Jamesian Philosophy Refreshed

Is there a "most important" decision of the Supreme Court in a given year? Such a question depends, of course, on what one means by "importance." Just to satisfy my own obscure sense of fun, I'll run through the 70s, beginning then as my own political awareness began, and defining importance by my own nonappealable subjectivity. Maybe some time next week I'll move on to the '80s, if I can bear the excitement.    1970, Goldberg v. Kelly -- procedural due process rights and welfare entitlements.    1971,  New York Times v. United States -- Pentagon Papers case.    1972,   Gottschalk v. Benson -- software and patentability.    1973, Roe v. Wade -- abortion rights.    1974, U.S. v. Nixon -- executive privilege.    1975, Blue Chip Stamps v. Manor Drug Stores -- securities fraud.    1976, Gregg v. Georgia -- capital punishment    1977, Moore v. City of E...

If you're wondering how working journalists ... work. Personally, I'm not good on the phone. I become self-conscious about such things as what my voice sounds like and I end up stammering. To avoid or reduce troubles, when I have to make a phone call, I often prepare a script for myself. This lets my most favorite thing, writing, do some of the work of my least favorite thing, talking off the cuff. Example: "Hello ma'am/sir. I'm a reporter for Marijuana Investment News. We're a website that focuses on news of interest to investors in the new field of legal marijuana as many states change [relax?] their view on the subject. "I understand that about a year ago South Hadley, at a town meeting, voted in favor of a zoning bylaw that would govern medical marijuana dispensaries. is that right? "Also, in January of this year, your planning board discussed a site review plan for Gaylord Street that was to involve the growing of marijuana. I...