Frivolous Lawsuits: Egyptian Swimming Pools
The US Chamber of Commerce just released its tongue-in-cheek monthly ballot for the most frivolous lawsuit over the past month. This month, I think we have to assign it to the Polish mother whom is suing an Egyptian hotel, claiming that a stray sperm from a male guest in the hotel swimming pool must have impregnated her virgin 13-year-old daughter. (Never mind the unlikely event a man was ejaculating in the immediate proximity of the young girl, but it is unlikely that sperm could live in chemically-treated pool water for more than a few seconds, not to mention the characteristically cooler water outside the human body, and the girl's vagina would not be normally be "open" during normal swimming pool activities.) I can just see it now: a supersized Maury Povich "I am not the father" show, consisting of all the male guests at the Egyptian hotel... Let's hope that the judge hearing the case dismisses this nonsense--especially given the fondness of our liberal Supreme Court Justices for citing international law....
Thumbs Up: Export and Foreign Scientist/Engineer Visa Reform
Government bureaucratic bottlenecking of many export goods and technologies, based on obsolete Cold War restrictions, have hampered the ability of defense and high tech companies to compete in the global marketplace, even when competitive products already exist, particularly in areas involving dual use technologies (i.e., military and commercial). High tech companies like Intel complain that the bureaucracy can't keep up with rapid product cycles. A recent National Academies report ("Beyond Fortress America"), authored by Brent Scowcroft and others, argues for key reforms, including a streamlined, one-stop-shop control policy and sunset provisions to expire out all but the most compelling cases of restrictions on behalf of national security. Reforms could enable stronger sales overseas, in the long term interests of America's defense and high tech industries. Visa reforms enable communication of latest technological advancements (including those outside of the US), and access to those ideas and products are in the best interests of our own national defense.
Two Thumbs Down: Obama Productions: "The Tax Man Cometh"
Congressional Democrats and the AFL-CIO once again want to invoke the Politics of Envy, looking to cover $50-100B of additional Democratic reckless overspending by enacting a small stock transaction tax. The last thing we need to do during a severe recession is add another cost for investment (among other anti-business growth measures).
