Posted On: July 12, 2004, 7:25 pm CDT

Posted By: Jim Masiello

Let's put things into proper perspective on the Kerry/Edwards matter!
Good article and right on BUT Tort reform is far from the most dangerous peril to our free enterprise capitalistic culture that these two clowns present!
We should be more concerned about the need to continue to fuel the economic growth that President Bush, with his bold tax cuts and business incentives has led us into after King Clinton sent us into a slow economic decline. Healthy capital markets and not the Kerry idea of reversing the tax cuts that President Bush pushed through both on business and individuals should be our number 1 concern; not Tort reform!!
The number 1 and number 4 most liberal members of Congress are hell bent on reversing the economic progress that has been made! By leaving more money in taxpayers pockets, (I guess that inside the beltway this seems like a crazy idea)for both businesses and individuals, rather than sending it to Washington for wasteful spending and expanding the government, we will resist being driven back into an overly taxed society! Though we are still overly taxed irrespective of the paltry tax cuts that went through over the objections of the Washington liberals.
Another concern that eclipses the need for Tort reform is the obvious assault on the moral fiber of our society! It would appear that Kerry and Edwards, who enthusistically and completely, condoned the un-american vile rhetoric spewing from the mouths of Hollywood degenerates last week seem committed to reinvigorating the Clinton cigar celebrating railroad toward the moral decline of our society. Preventing that from happening is more important than Tort reform!
Tort liability awards is a horrificly burdonsome tax that adds close to $300 Billion of extra expense to consumers and businesses as it goes into the Trial Lawyers pockets such as Edwards who garnered over $27 Million over the last 4 years of his practice!
If we increase the Capital Gains rates as Kerry wants to do, businesses will not have the cash that Kerry and Edwards will want going to Washington as would be expected of the number 1 and number 4 most liberal Senators in Congress; to invest in plant, equipment and employees all of which drive our economy.
We are in the insurance business so Tort reform will decrease our premium and thus our commissions. In theory we should join the greedy ambulance chasing Trial Lawyers and cheer them on in opposing Tort reform. But maybe the difference between our industry and the Trial Lawyers is our social conscience!
Oh by the way, it is good to see that the Insurance Journal is credibible enough to be on the list of Kerry responders. Trial Lawyers, no doubt!!