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************************************ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRESIDENT REAGAN! ************************************ The Immutable Law of Government "It is a general rule of public policy that when government acts to fix a problem, it makes the targeted problem worse and creates a few more in the process. By all means cut taxes. Anytime, anywhere. But one must also cut spending if the goal is to reduce the overall burden of government." - Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr., president of the Mises Institute ************************************ Adding Insult to Injury at WTC "Have you seen the architectural monstrosities they're thinking of putting on the World Trade Center grounds? Makes me break out with hives, gives me a permanent case of the hiccups and blocks my anal track like you wouldn't believe. YUK -- in fact, YUK times 10! "They should put a nice park with green lawn, flowers, trees, wandering pathways, and a bubbling stream going through it to commemorate those who died. Also they should give the boot to any bums, druggies, alcoholics, fornicators, hippies, politicians, wackos, curbside urinators, or anyone who works for the NY Times. If the ACLU doesn't go for the idea, throw them all in the East River. - News & Views reader Bob of San Rafael [ For a look at all seven of the design proposals under consideration, go to: http://archrecord.construction.com/news/wtc/archives/021218LMDCplans.asp . The THINK and Libeskind designs are the two finalists. ] *********************************** Go Forth and e-Multiply If you know someone who might like to receive News & Views, you can sign 'em up at: http://www.chuckmuth.com. ************************************ Friends "With 'allies' like France and Germany, these days, who needs enemies? As comedian Jay Leno said the other day, 'The Navy has now trained sea lions in the Persian Gulf to work as lookouts and detect terrorists that may be trying to blow up our ships. Isn't that amazing? Sea lions will help us, the French still won't.'" - Columnist Halle Dale ************************************ The Anti-American Left "A few days ago, an organization called 'Not In Our Name' paid for a two-page advertisement in the New York Times, part of which said this: 'We too watched with shock the horrific events of September 11, 2001. We too mourned the thousands of innocent dead and shook our heads at the terrible scenes of carnage - even as we recalled similar scenes in Baghdad, Panama City and, a generation ago, Vietnam.' "What? Is that advertisement saying the United States is guilty of crimes akin to those of the September 11 terrorists? . . . This text goes far beyond protest - this is anti-Americanism." - Columnist Bill O'Reilly ************************************ Doc Rescue Faces Tough Time in Senate "Top Senate Republicans yesterday said they intend to limit medical liability - a priority of President Bush's - though they acknowledged that passing such legislation in the Senate would be difficult. . . . (Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum) and other Republicans said the situation is reaching 'crisis' levels - with medical liability lawsuits threatening access to health care by increasing the cost of medicine and discouraging doctors from providing critical services like child delivery and trauma. - Washington Times, 2/5/03 ************************************ Take Two Depositions and Call Me in the Morning "When was the last time a lawyer held the hand of a patient who was dying? They are destroying medicine as we know it." - Nurse Nancy Schmitt, speaking at a rally in support of striking doctors in New Jersey, Reuters, 2/5/03 ************************************* It's the Plaintiffs Lawyers, Stupid "Out-of-control medical litigation and frivolous lawsuits are causing medical liability insurance premiums to skyrocket and forcing some insurance companies to stop providing this insurance. Doctors who are unable to obtain affordable insurance are leaving some states and in some cases are retiring from practice altogether." - Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican and Judiciary Committee chairman, Washington Times, 2/5/03 ************************************* Having a Heart Attack? Hold Please. "It should not be easier to sue a doctor than to get an appointment with a doctor." - Sen. Judd Gregg, New Hampshire Republican and chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Washington Times, 2/5/03 ************************************ Docs on Strike in Garden State "Striking doctors from across New Jersey brought their complaints about high malpractice-insurance premiums to the state Capital yesterday, while lawmakers worked on a compromise plan to cap physician liabilities. On the second day of their statewide walkout, doctors rallied in the rain on the steps of the State House against a malpractice system they say threatens to drive physicians out of New Jersey by allowing sudden and precipitous increases in insurance premiums." - Reuters, 2/5/03 *********************************** Battle Lines Drawn "The malpractice fight is intensely political. Lawyers and their lobby, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, contribute overwhelmingly to Democrats, and the insurance industry to Republicans. The American Medical Association, which sided with ATLA to fight for patients' rights legislation against insurers, has switched and made malpractice reform its top issue this year." - Columnist Morton Kondracke ************************************ Here's An Idea "Regarding legal reform, here's a thought out of my own fool head: Wouldn't it be possible to significantly control runaway jury awards and ambulance chasers without gutting the entire tort system if we just said 'look, all punitive damages go to the government (the jurisdiction where the violation occurred) and all compensatory damages go to the victim'? It seems to me the punitive settlement should be considered a fine and there is no reason for the victim and attorneys to share in it. "I ran this by a federal defense attorney friend of mine and his only argument against my idea is that there wouldn't be enough incentive for lawyers to take those cases. Which is precisely my point!!" - News & Views reader John Nienstedt, Sr. ************************************ Long Savings on Long Distance Just 4.97 cents/minute (5.97 cents for some non-regional bell companies) * All state-to-state calls in the continental U.S. * Residential or commercial * 6-second billing increments after the first 18 seconds * 24 hours/day * 7 days/week * No access codes * No minimums * No activation fees * No monthly service charge unless your bill is less than $20.00 a month (then a $2.50 service charge will apply) * No need to change your local phone company * No hassles * Easy sign-up. *And a small portion of each bill goes to help continue publishing our FREE Chuck Muth's News & Views e-newsletter. go to <http://www.GOPLongDistance.com> today. ************************************ The Yellow Rose of Taxes "Faced with huge budget shortfalls, many governors feel they have no choice but to raise taxes. This includes Republicans like Kenny Guinn of Nevada, who must reduce a $1.2 billion deficit. My best advice to Mr. Guinn: Ignore those who are advising you to raise taxes. Instead, look to your Republican friends in Texas and other states to find a better way of dealing with Nevada's budget problems. "...The age-old budget process commences with the previous year's budget plus additional agency-recommended spending, the budget is submitted to legislators with interests of their own, and finally the legislative and executive branches negotiate for spending cuts and tax increases to balance the budget. "In contrast, (Texas) Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, both Republicans, and Republican leadership in the state House are collaborating to draft a budget based on available revenues. Both Messrs. Perry and Dewhurst have said that in this way they can balance the budget without raising taxes, and simultaneously improve budget process transparency." - Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform *********************************** Upcoming Grassroots Training Seminars Anything worth doing is worth learning how to do right... * February 8-9 - San Antonio, TX * March 15-16 - Montgomery, AL * March 22-23 - Houston, TX * March 22-23 - Olympia, WA * March 29-30 - Knoxville, TN * March 29-30 - Baton Rouge, LA Yours truly will be one of the instructors at the Houston seminar. Hope to see some of you there. For additional information, contact Matt Lewis at the Leadership Institute: (800) 827-LEAD ********************************** The Goldwater Doctrine "I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed in their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is 'needed' before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' interests, I shall reply that I was informed their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can." - Barry Goldwater, "The Conscience of a Conservative" To help promote the "Goldwater Doctrine" in public policy and government, join the Goldwater Club by going to: http://chuckmuth.com/goldwater.htm ********************************* ********************************* Published by The Goldwater Club Chuck Muth Editor/Publisher P.O. Box 15307 Middle River, MD 21220 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The opinions and views expressed in Chuck Muth's News & Views reflect those of the writers, editors and columnists therein and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the sponsors, advertisers ... heck, even some of our readers. To be REMOVED, go to: http://www.chuckmuth.com/newsletter/ and complete the removal request instructions you'll find there. Or send your request to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # #
