Though I may sometimes disagree with her verdicts, mostly I approve of them, and I certainly admire her spunk and her respect for the law. I know the people who bring their cases to be argued before her are paid, yet there is a display of human emotion on the program that I often find intriguing. And I like the way she cuts through the fuzzy reasoning of the litigants with a wry sense of humor.

But do I approve of paying her 45 million a year? Not for me to weigh in on really, but I will say this. Judge Judy brings a much needed sense of reasoned argument onto today's scene. Although she may tap her watch and cut off people, reminding them to get down to the nitty gritty because it's getting to be lunch time and she is hungry, she has an aura of civility and horse sense that I find most welcome. I like her brand of entertaining constructive social comment.