Thursday, April 29, 2010

I'm floored: under DemCare, whistleblower lawsuits set to explode as lifetime employment act for ambulance-chasing, slip-and-fall lawyers enacted

Writing at Maggie's Farm, Bruce Kesler observes that the new health care takeover is poised to create an explosion in lawsuits. Put simply, the new law promotes whistle-blower suits -- especially of the unprovable, frivolous malpractice variety -- that drive good doctors out of business.

As if the US didn’t already have enough lawsuits, and as if excess litigation isn’t one of the prime drivers of medical costs, and as if the Democrats didn’t garner 90% of tort lawyers’ contributions, ObamaCare will create a new boom in lawsuits.

A Qui Tam action is brought by a private citizen against a company for fraudulent claims on a federal agency in violation of the False Claims Act. If triumphant, the claimant gets part of the court award.

Qui tam (Black's Law Dictionary pronunciation: kwày tæm) "is a writ whereby a private individual who assists a prosecution can receive all or part of any penalty imposed."

[Until] now, it was necessary for the claimant to be the provider or original source of otherwise unknown information. If not, the claim was denied court jurisdiction.

Now, the failure to be the provider or original source will not deny jurisdiction, and should there be such dismissal the government can oppose the dismissal and allow the court case to proceed.

Consider this the Who Wants to be a Billionaire? act for the trial bar -- a nice, juicy reward for the tens of millions that the slip-and-fall attorneys have donated to Democrats.

The equation is simple: more money for lawyers and Democrats; fewer doctors; more misery for patients and the American taxpayer.

But, remember, they're doing it for the children.


Climatards Who Should Lead by Example: the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement

In the spirit of true progressive delirium, consider the website VHEMT.org, home of "The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement."

Its mission, in two sentences, is Al Gore's wet dream: Phasing out the human race by voluntarily ceasing to breed will allow Earth’s biosphere to return to good health. Crowded conditions and resource shortages will improve as we become less dense.

Never mind that the Ijakiedjjijdejsiaj volcano (okay, I admit it: I just hit a bunch of random letters rather than look up the real name) spewed out more ash and carbon dioxide than humanity over the entire span of recorded history.

Humanity's brief sojourn on Earth has, in a nutshell, been largely a force for good. Our quest for scientific discovery, civilization, and exploration has improved the human condition and, in many cases, the planet itself. We are part of nature's God and nature itself is part of us. VHEMT defies God and nature by vilifying the human spirit.

George Carlin was right when he said, "The planet isn't going anywhere... WE ARE."

Now, I would never encourage anyone to commit suicide, though in the case of VHEMT, they'd probably consider it a compliment.

But if you someday come across a VHEMT member who is, say, drowning, I would urge you to try to save that person, but not if doing so is in any way inconvenient for you.


Hat tip: J.W.

Congressional Research Service: One-quarter of all illegal immigrants in the U.S. call California 'casa'

A Congressional Research Service report on illegal immigrants in the U.S. was released two days ago, though to read the funny papers you'd never know it.

A couple of numbers are startling: most estimates put the total number of illegals living in the U.S. at 12 million. Between three and four million of the illegals here aren't working: i.e., they're absorbing benefits from taxpayers in the form of welfare, food stamps, free education, etc.

As for those who are employed, a full 5% of the U.S. labor force consists of illegal aliens. This is a disheartening finding when you consider that the U-6 unemployment/under-employment measure for U.S. citizens is nearly 20%.

Thanks to "Sanctuary Cities" like San Francisco and Los Angeles, California's downtrodden taxpayers suffer the most.

Nearly one-quarter of all illegal aliens in the U.S. call California home.

Say, I wonder if all of the welfare, benefits, prison expenses and other infrastructure costs of millions of illegals have anything to do with California's $23 billion annual budget deficit? Or New York's catastrophic fiscal problems?

Nah, that's got to be a coincidence.


Hat tip: Clarice Feldman.

The Islamic Republic of Britain

Dan from New York writes, "Here's a developing story, but it only appears in the 'ethnic press'":

4/29/2010

British protesters attack Israel's deputy ambassador


Pro-Palestinian protesters storm towards Talya Lador-Fresher after her speech at Manchester University, prompting police to whisk her away from site. Protesters proceed to encircle police car, climb on hood.

LONDON – A lecture given by Israel's Deputy Ambassador to Britain -- Talya Lador-Fresher -- at the University of Manchester deteriorated Wednesday into violence when pro-Palestinian protesters stormed at the diplomat in an attempted attack.

The protesters were waiting for Lador-Fresher outside the lecture hall, but this did not deter her from entering as planned. Immediately upon her exit, the protesters lunged at the diplomat, prompting security guards to whisk her back into the hall. Following a consultation on the site, it was decided to escort her out of the premises in a police car.

The deputy ambassador was removed from the hall and into the police vehicle. However, this did not block the protesters, who surrounded the car and climbed on the hood, trying to break the windshield.

Lador-Fresher ultimately was taken away from the scene safe and sound.

The deputy ambassador said that there the event certainly was unpleasant, and noted that it does not bode well for the academic debate in Britain on the Middle East.

Israeli Ambassador to Britain Ron Prosor praised his deputy for her determination and fighting spirit and emphasized that the embassy expects a sweeping denunciation of the event from the local authorities and universities in Britain...

Have you noticed that the modern Left and Islamic extremists share some pretty important traits? Consider free speech: the Left appears to hate it as much as the Islamists. In recent months, Karl Rove, Ann Coulter, David Horowitz and others have been treated to the tolerance of the Left; they are routinely assaulted and prevented from speaking in public venues.

Perhaps this is why the Left never criticizes the fanatics, no matter how many decapitations, suicide bombings, and mass-murders they commit. They're soul-mates.


Larwyn's Linx: Subsistence is the new definition of freedom

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget.

Nation

You must accept subsistence as the new definition of freedom: AT
Statehood for Puerto Rico? Why?: RWN
Brandeis breaks out the swastika for Tea Partiers: Graham

Campaign Finance Transparency for Thee, but Not for… Dems: PJM
Obama and big sis call out SWAT on Tea Party: GWP
Dems replay May 2006 tactic: Anchoress

Economy

The Ghetto-ification of America: PJM
How Much is Needed to Bail Out Greece? $159B? $794B?: Mish
Dems illegally lower speed limits to raise money: BlogProf

Washington's tax hike charade: Tapscott
Hoyer demands 'shared sacrifice' from taxpayers: GWP
Medicare head: 'Less discretion for doctors' preferred: SIGIS

Climate & Energy

The ClimateGate Investigation: a Damning Document: AT
Dept. of Redundancy Dept.: AGW Causes Mental Illness: CBullitt
Worried about sea level, Gore buys $8.8 million ocean-view villa: LAT

Media

Free Home: Denny
Right-Wing Bloggers Are Rugged Individualists, Left-Wing Bloggers Need Hand Holding: LegalIns
They don't get it: iOTW

Censure Andre Carson: Cashill
Media Spinning Against New Arizona Law for All It’s Worth: RWN
Actual AP headline: 'Illegal immigrants plan to leave over Ariz. law': Hot Air

World

Police state: How Mexico treats illegal aliens: Malkin
Iran's lunatic, terrorist-sponsoring dictator will be welcomed in New York: Iran.org
Nuclear-armed mullahs are not an option: Obama needs to stop looking the other way: Issa, et. al.

How Hamas Tortures Gaza: Frontpage
The Female Face of France: Banned Beneath the Burqa: Chesler
MEPs vote to asphyxiate London: Hannan

SciTech

Why HP Is Buying Palm And Why It Will Fail: Insider
Shanzhai Lamborghini by a post-80s Chinese: Chinahush
Salt Tyrants: Williams

Cornucopia

MOTUS' mailbag: MOTUS
Shakira to Save Hispanics in Arizona Through the Use of Her Hips: ReelLoop
The Clinton Record: Denny

Image: Michael Graham.
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Washington Rebel.

QOTD: Regarding Greece, action "has to be done now, has to be done very fast... It’s not a question of the danger of contagion. Contagion has already happened. This is like Ebola. When you realize you have it you have to cut your leg off in order to survive."

-- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Secretary General Angel Gurria


Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Britain's National Health Service Suffered the Most Data Breaches of any UK Organization since 2007: 287

The Beeb confirms what you could probably guess: Britain's National Health Service does a really lousy job of protecting its patients' sensitive health records.

The NHS has reported the highest number of serious data breaches of any UK organisation since the end of 2007 [with] 287 breaches ... in the period.

That accounts for more than 30% of the total number reported.

The NHS - the UK's largest employer with 1.7m staff - is in the process of rolling out digital patient records. [Ed: what could possibly go wrong?]

Most of the breaches (113) were the result of stolen data or hardware, followed by 82 cases of lost data or hardware...

Richard Vautrey, the deputy chair of the British Medical Association's GPs committee thinks the number of breaches reflect the size and complexity of the NHS as well as its culture of openness.

But don't worry, folks. President Obama has re-tasked Joe "BFD" Biden, moving him from stimulus fraud-fighting to streamlining our transition to a national health records database.


At last: a new, safe, green Toyota

Papa B:

I can assure any buyer that there will be no gas pedal problems -- guaranteed or your money back.

 

Mexico's Drug War Leaves 22,000 Dead as Violence Spreads to U.S. -- Democrats Side with Drug-Lords and Demand Open Borders

The scale of the three-year old drug war raging in Mexico -- and bleeding into the United States -- is difficult to comprehend. It takes a few illustrations to help make the point.

Thanks to the Los Angeles Times' Drug War project, the scope of the problem is as apparent as it is horrifying.


Many of the key players operate with impunity in Mexico and freely cross over to the United States with the help of corrupt Mexican officials. And violence is worsening as the Mexican government appears too crooked and too feeble to stop the drug-lords.

Three days ago in Morelia, the state public security chief was ambushed after leaving a state fair. Four were killed and the official was wounded after her armored SUV and bodyguard complement were attacked.

Four days ago in Ciudad Juarez, a 17-year-old passerby and at least seven officers were murdered as two police cars were ambushed. Mexican officials state that the vicious, midday assault was an attempt to retaliate for recent drug arrests.

Seven days ago in Morelos, a news report described a bloody swatch of lawlessness: "Bodies are turning up in piles, hanging from overpasses, chopped up and thrown together in trash bags dumped by the roadside... Nearly 50 people have been killed this year in gun battles and gangland-style executions."

The week before, the bodies of six young men -- some teenagers -- were found in the resort town of Acapulco. Parts of other bodies were found a few days later stuffed into a black plastic bag.

All told, more than 22,000 have died since President Felipe Calderon launched a new crackdown on the drug cartels.

22,000 dead. Beheadings. Hangings. Mass-murders. Bodies sliced into pieces. Killings of cops, government officials, judges, and innocents -- with the violence spreading daily into the U.S. and beyond. Remember. Remember this as the open-border Democrats pander to illegal aliens while they throw the legal residents of Arizona -- of all races, creeds and colors -- to the wolves.


The unshakable core beliefs of Arlen Crist

Asked five times last month by Chris Wallace whether he would run as an independent for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist responded "no" five separate times.

Crist reaffirmed his gelatinous reputation today, with advisers informing the Wall Street Journal that he would announce he's running as an independent.

Crist doesn't have a principled bone in his body. He supported President Obama's outrageous "stimulus" package and has shifted positions on every issue imaginable.

To be fair, Crist does have one unshakable core principle. He will stop at nothing to ensure that Charlie Crist gets elected or appointed to high office.


Arizona Travel FAQ for Immigrants

I created the following document to describe the new requirements for non-citizens if they are traveling to Arizona. Please read carefully and let me know if you have any questions.

I'm planning to travel to Arizona. Do I need a passport?

Entry to Arizona: As of March 1, 2010, all non-U.S. citizens – including children -- must present a valid passport, book or card, for travel beyond the 'border zone' into the interior of Arizona. Entry by any means, for example by plane or car, is included in this requirement. The 'border zone' is generally defined as an area between 15 miles of the border with Mexico, depending on the location. Stays of less than 12 hours within the border zone do not require a visa or tourist card.

Non-U.S. citizens traveling as tourists beyond the border zone or entering Arizona by air must pay a fee to obtain a tourist card, also known as an AM-T, available from Arizona border crossing points, Arizona tourism offices, airports within the border zone and most airlines serving Arizona.

Upon arrival in Arizona, business travelers must complete and submit a form (Form AM-N 30 days) authorizing the conduct of business, but not employment, for a 30-day period. Travelers entering Arizona for purposes other than tourism or business or for stays of longer than 180 days require a visa and must carry a valid passport. Non-U.S. citizens planning to work or live in Arizona should apply for the appropriate visa at an Arizona tourism office.

Racist!

Of course, I created this FAQ by copying Mexico's rules for Americans and then replacing the word Mexico with Arizona. The failed narco-terrorist state's regulations for immigrants -- Guatemalans, Ecuadorans, Panamanians, etc. -- are far more onerous than those of Arizona. In fact, Mexico deports significantly more immigrants than does the U.S.

The government's first responsibility is to protect its citizens. With violence, drug- and human-smuggling rife along the border, Democrats' efforts to demonize Arizona's defense of its citizens are beneath contempt.


Related: Mexico's Immigration Law.