Comments on: Solve problems or just raise them? http://materialsman.com/2009/02/solve-problems-or-just-raise-them/ Construction materials and bird watching anecdotes Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:22:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ian http://materialsman.com/2009/02/solve-problems-or-just-raise-them/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Ian Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:16:29 +0000 http://materialsman.com/?p=195#comment-138 Interesting, see my post on Jury duty, similar conclusion Interesting, see my post on Jury duty, similar conclusion

]]> By: Moyn http://materialsman.com/2009/02/solve-problems-or-just-raise-them/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Moyn Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:51:45 +0000 http://materialsman.com/?p=195#comment-135 You have uncovered one of the great contradictions of the UK (let's stick with UK just now). We have a legal system which is much admired and shouted about, and held up (by some) as being clear, strong and definite. Yet, here is the rub, it is anything but certain, Why; because it is based, funnily enough, on the English language, which is, as you describe, the polar opposite of clear, concise and unambiguous. Why the surprise therefore that the legal system that flows from the language of the same name is equally uncertain. We spend much money and time onn establishing precedent, perhaps ending up in the House of Lords, and then sit back thinking "good, at least that is now sorted." Then some clever clogs QC comes along, analyses the langauge in the judgement, and proudly states that his case, which every other mortal thought was identical, is in fact totally different, and hey, off we go again!! Why do we allow it to continue: Because without it, there would be less work for the legal fraternity, who are, you guessed it, the gold holders (and wow, how much gold can they accumulate on that hourly rate!). Still, love to get somewhere near their hourly rate!! You have uncovered one of the great contradictions of the UK (let’s stick with UK just now). We have a legal system which is much admired and shouted about, and held up (by some) as being clear, strong and definite. Yet, here is the rub, it is anything but certain, Why; because it is based, funnily enough, on the English language, which is, as you describe, the polar opposite of clear, concise and unambiguous. Why the surprise therefore that the legal system that flows from the language of the same name is equally uncertain. We spend much money and time onn establishing precedent, perhaps ending up in the House of Lords, and then sit back thinking “good, at least that is now sorted.” Then some clever clogs QC comes along, analyses the langauge in the judgement, and proudly states that his case, which every other mortal thought was identical, is in fact totally different, and hey, off we go again!!

Why do we allow it to continue: Because without it, there would be less work for the legal fraternity, who are, you guessed it, the gold holders (and wow, how much gold can they accumulate on that hourly rate!). Still, love to get somewhere near their hourly rate!!

]]>