Government efficiency
It's happened a few times that folks have complained to me about jury duty and about the (in)efficiency of this process; the inefficiency of the jury selection process and the inefficiency of having to serve on "meaningless" cases have both come up in the last couple of weeks.
I, for one, would like to come down on the side of (what these folks have called) inefficient government. Historically, efficient governments have been scary and dangerous. Historically, people who have been able to be called for jury duty have been people of extraordinary privilege compared to people living under more "efficient" governments.
I think that private enterprise should (try to) be efficient. I also think that government should take its own sweet time to deliberate, thank you very much. The wooden chair you sit in while waiting to say why you mightn't be fit for jury duty is more comfortable than some other chairs that are out there.
I, for one, would like to come down on the side of (what these folks have called) inefficient government. Historically, efficient governments have been scary and dangerous. Historically, people who have been able to be called for jury duty have been people of extraordinary privilege compared to people living under more "efficient" governments.
I think that private enterprise should (try to) be efficient. I also think that government should take its own sweet time to deliberate, thank you very much. The wooden chair you sit in while waiting to say why you mightn't be fit for jury duty is more comfortable than some other chairs that are out there.