Outstanding Job
Tort Reform
There's a discussion down in the comments below on medical malpractice costs.
My solution is not just hyperbole: We need an extreme solution. Immunize all professional and licensed occupations, as well as all public and quasi-public entities.
Malpractice will be dealt with on the peer-review level. Sure, a few people will be screwed over. But most people won't. In the current system, a combination of legislators, insurance companies and litigators are doing more to restrict our rights and our freedoms than any king of England. We're all getting massively screwed in the current system.
The goal is to create a culture of passivity and fear--look at public school teachers and principles who fear making decisions. Or doctors' ordering extra tests just to make extra sure. The insurance/tort has put tons of small businesses out of business — as they simply can't afford insurance, which legislators (lawyers themselves) in turn require.
Something's gotta give. Either end mandatory insurance, or end most tort lawsuits against public entities, quasi-public entities (such as hospitals) and professionals. The specific cases were people get hurt can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The department of health can always shut down a hospital. We don't need insurers and tort lawyers complicating matters.
BTW, this is an area where I was always conservative. Mandatory insurance is nothing more than a tax that ensures a massive pool of funds are available for the plaintiffs' bar — and of course the defendants' bar, too. It's a scam, it's always been a scam, and it will always be a scam.
Insurance should be for auto accidents, fire, theft, life — that sort of thing.
Just my two cents.
The objections: What about those who are victims of malpractice? I don't know. Maybe doctors themselves can agree to review these events on a case-by-case basis, and volunteer to provide extra care at no or low cost. Doctors are licensed so clods can have their licenses pulled by the state.
As far as other cases of negligence ... we can deal with that on a case by case basis. I'm not saying eliminate all tort lawsuits — but I'd eliminate them for all entities paid for with public funds: cops, judges, teachers, government officials. Public officials already enjoy broad immunities; let's finish the job. Do you know how much money New York City puts out a year just to settle legal cases — in many cases, just settling to make tort lawyers go away. It's hundreds of millions. Anytime someone in that city of eight million people slips and falls, a tort lawyer hands out his business card.
Of course everyone doesn't sue, but that's my point. Rare are the cases where you should have to take your conflicts before a judge. I would say virtually any doctor, immunized from malpractice, would gladly give free treatment to patients where he has made an error. If the patient is no longer comfortable, the doctor can easily send the patient to another doctor.
Trust me, if we get these insurance costs and legal costs out of the system, we'd see the economy explode, and our education and medical system costs plunge.
Just a starting place for a discussion ...
My solution is not just hyperbole: We need an extreme solution. Immunize all professional and licensed occupations, as well as all public and quasi-public entities.
Malpractice will be dealt with on the peer-review level. Sure, a few people will be screwed over. But most people won't. In the current system, a combination of legislators, insurance companies and litigators are doing more to restrict our rights and our freedoms than any king of England. We're all getting massively screwed in the current system.
The goal is to create a culture of passivity and fear--look at public school teachers and principles who fear making decisions. Or doctors' ordering extra tests just to make extra sure. The insurance/tort has put tons of small businesses out of business — as they simply can't afford insurance, which legislators (lawyers themselves) in turn require.
Something's gotta give. Either end mandatory insurance, or end most tort lawsuits against public entities, quasi-public entities (such as hospitals) and professionals. The specific cases were people get hurt can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The department of health can always shut down a hospital. We don't need insurers and tort lawyers complicating matters.
BTW, this is an area where I was always conservative. Mandatory insurance is nothing more than a tax that ensures a massive pool of funds are available for the plaintiffs' bar — and of course the defendants' bar, too. It's a scam, it's always been a scam, and it will always be a scam.
Insurance should be for auto accidents, fire, theft, life — that sort of thing.
Just my two cents.
The objections: What about those who are victims of malpractice? I don't know. Maybe doctors themselves can agree to review these events on a case-by-case basis, and volunteer to provide extra care at no or low cost. Doctors are licensed so clods can have their licenses pulled by the state.
As far as other cases of negligence ... we can deal with that on a case by case basis. I'm not saying eliminate all tort lawsuits — but I'd eliminate them for all entities paid for with public funds: cops, judges, teachers, government officials. Public officials already enjoy broad immunities; let's finish the job. Do you know how much money New York City puts out a year just to settle legal cases — in many cases, just settling to make tort lawyers go away. It's hundreds of millions. Anytime someone in that city of eight million people slips and falls, a tort lawyer hands out his business card.
Of course everyone doesn't sue, but that's my point. Rare are the cases where you should have to take your conflicts before a judge. I would say virtually any doctor, immunized from malpractice, would gladly give free treatment to patients where he has made an error. If the patient is no longer comfortable, the doctor can easily send the patient to another doctor.
Trust me, if we get these insurance costs and legal costs out of the system, we'd see the economy explode, and our education and medical system costs plunge.
Just a starting place for a discussion ...
My Fellow Democrats, the time has come ...
I've recalled why I'm still a registered Democrat. Took yesterday's voting fiasco to jog my memory. Some of you may recall that I was a lifelong Democrat — and a committed one. I was a poll watcher for the Democrats in 1995. For a long time, I referred to myself as a conservative Democrat, probably since 1990. In 2000, I voted for my first Republican, Dubya.
Still, it was a difficult decision in the voting booth — surprisingly difficult considering I had every intention of voting for Bush for months beforehand. At the last minute, I had qualms. The GOP? I couldn't really go over to the dark side, could I?
Well, now I recall filling out my voter registration form prior to the election. I figured I was in Pennsylvania, and the Democratic Party in PA boasts the legacy of the great Bob Casey, the pro-life Democratic governor. That's closest to my position on things. So I figured the Dems were still friendly in the commonwealth to a conservative Democratic position.
Well, in the past four years, I'd have to say, no, the Dems aren't friendly to conservative ideas. I still hate the idea of going over to the GOP. I mean, when the woman at the polling place told me I was registered Democratic, it seemed right. To a certain extent, I'll always be a Reagan Democrat. I have no illusions that those who are very rich share my interests: The point is they're much less interested in damaging my interests than many Democrats, who in many cases don't share my interests.
Until the Dems stop demagoguing on various social issues and get serious about national security, crime, education and tort reform, I'll have to remain in exile in the GOP. Hell, maybe all the exiles will eventually take over the party, and drive the old mainline plutocrats somewhere else.
Still, it was a difficult decision in the voting booth — surprisingly difficult considering I had every intention of voting for Bush for months beforehand. At the last minute, I had qualms. The GOP? I couldn't really go over to the dark side, could I?
Well, now I recall filling out my voter registration form prior to the election. I figured I was in Pennsylvania, and the Democratic Party in PA boasts the legacy of the great Bob Casey, the pro-life Democratic governor. That's closest to my position on things. So I figured the Dems were still friendly in the commonwealth to a conservative Democratic position.
Well, in the past four years, I'd have to say, no, the Dems aren't friendly to conservative ideas. I still hate the idea of going over to the GOP. I mean, when the woman at the polling place told me I was registered Democratic, it seemed right. To a certain extent, I'll always be a Reagan Democrat. I have no illusions that those who are very rich share my interests: The point is they're much less interested in damaging my interests than many Democrats, who in many cases don't share my interests.
Until the Dems stop demagoguing on various social issues and get serious about national security, crime, education and tort reform, I'll have to remain in exile in the GOP. Hell, maybe all the exiles will eventually take over the party, and drive the old mainline plutocrats somewhere else.
De-Blogrolled
I've been de-blogrolled by one of my favorite sites, Doctor Horsefeathers. Don't know when, don't know why. I just hope they didn't find an excess of folly, ignorance and cant on the Web site (see their banner).