Are we too eager to sue one another in America today?

by Brian Davis

Created on: July 02, 2009

The world today, the United States in particular, is constantly searching for the easy answer or the "get-rich-quick" opportunity. While searching for these, the fact that you might hurt someone else along the way has very rarely been of any concern to anyone. To illustrate this point we just need to look at programs like the lottery, gambling in general, and in this case, the ability to sue over just about anything.

People have become disgustingly lazy. Really they have. But when we live in a world of fast food, working from home, bypass surgeries, and welfare; who can blame them. Our culture not only is setting people up to be lazy, but it encourages it! It gets worse though, not only do we encourage it, we cater to it.

On to the real point, when we as consumers, patients, blue collar workers hear of some Billy Jo Jackson striking it big with the lottery we can't help but imagine "what if...?" When we hear of someone making out with millions because they spilled hot coffee on themselves (because no written warning was given on the cup) we can't help but imagine "what if...?" These points set the groundwork of our thoughts and attitudes. When we combine them with lawyers on television constantly bombarding us with statements along the lines of "if you were hurt on the job, YOU deserve compensation," we start to get into a mindset of "yeah you're right, I'M the victim." Then suddenly, this framework is built and developed. In comes person A who flips a lid (excuse the pun) because they dumped a bunch of hot coffee on themselves, and felt that they needed a written reminder that coffee was hot. But because of loopholes and people disregarding common sense; a new generation was born. It only takes one. We now see people suing over, well, anything. A woman sued a movie theater for discrimination against the obese because she couldn't fit in to their seats. And guess what dearest reader? She won. A man sued NBC because he couldn't stomach what was being shown on "Fear Factor." You get the point.

Yes, we do sue over inane occurrences, but until society clamps down and says enough is enough, people will keep doing it. Not only do I say we are too eager to sue, but it is far past the ridiculous point. From what I read, mainstream America seems to be appalled by all these suits run rampant. So why if the opposition is there is it allowed to continue? However, to state the point, I think the issue is our country's super-structure. These suits are just a logical conclusion from what we have built. You can't show someone how to cheat and then say "OK now you know how, but you can't do it, but by the way, here are a few step-ups for you if you choose to, but don't." It sounds like a petty and juvenile way of putting it, but it is exactly what is going on in the world today.

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