How not to avoid jury duty

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by August

I have to agree but it's a sad commentary on our social system that we can't afford to take time off to do the most basic of civic duties.

That is to be expected of the state. Since it typically understands neither incentive nor efficiency, the current jury selection system is not a surprise.

Imo, the real problem here is the tremendous complexity of our legal system. It is all but incomprehensible to the average person. Both of the juries I served on understood little more than the closing arguments. I read legal dictionaries for fun, I was in student court for four years, and I recently passed my roomate's online law exam, and even I didn't understand some of what was going on. Working hard for comparitively low pay and no personal material gain is a huge disincentive. Why do you think the military has trouble enlisting anyone but the most dedicated, idealistic, or foolish?

There are few people that really respect the legal industry, and with good reason. Lawyers and politicians rank about the same on the "detestability-meter" for most people. No small coincidence that most politicians are/were lawyers, nor that both are generally renowned for lying.
How curious that legislators make laws, and are also members of the industry that specializes in them

The legal industry is a natural monopoly, and a paragon of state/business collusion. It has created a real monopoly by making it's product beyond the reach of anyone who is not a part of it. Institutions have been formed that ensure this, such as the Trial Lawyers' Association and the ABA. Not intentionally, but naturally.
I'm sure you are aware of, and perhaps share, the nigh-universal disgust with many aspects of the modern legal system, in the same way that you would hate a monopoly that charged exorbitant prices for goods that you need.

In my opinion, and in the opinion of many conservatives, the best way to avoid this kind of thing is to limit/disperse the legislative power of the state. Should such a thing ever be accomplished, it would destroy the market niche for extraneous services like a complex, non-productive, and harmful legal industry.

Though I share your sense of civic duty, there is more here than that. To uphold one's civic duty means being willing to serve the public good. Is the legal industry really benefitting the public good? I think it is not, but I serve, because it is my duty(and I consider it my duty to make an effort to become proficient in legal discourse). Though that may be admirable in the eyes of a soldier like you or me, it doesn't change the fact that it is ultimately harmful.