>Interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and laws has never been "blatantly obvious".
Well, it has always been subject to the political pressure from various lobbies and interests...
Judges can write whole treatises with delicate legal interpretations to justify their alliances, government pressure and/or under the table money.
Kind of like medieval religious scholars could write treatises on how many angels fit on the head of a pin -- it pays well and furthers their friends cause.
Between those issues, the death penalty, three strikes laws, and such -- not to mention widespread litigation mania--, the legal code there is kind of the joke in the western world.
Well, it has always been subject to the political pressure from various lobbies and interests...
Judges can write whole treatises with delicate legal interpretations to justify their alliances, government pressure and/or under the table money.
Kind of like medieval religious scholars could write treatises on how many angels fit on the head of a pin -- it pays well and furthers their friends cause.
Between those issues, the death penalty, three strikes laws, and such -- not to mention widespread litigation mania--, the legal code there is kind of the joke in the western world.