From 20 public-spirited lawyers could change the world:
…law enables individuals and institutions to send laser beams (of varying quality, depending on cost) from one point in time and space to another, saying “this is what will take place; this is what we agree has happened; this is what must happen; these are the conditions of co-operation”. Law, more than the media, allows money to be converted into publicly-agreed and enforceable statements.
This reminded me of “fine print” from radio ads. An example (from the internet):
This advertising style is very funny, but very possibly legally binding as well! Which seems to illustrate this legal “beam” concept: that by witnessing a spew of specially chosen legal words, you convert a virtual premise into a real premise. And that the only tools at your disposal are legal words pointing in the opposite direction.