Comments on: Tort Reform http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/ Keeping a jaundiced eye on the corporate media. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:43:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ron http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139340 Ron Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:58:32 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139340 Far from being surprised, these types of continuing ideological battles are going to fought for the rest of time. Just because we elect a Dem majority and a Dem to the White House, we won't change a generation's worth of conservative mantra internalized by a huge segment of the population (including, btw, Democrats). While I agree that money buys access and support, we need to keep in mind that many people, not just these 'politicians,' actually believe the economic dogma that corporations deserve protection from people. As progressives it should be common sense that the fight will not end with Obama/Cinton and a Democratic supermajority in Congress. They will not automatically do the 'right' thing. As Digby pointed out recently, "we should never blindly trust our leaders' (mostly manufactured) "characters" . . . You can't depend on powerful people's good intentions." Far from being surprised, these types of continuing ideological battles are going to fought for the rest of time. Just because we elect a Dem majority and a Dem to the White House, we won’t change a generation’s worth of conservative mantra internalized by a huge segment of the population (including, btw, Democrats). While I agree that money buys access and support, we need to keep in mind that many people, not just these ‘politicians,’ actually believe the economic dogma that corporations deserve protection from people. As progressives it should be common sense that the fight will not end with Obama/Cinton and a Democratic supermajority in Congress. They will not automatically do the ‘right’ thing.

As Digby pointed out recently, “we should never blindly trust our leaders’ (mostly manufactured) “characters” . . . You can’t depend on powerful people’s good intentions.”

]]> By: Chris http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139321 Chris Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:58:50 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139321 Good points whitebeard. I certainly don't have a prescription for this, but I think that one way that we distinguish between, what you term, predatory borrowers and those who were taken advantage of, and might have a case to make that the culpability for their situation is not theirs alone, is that we don't bar them from access to the courts. We allow those decisions to be made by the courts based on the merits. Now obviously, the chances for success in that endeavor are likely slim. There is also a chance that those who have been gaming the system all along will stand the best chance of continuing to game the system via the courts. Nevertheless, I think it's always best to err on the side of the individual and to not limit access to the courts. Good points whitebeard. I certainly don’t have a prescription for this, but I think that one way that we distinguish between, what you term, predatory borrowers and those who were taken advantage of, and might have a case to make that the culpability for their situation is not theirs alone, is that we don’t bar them from access to the courts. We allow those decisions to be made by the courts based on the merits. Now obviously, the chances for success in that endeavor are likely slim. There is also a chance that those who have been gaming the system all along will stand the best chance of continuing to game the system via the courts. Nevertheless, I think it’s always best to err on the side of the individual and to not limit access to the courts.

]]> By: whitebeard http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139307 whitebeard Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:09:25 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139307 "...to ensure that the people most harmed by predatory lending practices, who were on the receiving end of extraordinary dubious financial advice which has..." How do we distinguish between the predatory lenders and the predatory borrowers who knew they had no intention of paying off the house, or knew they couldn't afford the mortgage to begin with, or lied about their income and assets to secure the mortgage? There are lots of foxes in the hen house and they aren't all wearing the same uniform. “…to ensure that the people most harmed by predatory lending practices, who were on the receiving end of extraordinary dubious financial advice which has…”

How do we distinguish between the predatory lenders and the predatory borrowers who knew they had no intention of paying off the house, or knew they couldn’t afford the mortgage to begin with, or lied about their income and assets to secure the mortgage?

There are lots of foxes in the hen house and they aren’t all wearing the same uniform.

]]> By: Chris http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139298 Chris Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:36:03 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139298 I don't believe I've expressed any surprise. Ever. I've perhaps said things along the lines of "I wish I was surprised" and that's what I was trying to do here without using those exact words. Now if I didn't communicate that properly, and I'm more than willing to accept that I didn't, it's a writing problem rather than a problem of nativity. I take it as an insult because you know me and know how I think about these things. I don’t believe I’ve expressed any surprise. Ever. I’ve perhaps said things along the lines of “I wish I was surprised” and that’s what I was trying to do here without using those exact words. Now if I didn’t communicate that properly, and I’m more than willing to accept that I didn’t, it’s a writing problem rather than a problem of nativity. I take it as an insult because you know me and know how I think about these things.

]]> By: Susie http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139296 Susie Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:23:25 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139296 I'm sorry if I insulted you, Chris. I didn't mean to. I just don't understand why you're surprised, honestly. They've both taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from Wall St. and lobbyists of all stripes. The system's corrupt up to its eyeballs. Although I wish primary elections were about getting the best possible person for the job, they're not. They're about accepting tradeoffs and so far, I see very little that doesn't apply to both candidates. Your mileage may vary. I’m sorry if I insulted you, Chris. I didn’t mean to. I just don’t understand why you’re surprised, honestly. They’ve both taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from Wall St. and lobbyists of all stripes. The system’s corrupt up to its eyeballs.

Although I wish primary elections were about getting the best possible person for the job, they’re not. They’re about accepting tradeoffs and so far, I see very little that doesn’t apply to both candidates.

Your mileage may vary.

]]> By: Chris http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139294 Chris Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:08:16 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139294 <i>They’re both in hock to special interests. What part don’t you get?</i> What a bullshit and insulting comment Susie. Whatever. Keep talking to me like I'm a moron if you feel like it. They’re both in hock to special interests. What part don’t you get?

What a bullshit and insulting comment Susie. Whatever. Keep talking to me like I’m a moron if you feel like it.

]]> By: Susie http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139291 Susie Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:56:44 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/24/12/46/tort-reform/#comment-139291 Well, you can do it out in the open like this (and let me tell you before you jump down Clinton's throat, there's only so many ways you can slice the foreclosure shit sandwich) - or you can help push all class-action suits from the states to the notoriously less-friendly federal courts (which is what Obama already did). The Republicans aka Wall Street did the happy dance over that one, too. I keep telling you: They're both politicians. They're both in hock to special interests. What part don't you get? Well, you can do it out in the open like this (and let me tell you before you jump down Clinton’s throat, there’s only so many ways you can slice the foreclosure shit sandwich) - or you can help push all class-action suits from the states to the notoriously less-friendly federal courts (which is what Obama already did). The Republicans aka Wall Street did the happy dance over that one, too.

I keep telling you: They’re both politicians. They’re both in hock to special interests. What part don’t you get?

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