The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Risky Business

9.6.07 @ 12:01AM

DANGER LOOMS
Re: Ralph R. Reiland's Litigation Nation:

I think that all these lawsuits against manufacturers, retailers, park districts, and other public agencies for stupid self-inflicted injuries are turning people into morons. Almost everyone I know has a favorite product warning -- from chainsaws ("do not attempt to stop chain with hands") to curling irons ("do not insert into any bodily orifice"). My favorite is a full paragraph prominently printed on each mate of each pair of boxing gloves marketed by a well-known boxing/martial arts equipment firm in Lenexa, Kansas. It warns the prospective user that "boxing is a contact sport" (well, duh!) and that the user assumes all liability for injuries resulting from the use of the product.

I think that John Edwards may be right when he talks about the "two Americas." There's that America that's made up of people who realize that life is not without risk and that one can avoid many of these risks through the application of common sense and by following directions. Then there's that expanding America made up of feckless boobs who have enriched people like John Edwards and others of his profession through litigation brought about by their clueless and irresponsible behavior. The result of all this litigation is the creation of a "spork culture" where all the potentially dangerous corners in life are rounded down or padded, thereby removing all risk as well as any enjoyment from life.

Don't forget your bike helmets and knee pads, kids -- it's dangerous outside!
-- Bill Erdmann

Welfare people are about the only ones who show up for jury duty (who else can afford it?), and from that dismal pool, the selection ritual eliminates most of those with IQs bigger than their shoe size. Even if a group is (accidentally) impaneled that is capable of thinking about the burden on the general public of the award it is asked to make, the law generally requires judges to instruct jurors not to consider that aspect of the matter before them.
-- Ty Knoy
Ann Arbor, Michigan

I enjoyed Ralph Reiland's piece on "Litigation Nation." I combined it with Weird Al Yankovic's video "I'll Sue Ya" on the blog I maintain, The Bastiat Blog. The two go together very nicely to create a multi-media anti-litigation experience.
-- Ben Rast
President, The Bastiat Society
Charleston, South Carolina

RICH MAN, POOR MAN
Re: Lisa Fabrizio's An Impoverished Debate:

I am one of these "poor" Americans, retired and living on $1,000 a month. I own my home and acreage, Dodge truck, DishNetwork, DVR, DVD, washer, dryer, 2 color TV's, microwave and spend my spare money on rehabbing squirrels to release. The only thing I get from the government is a small SS check. Oh and I do have health insurance, not Medicare.

The welfare system keeps paying moms to stay home and have more babies so they can get a raise in their checks, which just makes more welfare moms that start while they are still kids themselves. If we stopped paying for more than one child the birth rate would drop.
-- Elaine Kyle

The statistics on poverty in America make it really easy to see why so many illegal immigrants go there. Being poor in America beats the hell out of being rich in a lot of countries. No wonder the left hates America -- the mere existence of America puts the lie to every idea they have ever had. Keep up the good work.
-- Christopher Holland
Canberra, Australia

Thanks to two centuries of wealth creation by U. S. economy (fastest growth rate on the planet) welfare people on these shores today have higher standards of living than kings enjoyed 200 years ago. Unfortunately for the Democrat Party (John Edwards in particular), more than half of our electorate is irrevocably aware of this.
-- Ty Knoy
Ann Arbor, Michigan

PAULIST PLAYS HARDBALL
Re: Jennifer Rubin's Primary Paths:

I know that Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, and Mitt Romney are the darlings at The American Spectator, and their campaigns are much more important than someone who represents "real" conservative principles and love for the Constitution. Is it unfathomable to The American Spectator that some of us believe Dr. Ron Paul represents what true conservatism is about?

Does he not deserve to be taken seriously? Is it not newsworthy that his campaign has generated, arguably, the most excitement of any in a generation? Of course, I won't hold my breath that more pundits will write about what Dr. Paul is accomplishing on the grassroots circuit on any of the major conservative websites or blogs. I may have to look elsewhere...Thankfully, the Internet is still free.
-- Todd Morris

VAST PARTNERSHIP
Re: Doug Bandow's Labor Day Special:

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Sports, Islam, Constitution, Law, Iran, Russia, Socialism, Conservatism, Oil, Unions, Medicare