Most Americans would likely agree with Shakespeare that all the lawyers should be killed first but that doesn't diminish their importance when the discussion turns to the rights of Americans. For the most part, the legal system has been the arena of two competing and yet friendly combatants: a government interested in regulating the lives of its citizens and special interest groups who believe the government doesn't go far enough.
Enter
groups like the Pacific Legal Foundation which was founded in 1973 in
an attempt to redress that imbalance. It was formed by people concerned
over the lack of a voice for mainstream Americans before the courts on
issues of important public policy. The goal was to defend the rights set
forth in the U.S. Constitution and to reverse the growing trend toward
increased government intrusion in the lives of Americans, infringements
on individual and economic liberties, and regulatory assaults on private
property and free enterprise.
You might be tempted to write off groups like the PLF as one front in
the war against expanding government and to a certain extent you'd be
right. One could make a better argument, however, that the courts might
be one of the most important venues. It's easier and more lucrative for
lawyers to convince 12 jurors in a criminal or civil case then it is a
majority of legislators. An increasing amount of public policy is not
being made in democratically elected forums of debates but in courtrooms.
It's important for conservatives to have a voice in that process and Americans
should count themselves lucky that groups like the PLF are around to fight
for their rights.
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