Ph.Deez Nuts
If you're planning on obtaining a J.D. in the coming years -- as many readers and posters of this blog certainly will -- you're in luck. It turns out that your percentage chance of becoming the President of the United States is pretty good. According to the American Bar Association, 25 of the nation's Presidents have had either Law Degrees or practiced law -- nearly 60% of the total number of Presidents. The percentage of declared presidential candidates with law degrees for as their highest terminal degrees for this year's election is slightly higher, at just over 60%.
Given the paradoxical bias of our political system and culture toward lawyers -- who de Tocqueville claimed "are the most powerful existing security against the excesses of democracy" and yet constantly seem to be elected by the demos -- what are those hopeful future classicists and historians out there to do? The answer is clear. Go eastward young man! Western Europe beckons! Despite Sarkozy's (former lawyer) recent victory in France, and Prodi's (law), Zapatero's (law), and Blair's (law) before them, the tide is beginning to turn. The ancien régime of rule by funny men in wigs is ending.
The faint whispers of revolution have echoed across this great continent for the past few weeks. First, there was Francois Bayrou's strong showing in the first round of the French presidential elections. A former classics professor, Bayrou founded a new political party this week, which is almost certain to topple Sarkozy when voting begins in early 2012. Next, was Blair's official announcement that he will hand power over to Gordon Brown in late June. Brown has a Ph.D in history, having written his dissertation on the current issue of The Labour Party and Political Change in Scotland, 1918-29.
That we are being introduced to a bright future is beyond question. One can imagine the consequences when the revolution spreads to American politics. Debate over Guantanamo and warrantless eavesdropping vis-a-vis the rule of law will be eclipsed by state-sponsored discussions of Plato's Laws. Latin American accusations of American imperialism throughout history will turn to historiographical arguments over William Walker's relation to the American South's desire to expand slavery into Mexico and Cuba in the mid 19th century.
Let me make myself absolutely clear. Paraphrasing Benjamin paraphrasing Fourier, I think that with these changes, four moons will illuminate the earthly night, ice will recede from the poles, sea water will no longer taste salty, and beasts of prey will do man's bidding.
Given the paradoxical bias of our political system and culture toward lawyers -- who de Tocqueville claimed "are the most powerful existing security against the excesses of democracy" and yet constantly seem to be elected by the demos -- what are those hopeful future classicists and historians out there to do? The answer is clear. Go eastward young man! Western Europe beckons! Despite Sarkozy's (former lawyer) recent victory in France, and Prodi's (law), Zapatero's (law), and Blair's (law) before them, the tide is beginning to turn. The ancien régime of rule by funny men in wigs is ending.
The faint whispers of revolution have echoed across this great continent for the past few weeks. First, there was Francois Bayrou's strong showing in the first round of the French presidential elections. A former classics professor, Bayrou founded a new political party this week, which is almost certain to topple Sarkozy when voting begins in early 2012. Next, was Blair's official announcement that he will hand power over to Gordon Brown in late June. Brown has a Ph.D in history, having written his dissertation on the current issue of The Labour Party and Political Change in Scotland, 1918-29.
That we are being introduced to a bright future is beyond question. One can imagine the consequences when the revolution spreads to American politics. Debate over Guantanamo and warrantless eavesdropping vis-a-vis the rule of law will be eclipsed by state-sponsored discussions of Plato's Laws. Latin American accusations of American imperialism throughout history will turn to historiographical arguments over William Walker's relation to the American South's desire to expand slavery into Mexico and Cuba in the mid 19th century.
Let me make myself absolutely clear. Paraphrasing Benjamin paraphrasing Fourier, I think that with these changes, four moons will illuminate the earthly night, ice will recede from the poles, sea water will no longer taste salty, and beasts of prey will do man's bidding.
posted by Robot at 9:48 AM
4 Comments:
Why no analysis of the viability of the MBA? After the success of our first MBA president I think we can all assume that more like him are soon to follow.
Don't know if the MBA is worth it, I mean you might as well be farming peanuts with those odds.
You're not taking historical trends into account, d00d. MBAs have won 2 out of the last 2 elections. Under your paradigm, it would be a good presidential strategy to own slaves and kill british people.
My paradigm just sounds sexier when you put it that way.
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