Congressmen Say The Dumbest Things...

My my. Congressmen can say some dumb things. Witness a few of the statements by our "new" Republican Congressman, Jeb Hensarling, as quoted by the Athens Daily Review in a recent article about the so-called "Cheeseburger Bill."

Regardless of what you think about the bill, it is obvious Hensarling hasn't done his homework and isn't too media savvy.

According to the newspaper:

The way U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling sees it, if the government wants his cheeseburger, they'll have to pry it from his cold, dead hands.

Though himself a slim man, the Dallas-based Republican recognizes many Americans are in a losing battle with the scales, and they got that way by overindulging -- not by being shot, as it were, by the cheeseburger.

He also says Americans are the most litigious group of people in the world, which has resulted in many of businesses moving jobs overseas where people aren't so quick to sue them, regulate them or overtax them.

That trend, Hensarling says, is costing thousands of American workers jobs.

THAT's a lie. American businesses aren't moving overseas because they want to avoid litigation, regulation or taxation. They're moving jobs overseas because they aren't good corporate citizens and want to simply find the cheapest labor possible. Not to mention that the Bush Administration hasn't done anything to stop it.

The newspaper also notes:

American businesses and business owners are a consistent target of frivolous claims, he says. "That bleeds them of capital needed to create jobs."

In 2002, the costs associated with tort proceedings in the U.S. were $233 billion, or $809 per person, Hensarling said.

Hummm. I wonder where Hensarling got those figures. Probably Texans for Lawsuit Reform or insurance companies. I wonder, however, what the total costs of treatments associated with injuries, all the costs associated with wrongful deaths (including lost wages for both injuries and death) and property damage are for American families who have been victims of actual corporate malfesance, defective products and the like? Probably more. A lot more, I'd venture to guess. But, Hensarling (and the GOP) elect to ignore that.

Hensarling likened recent litigation to past litigation with tobacco companies.

"I don't like smoking," he said. "I don't smoke. I've been an active leader in the American Cancer Society. But in the privacy of one's own home, smoking is their business, as long as the tobacco industry doesn't hide the risks.

"This is a very simple bill. All it says is you can't sue a food manufacturer due to obesity because you overconsumed their product."

Hensarling said he believes in full disclosure regarding what Americans are eating but he is less emphatic about improved labeling.

"We have a lot of labeling on the books now," he said. "Frankly, most Americans don't read them. Every loss of choice is a loss of freedom. I don't want a personal injury trial attorney taking away my freedom to consume a Dairy Queen Blizzard."

Nor does Hensarling want a group of feds coming to your house to make sure "you're doing your calisthenics in the mornings."

What? Ok, so he is "less emphatic" about more labeling. As if more information ever hurt us.

A "personal injury trial lawyer taking away [his] freedom to consume a Dairy Queen Blizzard???" Give me a break. He doesn't care, however, if corporate lawyers take away your right to sue a company that has legitimately wronged you. This is just a stupid analogy. I won't even comment on a fed trying to come to your house to make sure you are exercising.

"These are the same people who are suing gun manufacturers because criminals have used guns in crimes. It's the very same people," he said.

The VERY SAME, huh? So only fat people are killed by guns and sue gun manufacturers? Oh, silly me! He means trial lawyers. When will people like Hensarling stop trying to claim all trial lawyers are the spawn of Satan?

Hensarling went on to say if producers mislead you on their products, then you ought to sue them.

"We have all types of consumer fraud laws on the books," he said. "The pendulum has swung too far. A lot of these suits aren't legitimate, and some of these lawsuits are causing manufacturers to go overseas."

Ok so, let me get this straight: suing because you are wronged, not OK. Suing because you are "mislead" OK.

Well, Congressman, you just misled everyone who read this article about personal injury trial lawyers. When shall we start the class action?