[rayiner]

I don't know about around the world, but about two-thirds of the framers of the U.S. Constitution were lawyers. The rest were businessmen of some sort (counting owning large-scale farms as a business). Doesn't seem like an appreciable change in who sets the tone for public policy, although I think if anything the power has shifted more towards businessmen.

[larrydag]

I wonder how that lawyer ratio has changed over the years with members of U.S. Congress. I'm guessing not a whole lot. Is it me or is the trial lawyer lobby the most powerful in Washington, D.C.?