Stormy encounters
Husband-and-wife comedians and commentators Michele A’Court and Jeremy Elwood share their views.
Q: Is it true that anyone can chip in $5 to sue the President of the United States?
A: Indeed it is. Stormy Daniels is currently raising US$75,000 a week through crowdfunding to cover her legal expenses. Q: She’s an adult film star, right?
A: Yes, as in “a star of adult films”, as opposed to “not Macaulay Culkin”.
Q: What’s her problem with the Don?
A: She wants to talk about their alleged relationship; he would rather she didn’t.
Q: If she can’t afford a lawyer, why doesn’t she use legal aid? A: You need fancy lawyers to fight fancy lawyers. Legal aid lawyers, according to popular culture, have soup on their suits and forget to bring the right files to court because they’ve got too much on.
Q: But I thought everyone was supposed to have equal access to justice?
A: Don’t be crazy. If you look carefully, you will see Lady Justice’s blindfold is made of dollar bills sewn together, and those scales are where the two opposing sides put their gold.
Q: That’s a bit melodramatic, isn’t it?
A: Probably. But there are lots of people who can’t afford to mount or defend a case. Fighting for justice is expensive. It’s one of the reasons poor people are overrepresented in prison. Q: So it’s cool that everyone gets to chip in and help out, right? A: In a sense, yes, it’s very democratic in that it allows anyone to pledge big or small amounts to a cause
that appeals to them personally. Q: Do we do this for other things?
A: Sure. In the US there’s CrowdJustice for legal fees, and GoFundMe for individuals who need healthcare, and KickStarter for new entrepreneurs.
Q: We do this in New Zealand, right?
A: Sure do. There’s a long list, including PledgeMe and also GiveALittle for charities, community groups and individuals in need.
Q: Wouldn’t it be even cooler if places like refuges were properly resourced?
A: I reckon.
Q: Still, it sounds a bit like paying tax (giving a portion of your income to help someone else out) except more pleasant, because it’s voluntary, right?
A: Sure. Though it’s more like paying tax based on a popularity contest.
Q: Say what now?
A: Stormy Daniels, for example, is an attractive white woman with a high public profile and strong media reach who looks good on chat shows. A woman who was less appealing would have less success at crowdfunding, so less access to justice.
Q: So the process hasn’t changed? It’s just the revenue stream to the lawyers that’s gone from private to public? A: Exactly. Q: So what’s the lesson here? A: We should all train as lawyers.
Q: You haven’t been reading the local news, have you?