Formerly the Trial Lawyers Association of Americe (ATLA), now goes by the name of American Association for Justice (AAJ) and boasts 56,000 members. I see the name change as a cover-up for their true identity. A lobbying heavyweight, the association has been battling any attempt at reform of our legal system, including recent proposals to cap awards in medical malpractice suits. AAJ also lobbies congress on any legislation that may inhibit consumers to bring lawsuits, particularly against Health care providers, asbestos companies or insurance companies processing claims related to terrorism. One example among many: "Personal Responsibility in the Consumption of Food Act" designed to block lawsuits brought by obese people who want to blame McDonalds for their condition. Please see my blog for other examples, http://alananderson.blogstream.com. The association favors Democrats by giving 96% of their political donations to Democratics who oppose most attempts to initiate tort reform. You don't bite the hand that feeds you.

I report and U decide.

My favorite motto, whether I follow it or not, "With every right and privilege there is a corresponding duty and responsibility". This is the conservative way as opposed to the liberal way and ACLU who strongly support rights but never mention responsibilities. I report and U decide
alanrph2@msn.com

My lovely wife Marianne was given a diamond pin to commemorate 30 years of service to Health Partners. Her other choice was a $308 donation to charity. Her choice of charity is to the Minnesota AIDS Project in memory of our son Bill.

regarding the nobel prize...."I'll take Hurwicz as a legitimate winner. Gore has done about as much for peace as the average Miss America".

I report and U decide, alanrph2@msn.com.

Headline "Man Gets 8 Years In Death of Fetus", story in Pioneer Press Friday October 12th. To start with it ain't a fetus it's a live baby. This took place at three months of gestation. Viability usually comes at a time shortly after five months of gestation, and at 3 months I consider the baby alive. The official charge was "Murder of an Unborn Child in second-degree and Assult in third-degree." Roe vs. Wade allows abortion through the second trimester (six months) so that makes it legal for a doctor to kill a baby at a time of viability. Thanks to the Republican bill banning partial-birth abortion, that practice has been stopped. Bill Clinton vetoed tht bill twice while in office and it was recently sanctioned by the Supreme Court.

I rsport and U decide, alanrph2@msn.com