Week 5 EOC: Lawyers Looking For Fame

My first reaction to the statement of lawyers looking for fame is “of course.” Lawyers are often viewed as a bunch of succubus that feed of the desperation of individuals to further their own careers. However, I pose the question to you (the reader) who among us do not want to be successful in their chosen profession. As someone who is focusing his studies on interior design if given the opportunity to design a room in White House (free of charge) I would do it in a heartbeat. The potential clients I would gain from would be worth it. I could literally write my own ticket in the interior design world picking and choosing what project I would want to take on next. In article written by Michael Hurd for Capitalism Magazine in the fall of 1999 he writes “This idea rests on an incorrect definition of selfishness. Selfishness means acting in one's rational self-interest. By “rational" I mean that one can logically prove that an action is in one's self-interest--in the long run as well as the short run.” One would be hard pressed to find an individual who does not act in their own rational self-interest. I do not feel that David M. Gossett was wrong or even unempathic for taking a case that would grant him a certain degree of notoriety. Ironically, the immigration groups that were so furious in essence were just self-severing Gossett because it may do damage to their cause. Henry Ward Beecher (Liberal US Congregational minister, 1813-1887) was quote as stating that “Selfishness is that detestable vice which no one will forgive in others and no one is without in himself.” I think Mr. Gossett or any lawyers for that matter made every effort to win his case because I do not know of any lawyer who wants to lose a case. I feel he made the most of the opportunity that was presented to him. Not that I am a fan but Rush Limbaugh has been quoted as saying “If you’re working to make the playing field fair and level, you’re working for the wrong reasons. Work to take the opportunity that arises and use your individual talents to excel at those opportunities.” In conclusion we all are quick to point a finger when think a lawyer is taking advantage of a less than fortunate individual and says he is scum for doing so. However, ask yourself this question “who have you step over to achieve a goal?”