fwd: Truth in Advertising for Psychobabble Testimony

Apparently from rec.humor.funny; found on alt.fan.mike-jittlov:

> From the 1/26/96 editorial page of the Manchester Union Leader,
> with credits to the Western Journalism Center:
> 
>       In the New Mexico Legislature's 1995 session, Sen. Duncan
>       Scott, a Republican from Albuquerque, proposed an amendment
>       to a psychologist regulatory bill offered by another senator.
>       The Scott amendment would have dramatically changed the face
>       of New Mexico's legal system:
> 
>       The amendment said: ``When a psychologist or psychiatrist testifies
>       during a defendant's competency hearing, the psychologist or
>       psychiatrist shall wear a cone-shaped hat that is not less than
>       two feet tall.  The surface of the hat shall be imprinted
>       with stars and lightning bolts.
> 
>       ``Additionally, a psychologist or psychiatrist shall be required
>       to don a white beard that is not less than 18 inches in length,
>       and shall punctuate crucial elements of his testimony by
>       stabbing the air with a wand.  Whenever a psychologist or
>       psychiatrist provides expert testimony regarding a defendant's 
>       competency, the baliff shall contemporaneously dim the 
>       courtroom lights and administer two strikes to a Chinese gong.''
> 
>       The bill, with the wizard amendment, passed the Senate by
>       voice vote and cleared the House 46-14.  Unfortunately,
>       Gov. Gary Johnson vetoed the legislation.
>       
> 
> [Note - reprinted by permission of the Manchester Union Leader and the
>       Western Journalism Center.  My thanks to them and to Dave Bakken
>       for obtaining permission - ed]
>
>(*)   "ed" is Brad Templeton, the editor of that topic.


-- 
-Chip Olson. | prb@fuber.arg