Mr. Pappas says we need to change people’s behavior rather than trying to change the legal system. We’ll change a leopard’s spots before that happens. Tort reform is long overdue, but will never happen under a Kerry/Edwards administration.
Bush selected not elected? Cute. You libs not only use the same tired old whinings, but you are either lying or are just sadly misinformed. The recounts (sponsored by liberal Eastern papers) clearly showed a win by Bush. Don’t you think it’s time to move on to 2004 and get out of 2000? The only other thing I can say to you is thank God GWB has been our President when we most needed one that would stand up to our enemies.
Well said C. Thun. I agree,the article is lacking. I would have liked to know who?what ATRA is and why their opinion matters.
While I think that tort reform is in order, I know that when it comes to deciding who to vote for -tort reform is not even one of the issues I base my decision on. Additionally, the congress will still be very close. Who ever is elected president will have to compromise to get legislatin through.
I think all that this thread is showing is the republicans are firmly behind their man and democrats are firmly behind Kerry/Edwards.
Like C. Thun, I came to the article to read an industry perspective to the choices upcoming. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as surprised as he to read the comments devolve into Us v. Them style of political shouting. It’s kinda what I’ve come to expect in internet forums, though I would hope for better in an industry forum.
For those who would like to examine this from an industry perspective, I personally support the suggestions of another article posted on Insurance Journal ( http://tinyurl.com/29odf ) that the higher costs of insurance may bring companies to better evaluate their liabilities and engage in more aggressive risk management. Placing the focus purely on tort reform not fails to do more than push the problem back a step, it implies that liability isn’t an issue of preventing injury in every reasonable way, but an issue of how much money should be involved when injury occurs. Insurance isn’t just about payment of damages, it’s about the whole process of identifying and addressing risk, insuring it only where it cannot be otherwise managed.
When it comes to insurance premiums, as much as there has been claims by many in the industry that high premiums are due to a lack of tort reform, there are claims by others that tort reform and premium pricing really have little to do with one another. I think those in the industry have adequate access to the former arguments, here’s what I’ve personally found to be the most accessible resource for the latter: http://www.insurance-reform.org/
As an insurance industry professional, I’m not a Republican, and I’m not a Democrat — I’m someone who has made the commitment to do my best to serve the needs of both my insureds and my community (since they’re really not that far apart). I think all of us need to practice taking a step back from heated rhetoric and traditional assumptions to make sure we really do have the whole picture in mind, putting the public interest and improving the industry above all else ( http://tinyurl.com/2cjeg ).
Paula, when you and C. Thong have finished watching Farenheit 9/11 for the 10th time and have finally tired from the relentless Bush bashing from the lies which that movie spreads, feel free to lobby your local congressman for insurance premium reform. While this may be an “industry resource” there is no need to denounce harmless banter in effort to make yourself look politically correct for a plight which anyone in the industry agrees with. The only way to get change is informing your local politicians of the concerns you have. So, save the drama for your mama and take this so called chat room for what is it – an anonymous internet forum.
Paula & C. Thun believe themselves to be of “higher order” than us neanderthal day-to-day people. Their DNA doesn’t stink.
If they were for real, they’d admit that by virtue of their pseudo-sophisticated expression, they participate in the very rhetoric they claim to rise above.
We know these phonies as “moderates”. They believe themselves above labels, express no opinion except to scold and belittle others for having an opinion. In reality, they are liberals that don’t like to get their hands dirty. We know which way they vote when they get behind the curtain.
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!!
My experience with plaintiff counsel is that they truly think differently about personal responsibility than what is commonly known as a “conservative”. Last I looked, insurance is one of the more conservative sectors of business. As an independent small business owner, trying to make a living as an adjuster, give me a president who has actually worked (and yes failed at something) in the real world over a priviledged, gilt edged plaintiff attorney any time.
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Mr. Pappas says we need to change people’s behavior rather than trying to change the legal system. We’ll change a leopard’s spots before that happens. Tort reform is long overdue, but will never happen under a Kerry/Edwards administration.
Just Me,
Bush wasn’t elected, he was Selected.
Bush selected not elected? Cute. You libs not only use the same tired old whinings, but you are either lying or are just sadly misinformed. The recounts (sponsored by liberal Eastern papers) clearly showed a win by Bush. Don’t you think it’s time to move on to 2004 and get out of 2000? The only other thing I can say to you is thank God GWB has been our President when we most needed one that would stand up to our enemies.
This sounds like a Cub-Sox argument. Truly a plaintiffs lawyer second in charge sounds great. Post on!
Well said C. Thun. I agree,the article is lacking. I would have liked to know who?what ATRA is and why their opinion matters.
While I think that tort reform is in order, I know that when it comes to deciding who to vote for -tort reform is not even one of the issues I base my decision on. Additionally, the congress will still be very close. Who ever is elected president will have to compromise to get legislatin through.
I think all that this thread is showing is the republicans are firmly behind their man and democrats are firmly behind Kerry/Edwards.
Like C. Thun, I came to the article to read an industry perspective to the choices upcoming. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as surprised as he to read the comments devolve into Us v. Them style of political shouting. It’s kinda what I’ve come to expect in internet forums, though I would hope for better in an industry forum.
For those who would like to examine this from an industry perspective, I personally support the suggestions of another article posted on Insurance Journal ( http://tinyurl.com/29odf ) that the higher costs of insurance may bring companies to better evaluate their liabilities and engage in more aggressive risk management. Placing the focus purely on tort reform not fails to do more than push the problem back a step, it implies that liability isn’t an issue of preventing injury in every reasonable way, but an issue of how much money should be involved when injury occurs. Insurance isn’t just about payment of damages, it’s about the whole process of identifying and addressing risk, insuring it only where it cannot be otherwise managed.
When it comes to insurance premiums, as much as there has been claims by many in the industry that high premiums are due to a lack of tort reform, there are claims by others that tort reform and premium pricing really have little to do with one another. I think those in the industry have adequate access to the former arguments, here’s what I’ve personally found to be the most accessible resource for the latter: http://www.insurance-reform.org/
As an insurance industry professional, I’m not a Republican, and I’m not a Democrat — I’m someone who has made the commitment to do my best to serve the needs of both my insureds and my community (since they’re really not that far apart). I think all of us need to practice taking a step back from heated rhetoric and traditional assumptions to make sure we really do have the whole picture in mind, putting the public interest and improving the industry above all else ( http://tinyurl.com/2cjeg ).
Paula, when you and C. Thong have finished watching Farenheit 9/11 for the 10th time and have finally tired from the relentless Bush bashing from the lies which that movie spreads, feel free to lobby your local congressman for insurance premium reform. While this may be an “industry resource” there is no need to denounce harmless banter in effort to make yourself look politically correct for a plight which anyone in the industry agrees with. The only way to get change is informing your local politicians of the concerns you have. So, save the drama for your mama and take this so called chat room for what is it – an anonymous internet forum.
Mr. Vandelay,
Paula & C. Thun believe themselves to be of “higher order” than us neanderthal day-to-day people. Their DNA doesn’t stink.
If they were for real, they’d admit that by virtue of their pseudo-sophisticated expression, they participate in the very rhetoric they claim to rise above.
We know these phonies as “moderates”. They believe themselves above labels, express no opinion except to scold and belittle others for having an opinion. In reality, they are liberals that don’t like to get their hands dirty. We know which way they vote when they get behind the curtain.
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!!
My experience with plaintiff counsel is that they truly think differently about personal responsibility than what is commonly known as a “conservative”. Last I looked, insurance is one of the more conservative sectors of business. As an independent small business owner, trying to make a living as an adjuster, give me a president who has actually worked (and yes failed at something) in the real world over a priviledged, gilt edged plaintiff attorney any time.