A system functions when each person who has a stake in it knows his or her role. This is not to be confused with the obsolete and repugnant division of labour dictat in Manusmriti, but rather plain commonsense of allocating expertise. We are all good at what we do and some of us are even experts. The world has moved on from the time when there was no law, to now when there are a million books on jurisprudence to learn and understand. Granted, none of us is sitting on an arm-chair except when we literally are. But we must know our limits. I can wash dishes and run errands but I cannot repair my car engine, cannot defend anyone in a court of law, and cannot pass a judgment. The problem with subjects such as economics and law is that their complexities are not immediately evident to the layman. While a brain surgeon needs to study medicine for a decade to be able to even think of wielding a scalpel and fiddle with all that grey matter, the subject of law appears deceptively approachable to one and all. Of course it is, you say. What’s the big deal! Well, in which case I’d like to see the anchors defend themselves in court as and when the need arises. Ten out of ten times, chances are they’ll hire the services of Mr Jethmalani.