Harvard Law prof, Cass Sunstein, picked by President Obama to be the “regulations czar” wants animals to be able to bring lawsuits in court. This is a very radical concept known as “animal standing.” Senator Saxby Chambliss is holding up the nomination over the issue, which I discuss over at SHS. I will have a more extensive exposition about the broader issue and importance animal standing in the near future.
Sunday, July 5, 2009, 9:53 PM
July 6th, 2009 | 12:26 am
Just when you think things can’t get any worse, we might get an “animal rights” advocate running something (just exactly what seems somewhat obscure) at the White House. Obama’s been president a mere five months, but it seems like five years already…
July 6th, 2009 | 8:34 am
I’ve been waiting for Cass Sunstein to be exposed. He’s one of the ones who vouched for candidate Obama’s (great) understanding of the constitution.
July 6th, 2009 | 9:30 am
Of course this is an exercise in deception and deceit. The only ones suing will be people pretending to speak for the animals. An animal can no more sue than a stone can write a simphony. Of course this will be another legal fiction developed to bludgon opposition to the left’s Brave New World into submission.
July 6th, 2009 | 9:47 am
There is an awful amount of cruelty to animals, and in all jurisdictions that I am aware of, the penalties meted out to those who abuse animals are shockingly light, ranging from removal to fines in the $50 to $1000 range. Think of that! Starving a dog or a horse or beating it to within an inch of its life – and much worse – will never land anyone in jail unless he refuses to pay the fine.
That said, I do not support giving animals a right to sue, or any rights for that matter. But they are still in our care, I believe through the will of God, and definitely deserve better than the protections afforded them at present.
July 6th, 2009 | 10:22 am
Will unborn animals have rights?
July 6th, 2009 | 11:10 am
Oh, terrific. My wife and I used to put our dog in a little ‘office’-type room in the house at night – the pooch had her own couch and everything. Once the baby came, we converted that room into the baby’s room, and the dog was relegated to a pillow on the floor in family room.
Now my dog will be able to sue me for wrongful eviction and for pain & suffering. Maybe we can settle out of court for extra-large bag of Milkbones……
July 6th, 2009 | 11:25 am
[...] Ms Delsol predicted this sort of thing. [...]
July 6th, 2009 | 2:44 pm
Stunning! Is it not a central tenet to civilization that all citizens are held equal under the law. When was citizenship extended to include anyone other than humans? Even if there are laws which exist that regulate the treatment of animals, that does not extrapolate to a position that animals could be regarded as possessing the right to access the legal remedies as a petitioner, a.k.a., a person of legal standing that flows from citizenship. Now, maybe if the animals all got together and formed a legal corporation, they could attain the standing needed to initiate a legal action. But wouldn’t that mean that we need to consider George Orwell a prophet? Perhaps they could just content themselves with obtaining a membership in the Democratic party.
July 6th, 2009 | 3:02 pm
Human beings are stewards of creation. Animals are not things that belong to us, but were created by God for companionship, if we read the second Creation story right.
Dr Sunstein may well be a competent individual in the service to which she has been called–it would be a pleasant upgrade from many of the past administration’s appointees. Given the tenor of incompetence and corruption of the executive branch over the past eight years, I’m inclined to give this kind of thing a pass.
That said, caring for animals and being able to muster compassion has been a sign of holiness in numerous saints of history. I would be cautious about Christians belittling a reasonable animal rights position too strenuously.
July 6th, 2009 | 3:29 pm
If animals can sue, can they be sued?
As I recall, ancient Brehon law would prosecute animals for trespass.
July 6th, 2009 | 5:34 pm
I love my 10-year old Maine Coon cat Sam, the Wonder Cat to distraction! But his decision-making process is mysterious and somewhat whimsical and I wouldn’t give him the right to do anything but eat and find his own litter box! And Sam is an intelligent cat! He was told ONCE when he first came to live with me (he was 16-months old at the time) that kitchen counters were off limits. He got his portly self down and hasn’t ventured onto counters since then. If you aren’t familiar with them – Maine Coon cats are massive in size and enormously long!
July 6th, 2009 | 10:14 pm
As I will write to a greater extent elsewhere, some very powerful voices support the concept. It would destroy animal industries and basically make animals quasi persons. That is, of course, the point. Thanks all.
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