Literalist judge Lord Tenterden stipulated, in the 19th century, that the letter rather than the spirit of the law should be followed, "Regardless of the consequences." A major consequence is that certain members of the legal profession now merrily trouser huge amounts of money on behalf of clients simply by ignoring the spirit/intent of our laws - which means our laws are fair game to be exploited by the scum of the earth and their fat-fingered lawyers who believe 'it's the role of any good lawyer to find breaches in the law and exploit them.’
Another major consequence is that the public has been brainwashed into accepting that common sense and fair play must play no part when justice is being deliberated; that the letter of the law must be blindly accepted, no matter how blatantly and outrageously it conflicts with common sense and fair play.
This must change.
Unfortunately, given the legal profession's position as one of the nations most influential and accomplished lobbyists (they're drinking pals and/or personally related to virtually everybody who walks the corridors of power) the situation looks set to remain unchanged for another couple of centuries. Dimwitted members of the Apathetic Majority are either totally unaware of the cost/damage being inflicted upon the nation by the constant abuse of our laws by the legal profession or have come to believe it's an acceptable and irreversible part of our national heritage.
No problem. The Grumpies, immediately after seizing power, will blow a very chill and merciless wind throughout the corridors of power.
