The meaning of the recent upset in Massachusetts and victory by republican Scott Brown is still being deciphered by analysts and democrats.  However, the loss of a democratic senate seat thought to be safe could easily spell trouble for injury victims, consumers, and the public in general.  That is, unless democrats and specifically the President decide to lead.

Health care aside, there is still much work to be done to protect consumers, injury victims, and the public from predatory financial institutions, dangerous and defective products, and unethical business practices that have become all but common-place with insurance companies.

To be fair and honest, the loss of Edward Kennedy’s seat to a republican is disappointing to say the least.  However, democrats never truly had a 60 vote majority (Joe Lieberman) and republicans have never truly wanted reform of any sort.  What health care, banking, and financial reforms require is what the President has failed to deliver: leadership.

As pointed out in editorials, letters to editors, and readers comments in papers from San Francisco to New York the President has failed to lead on health care, on jobs and housing, and for consumer protections, and real banking reform that the country desperately needs. (more…)