Sunday, June 27, 2004

Will restored Iraqi sovereignty hold?
Within the next few days the fragile interim government now in place in Iraq will become the official sovereign Iraqi government. As the United Nations debates various aspects of how to manage Iraq’s immediate future, terms like “the march toward democracy and freedom” are frequently heard. At the same time, figures such as Moqtada al Sadr and his militia in Karbala aren’t likely to be cooperative partners in such a march. Other players will also undoubtedly emerge to make their bids for power as well, wreaking as much havoc along the way as they can. Armed forces – ours, theirs, the U.N.’s or perhaps NATO – will have to provide security for the country for the foreseeable future, and soldiers and civilians will continue to die. While the United States and Britain seek to bow out as gracefully as possible, leaving a hopefully trained Iraqi army and police force in their place, can the coalition partners do enough damage control now to find, months or years down the road, a stable and functioning democracy in Iraq?

By Robert Parker at 10:11 PM | Permalink
Category: Foreign Policy | Comments (0)

Sunday, June 20, 2004

Rising medical malpractice insurance costs
We have come to be a litigious society. Like so many other things which began as responses to legitimate needs, the right to seek redress and compensation through civil, rather than criminal courts, served a valid purpose. But, like so many other things which have gone down the same road in our culture -- rampant misuse, abuse and exploitation in the name of pure greed -- the litigation process now has aspects which do more than damage a single individual's or even a corporation's bank balance. One direct effect of soaring litigation rewards is to drive medical malpractice insurance rates up to the point where doctors are forced to do without it or simply opt out of treating some individuals.

It's hard to argue that someone who has been seriously injured or the family of someone who has died due to a doctor's error isn't due compensation, given that we as a society have long ago accepted the idea of medical malpractice. But the dollar value of a human life, if there even is such a thing, continues to be difficult to define or agree on. In sensational trials and settlements the huge amounts of money at stake take on lottery proportions, appealing to rich vs. poor or little guy vs. big guy views, and are seen by some as a way for the underdog to strike back and get rich quick rather than seeking just compensation. And while the successful litigant(s) in such a case may collect a substantial sum of money, the bulk (as much as two-thirds to three-quarters) goes to the trial lawyer's firm. Both may be satisfied with the result, but where do the costs of these proceedings actually come to rest? To be sure, the defendant's insurance company will pay, but will then attempt to recoup that money through higher rates. The cost to doctors of those higher rates is then passed on to their patients. And the beat goes on.

By Robert Parker at 10:04 AM | Permalink
Category: Health and Retirement Care | Comments (0)

Saturday, June 12, 2004

Where the jobs are
With signs of a possible light at the end of the tunnel that is Iraq beginning to be seen (or at least imagined), the economy -- specifically, jobs -- once again is looming as the 800-pound gorilla of the 2004 presidential election. Every axe-grinder with a point of view and a political stake is gearing up for the blame game to be played out between now and November. While recent news has indicated job creation is on the rise, there is still a lot of ground to be made up for the losses of recent years.

Much has been made of the phenomenon known as job exporting, a topic currently under discussion in X-voter.com's forum and referendum. How much, if any, pressure will be brought to bear in this election for legislation to address this aspect of job losses remains to be seen. But there is one readily available, significant source of American jobs sitting out there right now, waiting to be tapped. Or should I say drilled? The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR.

Estimates vary, but there could be as much as 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil, or even more, in this small chunk of Alaska. Getting that oil out of the ground and into production could put large numbers of people to work at various levels within the industry, although certainly not all at once. Perhaps as many as hundreds of thousands. That represents a huge stimulus to the economy and a lot of sorely needed tax revenue.

Isn't it worth it to find a way for legitimately concerned environmentalists and the oil companies, in possession of greater technology than at any time in their history, to come together on this one? A lot of people would like to go to work.

By Robert Parker at 12:21 PM | Permalink
Category: Economy | Comments (0)