At Least Nobody Threatened to Sue Over the Recent Column That Was Critical of Lawyers

The proliferation of greedy legal eagles has done much to destroy the U.S. industrial base. A prime example is the manufacture of light aircraft, a once-healthy industry that did much to offset our import-export imbalance.

Frivolous lawsuits, insane jury decisions and repressive government tactics have essentially destroyed the industry.

However, even the plague of lawyers is but a single facet of a greater problem. The United States’ evolution into a service economy means we are becoming a society that exists by doing one another’s laundry. We produce nothing but “services,” the majority of which are of debatable utility.

For the long-term health of our nation, maintaining a sound industrial, technical and research base is far more significant than adding more nonproductive service jobs. Without that solid foundation, the rest will eventually crumble.

J. R. FRENCH

La Canada