Although I am not Catholic, I love the current Pope Francis. He is the first pontiff who hails from Argentina, and every few days he reveals a new tidbit about himself or makes a statement which does not generally involve religion that I tend to agree with. Recently came the announcement that he used to be a bouncer at a club. He definitely agrees with the common man, and he does not confine himself to statements considered politically correct.
He made a statement recently that knocked my socks off. In his statement he disagreed with the trickle down economics theory which, boiled down to one sentence, states that when people do well in business or life, they will assist other people and the economy by hiring more people, etc. He stated that there is no guarantee that the wealthier people and institutions get, the more they will spread the wealth. In fact, that is not the case. The factors of excess, greed and narcissism must be considered, and when considering those factors, it is more natural for people who make more to want to keep more. Although I applaud the efforts of the likes of Warren Buffett and Bill and Belinda Gates to give away a majority of their wealth, these people are at the top of the one percenters, and couldn’t even begin to spend their money on themselves during their lifetimes.
There are another group of people who I joke would coat themselves with gold if they could, just to indicate just how wealthy and successful they are. Many more people are like them. Look at lottery winners, about 70% of whom have lost or spent their money in a couple of years of winning. Other people give to charities or institutions for the purpose of having their name spread in a splashy manner on buildings and in the media.
To relate the above thoughts to the law, I think of what I do on a regular basis. Although lawyers have certainly added to the complexities of life, we do good deeds, and perform a form of charity every day. Not all lawyers of course. And not all lawyers are in the type of practice where they can assist others. But, for lawyers who assist individuals, life has become quite complicated. I receive many calls daily from people who my need legal assistance, or may just not understand what they need to do to assist themselves. I am always astonished at the problems people have and how many medical and mental problems people must deal with, as well as financial issues. Although I cannot spend a lengthy amount of time with these callers, I can spend a few minutes to direct them to where they should go. Most of them a very grateful that someone is evening accepting their call, and are grateful beyond that if they are given some guidance. Although we are assaulted everyday through the media with ridiculous things, and with ridiculous people, and with people who have achieved fame for no conceivable reason, let us remember that the majority of the populace are average, are poor or lower middle class, do not have handlers, agents, assistants, trainers, nutritionists to guide them in their daily lives. They are waiting to achieve their glory in the kingdom of heaven. It is my pleasure to assist them in achieving a little heaven on earth by making their lives easier, and I have had that pleasure going on 40 years. And, for those people who choose to be bitter, angry, see themselves as victims, see others as always trying to take advantage of them, let us pray for them, because they will not enjoy the pleasure of the advice of a good lawyer, namely me.
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