There is a national problem that is bigger than Enron, Global Crossing and WorldCom combined. As reported by the New York Post, this problem is asbestos litigation.

Fifty companies have already gone bankrupt. A projection of job loss from the present 138,000 is another 300,000, for a total of 480,000. The class-action group will be as many as 600,000, only a small percentage of whom are ill or ever will be ill. In fact, the current state of affairs is diluting the amount of cash available for settlement to the point that people who are actually ill will not receive just compensation.

One group that is prospering is the trial lawyers and with a Senate dominated by same, there seems to be little hope of changing this developing tragedy.

There are similar stories in health care and other industries. It is very obvious that trial lawyer credentials no longer mean defense of the little guy. The little guy goes without a job and cannot afford health care, and the fat cat retires to Congress.

Max Stanton
Pinehurst