Clarence Darrow was, and remains one of the leading figures in the personal liberty law field. He championed liberal causes ad fought for individuals against the machine of industrialization. This book is very well written and describes Darrow as both a stalwart of the law and one who was not afraid to use whatever tactics needed to win his case.
As I have read this book, I have thought to myself, "Is there a Clarence Darrow out there today?" Sadly, I have yet to see one central figure that represents a modern Darrow. Sure there are plenty of fire breathing lawyers that fight the system on issues like the death penalty, but not to the scale of Darrow. Yes, there are lawyers defending our First Amendment rights, but not as effectively as Darrow. Corporations consistently gain more power in this country without someone the likes of Darrow standing up.
I contend that we need more like Darrow to fight the system that is poise to do in the American middle class. Evidence shows that corporations and politicians are not setting out with the American people in mind. This has led to the problems of corporate person hood, health care manipulation, and the Republican war on women. These and other issues are running roughshod over the common person, and little seems to be done.
What can we the average person do to take on the mantel of Darrow? I would suggest anything and everything. Write letters, send emails, protest...Darrow was an avid protester, join causes..Darrow joined anything he could, and most importantly read. Newspapers and online new sources make it easy for you to get a quick fix on a problem but that is it. Rarely do you see follow-ups or continuing pieces in the media anymore. Anything you can do to keep abreast of a particular problem, do so. It will help you be more connected and help the cause.
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