Is it time to require some sort of class in law during K-12 education?
2007-10-06 22:20:53 · 16 answers · asked by Cathy 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
A lot of things frighten me about Americans.
The percent of them that actually know where Iran and Iraq are, for example, is pretty frighteningly low.
Also the amount of them that cannot name the three branches of the legal system.. Yesterday we were watching a show and it asked for the country whose border with Russia is the longest--someone said Asia. 'Asia is not a country,' I said. 'It's not??' she said. Oy givalt.
Among many other things.
And I'm only 17 for goodness sake, I should be learning from them!
2007-10-07 01:45:46 · answer #1 · answered by LadySuri 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
From my recent experiences with family courts, what is most frightening is how arrogant lawyers and judges are. These people suffer from a God complex that makes surgeons and entertainers look modest.
Our legal system doesn't want the average person to have any idea what the law is. The real truth is that our laws have become so convoluted, so twisted, and so open to judicial interpretation, that the courts currently do whatever they want.
Lawyers are now hired guns to do the bidding of the rich, with the judges ( Who are all also lawyers ) backing them all the way. The ability to pay for a legal defense is out of the reach of most individuals. Without the ability to pay for a lawyer, the individual is essentially denied access to a trial by ones peers. The Judge is able to manipulate the system towards whatever outcome they choose.
Our legal system is broken.
If you don't believe me, go sit a day in court and watch the ramblings of manipulation. Courts have systematically eliminated our rights in this country.
The law isn't that complicated, but the people who profit from the system are working to make it as complex as possible, a system only for the initiates, those who come to worship.
2007-10-07 00:52:09 · answer #2 · answered by poet1b 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A legal education requires a nuanced understanding of law in terms of philosophy, theory, and application. Attempting to teach our youth about the complexities of the American legal system could do more harm than good by encouraging loose, if not inaccurate, interpretations. Furthermore, the "law" is compounded because of the various levels of law. What do you teach them? Local city ordinances? State law? Federal law? Tort law? (What kind of torts?) Criminal law? Commercial? Constitutional? etc.... How do you teach the law to even high school students? The language of the law is extraordinarily nuanced. Do you sit there and try to decode and explain all the interpretations of a statute in contextual history as well as precedents? How do you prevent political bias from leaking into legal interpretation? (Schools in the bible belt vs. Oregon? California?) Leave the study and interpretation of jurisprudence for the professionals.
2007-10-06 22:44:27 · answer #3 · answered by FANatic 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
What is even more frightening to me is that our legal system is now so complex, that lawyers have to specialize in order to learn all the laws in their specialty! I think everything needs to be simplified. The banking industry is just as bad, when it takes over half a day just to sign(never mind read) all of the paperwork needed to get a home mortgage!
2007-10-06 23:14:09 · answer #4 · answered by sbyldy 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Law has so become based on precedent that it takes a full law degree to wade through favorable rulings it is ridiculous.
Case points could be plugged into a computer and evaluated much more quickly.
So much for compassion, understanding, and human judgment.
May as well take expensive Judges and juries out of the equation nowadays.
2007-10-07 00:16:33 · answer #5 · answered by troll to troll 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It most certainly IS frightening Cathy. People are so ignorant of things like how the legal system works, what laws say what, what the Constitution and Bill of Rights say, and etc it makes me sick. The more recent generations get all their info from television, and they know best right? I know too many people who would much rather fill their heads with mp3's than knowledge about how their world operates (or is supposed to)...it is because of these types of people that our world is most certainly headed to hell in a handbasket.
2007-10-06 22:30:14 · answer #6 · answered by fortwynt 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Very good Q...
look at the range of answers that you have received :
Julie doesn't know nor care. jimmy has one law only, and he's happy. fanatic tells us that we need years of law school- BS...we all have a taste of history and math - if we want more, it's out there. But almost all agree that our educational system is deficient in practically all areas.
So, we don't know about geography, math, history, English comp...or law.
2007-10-07 05:40:23 · answer #7 · answered by sirbobby98121 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
comprehend it; No, basically from first touch and 2d hand and at times what's imprinted on the newspaper. each and each state has different regulations they might purchase by means of congress and the folk pay the asking value. in basic terms like deciding to purchase a vowel; a,e; IOU.
2017-01-03 05:59:48 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Most college students could tell you how the world is going to end due to Al Gore's hot air but they don't know the basics when it comes to American history.
2007-10-06 22:26:26 · answer #9 · answered by qwert 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
yes this does frighten me.
the indifference in attitude also frightens me .
2007-10-06 22:40:40 · answer #10 · answered by Mildred S 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋