Common Sense, Common Good and the Law - Widely Acclaimed Author, Attorney and Lecturer Philip K. Howard Speaks Out

05/26/11

This all too often uttered sentiment may carry some weight, but it's surprising – and refreshing –  the person touting it is himself a partner at prominent law firm Covington & Burling.

Well known leader of government and legal reform in America, author and lecturer Philip K. Howard was recently the second speaker in a series of lectures on civility in America at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. He's also appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Oprah, Today, Good Morning America, and Charlie Rose, among other programs.

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His books include Liberating Americans from Too Much Law, The Death of Common Sense, The Collapse of the Common Good, and Life Without Lawyers. He also wrote the introduction to Vice President Al Gore's book Common Sense Government. Additionally, he's advised political leaders on legal and regulatory reform issues for over twenty years.

He's also the chair of Common Good. According to information at the organization's website, it is a ''nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 2002 with the mission of rebuilding reliable legal structures that will permit Americans to use their common sense.''

In a May 24^th prnewswire.com press release, Howard was quoted as saying that America needs a ''profound legal overhaul. We must fundamentally rethink the legal system of our society.'' He harshly criticized antiquated laws, saying: ''It's not so far-fetched to say that our democracy is run by dead people.''

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Howard believes that the ''growth of law has had a corrosive effect on American institutions, from politics to education and business. This in turn, has ''led to a loss of civility and ethics. The lack of civility and the erosion of ethics are also evident in education, where student rights come before the authority of teachers, and in corporate America, where CEOs often put short-term goals and self-interest ahead of the common good,'' according to the press release.

For some these words may seem harsh, for others, they're welcome, and timely, considering the nation's next presidential campaign is right around the corner. Indeed, in a world where the most basic of manners seems to have disappeared and daily headlines are rife with scandal and treachery, ranging from leaders' latest affairs to blatant fraud, the nation appears poised to embrace Howard's philosophies wholeheartedly.

Building on that concept, according to information at the commongood.org website: ''Making choices for the common good is impossible if everyone is tied up in red tape. Reclaiming responsibility requires a basic shift-where law sets boundaries for free choice instead of dictating choices for the lowest common denominator. Our Start Over campaign, launched in May 2011, aims to influence the 2012 election by organizing public support for structural overhaul of government and law. Only people, not rules, make things happen.''

A round of applause, please!