be damned.  “’Manufacturers will not back down in this fight for expanded trade, for the future of our industry and our country,’ the National Association of Manufacturers said in a statement.”  Business Leaders React With Dismay to Defeat of Trade Bill, New York Times.  Naturally, they have yachts to buy.

Some out here in the real country get it.  “Do you remember back in the 1990s when the United States entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)? And the subsequent Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)? These trade agreements have not worked out well for American workers. American jobs went to Mexico. American workers were laid off and communities devastated. American companies, just to increase their profits, built their production plants in Mexico and paid their workers pennies on the dollar for their labor.”  Remember NAFTA and CAFTA? Well, here comes SHAFTA, Economy in Crisis.

Unfortunately, we have not learned our lesson — even after two decades of failed trade agreements. Right now Congress is considering entering into another trade agreement with South Pacific countries named the Trans Pacific Partnership, otherwise known as TPP. However, this trade agreement is even more onerous than previous failed trade agreements.

* The TPP was constructed in secret by corporations. Congress and the public had no input. This is fundamentally undemocratic and undermines transparency in government.

* It is a trade deal that increases corporate power and CEO bonuses.

* Thousands of jobs out-sourced to countries that do not respect human rights or worker’s rights.

* It allows transnational corporations to sue countries if they believe they have been harmed (sometimes speculatively) in a trade agreement written by corporations and behind closed doors.

* Expands the deregulation of banks, hedge funds and insurance companies. Remember the Wall Street crash of 2008 due to deregulation? Regulations keep corporations honest and prevent them from harming us.

* Harms environmental regulations in counties that are part of the TPP.

The corporations are now done writing their secret trade agreement, and Congress now has to vote up or down on the law. The Obama administration is seeking “fast track” authority from Congress in order to complete the negotiations. This means there will be no committee hearings, expert testimony or amendments. The Obama administration is taking this anti-democratic approach because they know if this treaty was debated, it would never become law.

              – SHAFTA, Id.

Read that again.  Let it sink in.

Last week, prior to the vote and temporary corporate profit defeat, I called my Congress Critter, one Rick Allen, for his input.  While I live in his District, he does not necessarily represent me.  Since the departure of Ron Paul I have had no semblance of representation in Washington.  So it goes.

Amerika being what it is these day I was unable to speak directly with my employee. Rather, I had a conversation with a polite young fellow named Eric.  He laughed and admitted, yes, much of the Bill is secret. (F’ing hilarious!) He did note that I could read all about the public parts – see Thomas quotes, above.  True to his position and the nature of his work he would not say definitively whether my boy Allen was in favor of sending more jobs oversees and more money to Wall Street.

As an aside, Allen did vote against the Bill.  Then he immediately voted to keep it alive for future consideration.  How very political of him.

Eric was well aware of the TPA chant at the baseball game.  Though he was not present he did state that several of his office mates were.  I warned him of what Marcus Aurelius said about this kind of thing.  The Roman leader and philosopher was solidly against jingoistic public displays of partisan passion.  My warning was likely lost – then and now.

If you care you may contact some staffer of your “representative,” whoever that may be.  Just click this little link to locate your dedicated servant: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/.

You may be able to visually pick him/her out of the following picture.  This photograph is of a general Congressional pow-wow over the Bill last week:

Rats-Caitlin-Mitchell

(They do all look the same.  Google.)

 

 

 

 

The Evil of Two Lessers

04 Thursday Jun 2015

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns, News and Notes

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

America, Boehner, Democrats, evil, government, jobs, law, Obama, Republicans, The People, trade, Washington

I’ve been rambling much recently about the bottomless idiocy of the political set and their supporters among the public.  Today I was reminded of the old electoral saying, “picking the lesser of two evils.”  I changed it about for my title in order to make it more truthful.  Voters today have two nominal choices: filthy, disgusting Democrats and filthy, disgusting Republicans.  After years of studying these two groups the only difference I can see is in their names.

This morning I read more about the nefarious plans of John Boehner (Republican) and Barack Obama (Democrat). These two criminals (different parties, mind you) have discovered there are several jobs left in the U.S. and have crafted a new trade bill designed to stamp out those jobs.  I say designed but I can’t be sure.  The details of the law are secret.  So secret that the bill is currently locked up in the Capital basement.

Allegedly this law would give the President new dictatorial powers over global trade (read: to ship out American jobs and impoverish the nation).  Why on earth does the most powerful man in the world need more power?  And if your Republicans are philosophically at odds with the Democrats, why the mad rush to help them gain that power?

In truth these two groups are one and work solely for their own ends.  You and I are merely their pawns.  Please don’t actively support them and their ever-spreading evil.

 

Political Party Time!

24 Sunday May 2015

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns

≈ Comments Off on Political Party Time!

Tags

America, anarchy, bankers, Bush, CAFTA, Christian, Christie, Clinton, Congress, crime, democracy, Democrats, elections, fraud, freedom, George Washington, God, GOP, government, hate, immigrants, Israel, jobs, libertarians, Mencken, NAFTA, Obama, people, politicians, politics, power, President, Rand Paul, republic, Republicans, robots, Romney, Ron Paul, secret, Senate, stupid, trade, Washington

I hate politicians.  In Christian terms it is wrong to hate any man.  Politicians are less men than rodents.  Thus, I feel exonerated in my feelings.  Elections are exercises in stupidity and herd-think.  Presidential elections are the worst.

H. L. Mencken summed it up best: “All of the great patriots now engaged in edging and squirming their way toward the Presidency of the Republic run true to form. That is to say, they are all extremely wary, and all more or less palpable frauds. What they want, primarily, is the job; the necessary equipment of inescapable issues, immutable principles and soaring ideals can wait until it becomes more certain which way the mob will be whooping.”  Mencken, 1920.

The difference between 1920 and 2015 is that, back then, there were people pretending to be true patriots.  At some point they dropped the pretense and proceeded from a desire for pure, unadulterated power.  The mob of the American people conveniently ignore this fact.  The television is just too entertaining to disagree with.  The country sinks lower into the sewer of politics.

A political “party” sounds like a fun time until one realizes the term refers not so much to an event as to a lowest, dumbest degenerates ever assembled under the sun (in truth, like all roaches, they prefer the darkness).  Washington warned against them. Mencken ridiculed them.  The people, ever plumbing the depths of stupidity, embrace them with jealous fervor.  It’s “us” Democrats against “them” Republicans and visa versa.  Spare the sane the idiocy of it all.

America is dominated by two predominate political parties.  They are nominally referred to as conservatives and liberals.  As I see it they both liberally dispense what may be conservatively described as bullshit.  The people seem to like it.

Third parties exist, apparently to provide comic relief for the big two.  I experimented with what I thought the most honest of these alternatives, the Libertarians.  Given the choice I would gladly be ruled by Libertarian politicians than those which currently plague us.  However, given power, I am sure they would be corrupted by the mainstream of political discourse.  Anarchy is the only happy solution.  The people do not like happy solutions.  Thus, we are suck with the rats and the roaches.

These parties care nothing about you.  They’re priorities are: bankers, Israel (Likudniks), and anyone else.  Not you.  Not me.

I am sick of this G*****ned nonsense and what it to f**king stop.  Okay? There is no difference between Democrats and Republicans!  They respect and represent neither democracy nor any republic.

fiscal-irresponsibility

(Different approach, same results.  Google.)

An illustrative story from the popular news presses:

If the God-fearing Republicans exist to save us from the Godless, communist Democrats, then why are Republicans Rallying to Save Obama’s Secret Trade Deal?  You can read more about this phenomenon here and here and here.

I’m not entirely sure what this new “secret” trade deal means for America.  But, first, it’s secret.  That means bad when it comes from Washington.  Second, it’s a trade deal. NAFTA and CAFTA, etc. have given American the SHAFTA.  I remember being lied to about NAFTA.  The dirty manufacturing jobs of old, they said, would give way to a new world of high-paying service jobs which would benefit everyone.

In truth, we have lost the industrial work, pay and all.  In exchange we have gained menial minimum wage employment serving hamburgers and such.  Robots and immigrants and Indians now do the productive work for real pay.  What a change.

I’m sure the new law – sure to happen – will be more of the same.  It supposedly grants the President new powers concerning foreign trade.  I understand Obama caught wind of a few, final high-paying jobs left in American and is determined to stamp them out. The displaced workers will receive healthcare and cell phones for the bargain – at a cost.

A few Democrats and Rand Paul (son of the mighty Ron Paul), realizing the potential liabilities of robbing the people of their last shot at the American Dream, have stood in the way.  Paul filibustered against the deal in the Senate.  His speech fell of deaf and stupid ears.  The President will get his way, supported by the “conservative” opposition.  Trade will be geared ever towards non-American interests.  Americans will lose jobs.  Reality TV will continue to be popular among the uneducated rabble.

Just remember this when the election rolls around and the Bush/Romney/Christie machine makes the usual patriotic rumblings.  Remember it when Hitlary bashes the GOP for being unsupportive of freedom.  Blah, blah.  Sounds like the same old BS to me.

Remember, if you can, how the various Democratic Congresses and Bill Clinton ran up the national debt, creating new and useless government programs along the way.  George Bush, the dimmer, was elected to change all that.  He promptly created new agencies and doubled the debt while commencing new wars everywhere.  His Excellency, Barack Hussein Osama, was elected to reverse course.  Dutifully, he doubled the debt again while continuing and adding to the wars.  Now he wants to finish off the trade work began by Clinton and Bush the Vomiter.  I see a conspiracy.

The people, bloated by beer and television see nothing.  They hear nothing.  They say nothing.  One of the new fools (or an old fool) foisted upon us by the elite will be the next President.  Business will continue as usual.

Spare me your partisan rhetoric this year and next.

 

Legal “Education”

12 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

ABA, bar exam, case-law, changing the world, Constitution, education, Gospel, John Adams, judges, law, law school, lawyer jokes, lies, LSAT, Max Tucker, Muddling Through College, Natural Law, Neal Boortz, profession, racket, Scotland, Thomas Jefferson, trade, U.S. News and World Report, unprepared

This post follows Muddling Through College.  It is intended as a truthful assessment of what life in law school is like and the relationship between legal education and the practice of law and society in general.  As with my undergraduate article, I realize that my experience is dated by a good decade.  Actually, it’s been a pretty bad decade – especially for the legal industry.  Therefore, again, I have tried to incorporate “modern” materials herein as well.

I once heard attorney-turned radio talk show host, Neal Boortz state that when he began practice law in the early 1970s, the law was still a profession.  He then said when he left the law in the early 1990s to pursue radio full-time, the law had degenerated into a trade.  Several times I recall him saying the happiest day of his life was the day he put his status with the Georgia State Bar in the inactive category.  I will update his cycle now – the law has further degenerated into a racket.

The average attorney is greeted by society with all the warmth and affection people normally reserve for a visiting termite.  I hear lawyer jokes every week.  Most are pretty damn funny.  I am one of the few attorneys not offended by these jokes.  Most attorneys do get offended even if they don’t show it.  The reason is that most know the jokes have a great basis in truth and they don’t want to admit the facts.

Mr. Boortz once said, speaking of attorneys, “No other group has done more to help and to damage our society.”  He’s right.  Lawyers were behind the Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, the civil rights movement, and numerous other causes for freedom.  You never hear lawyer jokes in a criminal court.  In a jail holding area or cell block, we are greeted like rock stars.  However, pick any oppressive, illegal, dishonest, or otherwise unsavory law, business, or relationship and you’ll find lawyer DNA all over it.  As a judge I once clerked for said, “It’s amazing how bad most attorneys are.”

The bad begins in law school.  There are about 200 law schools in America which have received the ABA’s seal of approval.  There are more which operate by special rules within their respective states.  U.S. News and World Report ranks and categorizes law schools every year based on a set of semi-relevant criteria.  Schools fight hard to place high on the list.  I don’t see the point.  Judging by the performance of their graduates, all the schools seem equally bad.

prof law

(This cat never practiced law and won’t teach you anything.  Google Images.)

Max “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” Tucker wrote an awesome article, http://lewrockwell.com/orig14/max-t1.1.1.html, on reasons NOT to attend law school.  Read it!  I agree with every single thing he said.  By the way, I fell under the Want To Change the World category.  I learned its damn near impossible to change a neighborhood, let alone the world.  And, most people don’t want any change – they enjoy their serfdom.

After four (or 6, 8, etc.) years in college one must score decently on the LSAT and submit a rigorous application in order to gain entry into even the lowest ranking law school.  Once there, one is suddenly trust into an environment that eerily resembles high school.  That’s the law school effect, everyone reverts to teenager-ish behavior and attitudes.  Nothing is actually taught in law school except how to look up information and fill out forms.  You can learn a thing or two in a specialized elective class but nothing therein will appear on the dreaded bar exam of any state.  Given the sad state of the profession, dependant on the exam’s function as a brutal hazing to enter the fraternity, you would think law professors would concentrate on the subjects covered by the bar and the methodology employed for the tests (Byzantine).  They do not.  In fact, after graduating you MUST take a private prep course in order to have any chance of passing the test.  I theorize that any well-educated person could take such a class and pass the bar.  I was not supposed to tell you that.

The majority of instructional time is instead devoted to instilling reverence for the system.  Courts, judges, and their opinions (case-law) are sold as the Gospel.  Rebels like me are interested in core concepts behind the law and the betterment of humanity.  The average student simply accepts the drivel and becomes a system cog.  As I have stated elsewhere, the average lawyer does not know and does not care why we have law or where the law comes from.  Natural Law may as well be officially forbidden by the ABA.

Once one passes the bar and gets that first legal job another enormous short-coming becomes alarmingly clear.  Law schools do not prepare anyone to practice law.  A friend of mine, a Federal Magistrate Judge once asked me, “Remember when you got out, and knew nothing?”  New attorneys are thrown to the wolves.  Half can’t hack it; I think 50% is the current percentage who leave the law sooner than later.  The other 50% live in a nightmarish state, dreaming of getting out. 

In the old days, and in a few foreign countries (Scotland comes to mind), students of the law would apprentice with an existing attorney or law firm for a number of years in order to prepare for actually practicing law.  They would simultaneously “read the law” on their own to gain a full understanding of core concepts.  After satisfying their mentors, the apprentices would be admitted as attorneys, with or without examination.  That’s how Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Abradamn Lincoln and Cicero did it.  Today, only California, Maine, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington still allow “reading” and I imagine it is discouraged.  This process denies law schools reason to exist and deprives budding young lawyers of their $100,000+ school loan debts.  Students might also emerge ready to practice if allowed to study under a competent attorney.  I’m not supposed to tell you any of this.

I have applied for several positions, academic and administrative, at a variety of law schools of late.  I am hoping my experience will give me an advantage.  One would think it was.  I make a particular point to explain that I want to help as many young people as possible actually prepare for the racket….er…profession.  Oddly, many law professors have never practiced law a day in their lives, many aren’t even members of a bar.  It makes sense, in a way, as law school has absolutely nothing to do with practicing.  That evil bar exam (truly a horror worthy to justify the myths) has nothing to do with school or practice either.  Like the schooling, it’s just there – an unavoidable obstacle to tackle.

Law students become attorneys disillusioned, in debt, unprepared, and in today’s market, with slim job prospects.  Most new attorneys today, who can find a job, earn less than $60,000 per year.  The big bucks go to the elite few who land jobs with major law firms.  At those firms, newbies (with all the problems I mentioned) can start at $150,000 or better.  For that pay, they have to “bill” 2500 hours a year.  Billing 2500 means working 4000; that means working 80-100 hour weeks, every week, for about $30-$40 per hour.  Tucker gives examples of jobs that pay that well, don’t require all the time and hassle, and don’t necessitate wasting 3 years in law school.  Remember, those are the best of the best jobs.  Most big firm associates wash out quickly or else end up in mental institutions or under bridges.

lawyer

(Welcome aboard, young associate.  Google Images.)

Ponder what I have written here if you think you want to join the lawyer club.  Some people are meant to be attorneys and will do well at their chosen work.  Most will drudge on miserably until the retire, die, or go nuts.  Some, like me get out.  Well, I’m trying to get out.  Leaving the law can be like leaving a street gang.  You have to walk a gauntlet to exit.  Please pray I make it.  As for you, avoid the whole racket if you can.

PS: I issue a challenge to all attorneys and law school faculties!  Change the system!  Concentrate on the theory and the practice of the law itself and dispense with the case worship, the obsolete mysteries, and the false illusions of nobility.  For you, read Alan Watson’s The Shame of American Legal Education, 2d ed. (Vandeplas Publishing, 2006).  Watson, of Scottish legal training, nails the problems of the American system.  Let’s change it.

Perrin Lovett

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