Two al-Qaida Dead: BFD

Headlines screamed that 2 al-Qaida leaders were killed in Iraq over the weekend! Also in the news was airlines at standstill because of volcanic ash. Also new figures show over 1.3 million Iraqis killed since the invasion. Also Goldman Sachs reported record profits due to its skill in fraud. Also Catholic priests scandal stretches into Latin America. More suicide bombings in Iraq. More suicide bombings in Pakistan. More suicide bombings in Afghanistan. More friendly fire deaths in all theaters of U.S. engagements. More civilians deaths in all theaters of U.S. engagements.

But, hey, the news of two al-Qaida leaders dead was right there up in lights. Where has critical thinking gone? I'll tell you. When you have too much money you can get by for a time without critical thinking. A bankrupt America will bring back more critical thinking.

Personal Advice on Healthcare Coverage for the Healthy

The recent passage of "healthcare reform" offers opportunity for healthy people to save money on insurance coverage. Since insurnace companies can no longer refuse coverage on pre-existing illness, it makes no sense to pay premiums if one is healthy. So healthy people should drop coverage and pay the relatively cheap penalty. But when the healthy become sick then just sign up for coverage and get all that is due you without caps. I don't know how long this will last. Because the the rate paying sick will eventually bankrupt the system. 

Lawyer Richard Scruggs: Champion Of Poor Judgment

Twenty-five percent of my graduating class went on to become lawyers. Half of those guys would steal a hot stove. And the other half would watch and learn how they did it. I can't really blame them. The legal system in the U.S. grants it's practioners a license to steal. The legal process is so cumbersome and lengthy that the attorneys on both sides of the judicial action are enriched far beyond their actual worth. Their participation is effectively an impediment to a quick resolution and is tantamont to stealing the wealth of the plaintiffs and defendants. Also the mere mention of a law suit will bring forth settlement talks. This casts the lawyers as shake-down gunslingers.

Which brings up the name of attorney Richard Scruggs. He's the premier trial attorney in America. He was the architect of the $ 286 billion tobacco industry settlement. He won damages for people who smoked and the states who provided the care giving to the related diseases.

Scruggs was recently in the news as both plaintiff and his own lawyer against the defendant State Farm Insurance. Scruggs lost his home when Hurricane Katrina hit Mississippi's gulf beaches. Scruggs built his home only 50 yards from the water. State Farm which was backed up by the Mississippi courts and the state insurance commissioner said the policy never covered the flooding which ruined his home. Scruggs didn't like that fact. So he threatened State Farm and other insurance providers with a similar nation wide legal effort as per the tobacco industry. State Farm settled by paying $130 million to all similarly situated flood victims.

And so people who built houses on flood plains will get rewarded like the people who had the bad personal judgment to smoke. Personal responsibility and critical thinking are not honored by these results. How long can that go on?