by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

As a lawyer, I have heard a variety of reasons why people say their marriages ended in divorce.  I thought I had heard them all from adultery, cruel and inhuman treatment, constructive abandonment to the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship. Many people blame their ex, while some accept that the blame was shared.  But today the blame game has shifted and there is a new reason why some people say they are getting a divorce.  

These people blame their divorce on none other than President Donald Trump, in what has now become known as the "Trump Divorce."  I have heard people blame President Trump for a lot of things in his short tenure thus far, but to blame him for one's own divorce on the surface seems absurd.  Upon closer examination of just what a "Trump Divorce" is for couples where one person supports Trump and the other does not, one realizes that these people aren't necessarily claiming that President Trump was the direct cause of their divorce. Rather their support for two presidential candidates or political parties that are so diametrically opposed, has caused a toxic chasm of mutual disrespect to the demise of their relationship.

The "Trump Divorce" isn't so much a new reason why people are getting divorced, as it is an indictment of our society as a whole.  The level of political venom and toxicity in our country has risen to a new high water mark where congress is at a stand still, relationships between family and friends are being terminated on social media and otherwise and the American people are the ones who are suffering in what has become a high stakes game of political beliefs.  It's as if the All In The Family character Archie Bunker was right all those years ago, when he stated comically that our country should hang a sign out front that reads, "Owner gone nuts!"  

We appear to have come to the point where political beliefs have created inordinate amounts of animosity and resentment, which are two of the most powerful relationship killers.  While some divorce attorneys may delight in this, hopefully we as a people and especially our elected officials in particular, can learn to rise above all of this for the sake of our country and our relationships. Perhaps a good place to start is with something the Queen of Soul taught us about so many years ago when she sang the song simply titled, "Respect."

Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
​www.liattorney.com 

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

In years past it was commonplace to find people that took pride in their work. It didn't matter if they were a blue collar or white collar worker, people always seemed to deliver a relatively high level quality product or service for the money.  Today unfortunately, finding people that truly take pride in their work is more of a rarity.  I find this to largely be the case across virtually every field or profession, from the car mechanic to lawyers and doctors.  

One example of this emanated when I recently patronized a doughnut/ice cream shop, where I sought to purchase an ice cream sandwich ($3.49) and a single doughnut ($1.20).  When the cashier totalled my cost, she proclaimed that I owed $7.35.  When I immediately explained that based on the price of each item that it could not possibly cost that much, she said that was what the computer said and then tried to recalculate my cost.  After she feverishly pushed numerous buttons on the cash register and attained a certain level of confidence that she had now corrected her error, she looked me straight in eye and said, "That'll be $9.10."  I politely told her that she was going in the wrong direction and after a couple more minutes, she managed to correctly calculate my cost.

This experience not only showed me that there was a lack of pride in work, but a lack of independent thought as well.  Yes this experience was funny, but it was also sad at the same time and only one of innumerable similar experiences.  When you go into a store to buy a product with your hard earned money, it is reasonable to expect that the product will last more than one day past the warranty expiration date.  When you go into a restaurant and pay good money to be served a meal, it is not crazy to expect that you receive good service with a smile and quality food that is well prepared.  Further when you hire a professional such as a lawyer, you should receive personal services that are in your best interest and not the lawyer's best interest.

All too often, we are made to feel that the only thing people want out of us is our money and that they only want to do the bare minimum necessary in order to get it.  If you are tired of receiving the bare minimum in exchange for your money, then politely speak up the next time the product you purchase or the service you receive does not measure up.  After all, people will not change that which they do not know about.  Let's not wallow in mediocrity or maintain the complacency of an ineffective politician.  Likewise, when you do receive an exceptional product or service for your money, compliment the deserving parties and let them know the satisfaction of being appreciated.  

The quality of American products and service is at the foundation of our economy and therefore warrants our attention in order to make it improve. Perhaps if we all took more pride in our work like our forefathers did when they first came to this great country, we can all change our little corners of the world for the better.  In an effort to do our part please know that at Paul A. Lauto, PLLC, we are committed to providing a high level of personal legal service and attention that is uncommon in our profession and always in our client's best interest.

Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
​www.liattorney.com