What would you think if your lawyer told you that?

Imagine the sound of those words resonating from the mouth of a renowned attorney.

Many years ago, my father asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I scratched at the few chin hairs from my pre-pubescent face and replied, ‘Lawyer.’

My limited vocabulary at the time didn’t include the word ‘apoplectic.’ Still, it expanded shortly after I thought my dear old dad was having a stroke.

My decision was most probably formed around the show Perry Mason. Growing up with only a few TV channels on a small black-and-white television, I can’t help but think that those shows played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today. That was back when Hollywood cared about what they produced.

According to my father, lawyers were regarded as the worst kinds of humans, seen as parasites in and on society who made their fortune by exploiting subtle nuances in the law.

Driving through Indiana recently, the roads were littered with billboards for slip and fall attorneys, or what I call Ambulance chasers.

Anyway, I dismissed that dream and became an engineer instead.

Once my formal education was over, I left home for the realities of life. My career put me on the path of meeting some of the best and some of the worst characters in positions of power.

Among the recognizable names were Racehorse Hanes, Ross Perot, T Cullen Davis, and other notable figures like Dr. Red Duke and Dr. DeBakey. Although there were hundreds of others, discussing them is beyond the scope of this paper. Many pillars of society have played a significant role in shaping my opinions and providing fodder for my novels.

Being a sycophant was never my style; I preferred forming my opinions. I saw them as equals, just like me, going through the daily ritual of putting on their trousers, one leg at a time.

My mantra was to treat others as I wished to be treated.

Just as I reached the pinnacle of my career and believed I had a deep understanding of people, fate intervened and presented me with an opportunity for further education.

Dad’s wise words might have held some truth after all.

I had a lengthy conversation with a high-power attorney whose office on the 34th floor of downtown Houston offered a panoramic view of the city.

One of the cases he was working on was a murder case, and he admitted that his strategy was to exploit a legal loophole to ensure the defendant’s acquittal. That’s when he uttered the infamous phrase, his voice dripping with sinister confidence.’

“Knowing your guilt makes it more manageable for me to secure your acquittal!”

I know my jaw dropped as this statement didn’t align with my belief that all lawyers were like Perry Mason, the charismatic and formidable courtroom genius. How could I be so oblivious to the fact that it was all about money, fame, and power for those narcissistic, overeducated individuals who resided in their ivory towers?

I should mention that there is a possibility of a few lawyers who do not fit into this category. I came across someone who had a prior negative encounter with the company I worked for and introduced herself with a rather bold and provocative label. Throughout my entire career, we formed a close friendship, and I was the sole individual from that company whom she welcomed into her presence.

I watched the case with interest as OJ did his infamous low-speed chase, and I was fully convinced of his guilt.

“If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” That phrase is used as NLP. On a daily basis, the media and the elite employ Neuro Linguistic Programming to control and influence the American people. Lawyers skillfully employ it to influence the jury, while marketing professionals expertly utilize it to promote a product. Nowadays, it is predominantly used as clickbait on social media platforms.

A blurry image might appear with the text, but this one thing can save your life if… Your curiosity will cause you to click on the picture, and someone will get money from your click whether you purchase the snake oil, or not.

NLP focuses on comprehending human behavior and effectively influencing individuals to benefit themselves, their company, or their brand.

When leather gets wet, it shrinks – a simple truth that even the most foolish person would grasp. Despite the overwhelming evidence, the dream team skillfully employed NLP to persuade the jury that the blood-soaked glove did not belong to OJ because it appeared too small.

As a side note, those who selected the jury were aware of their predisposition to favor OJ Simpson due to the racial dynamics of the case. After OJ passed away, one of the jurists openly acknowledged the truth.

Today, we are subjected to propaganda from the mainstream media, who are generously compensated to promote a narrative that challenges the authenticity of everything we perceive. Don’t trust your deceiving senses; everything is perfectly alright. To ensure things stay fine, it’s crucial to support Joe Biden by voting for him, widely regarded as the greatest president of all time!

Now, following the debate, numerous Democrats are begrudgingly acknowledging that perhaps Trump’s presidency isn’t a complete threat to democracy. Like rats fleeing a sinking ship, they are beginning to fear for their own reelection as everything about the DC swamp hinges on getting re-elected. Pfft.

The DC swamp is comprised of self-serving lawyers who possess the same lack of ethics as the Dream Team. This understanding leads to the argument that only individuals committed to term limits should be elected to those revered halls.

Laws should be enacted to prohibit former officials from becoming lobbyists after their term ends. Only then can we hope to restore trust in all three branches of our government.

When mercenaries disguise themselves as elected officials, their motives can be traced back to their financial interests, dictating their words and actions.

They will say or do anything to stay in power, including making deals with the devil.

On social media, a meme captures the frustrations experienced by individuals over 65.

Not only is my income taxed, but my spending is also subject to taxation, and even the possessions I buy are further taxed for ownership. How can this be considered fair, given the blatant disparities in power?

The answer is that it is not fair, and you didn’t pay attention to who you were putting in office. It all starts with your local school board and goes up from there.

Most politicians running for office prioritize personal gain over improving people’s lives.

Those who make the statement, “I don’t follow politics,” are the useful idiots who will be exploited by emotional triggers through the use of NLP.

They will agonize over how to stretch their limited budget to provide enough food for their family, reluctantly removing items from their grocery carts. Then, they will listen to fake news, their minds clouded with misinformation, and unjustly point fingers at the wrong person, influenced by the biased narratives of those residing in gated communities.

Dad was on to something. He just didn’t know how right he was.

You win elections by pointing out what is wrong with the world and then making a convincing argument that the other guy is the reason that things are so bad. They call it the misery index, which must be high for their lies to be effective. What do eggs cost today? Did the chickens demand more money per egg?

#termlimits #accountability

• opinion