The Washington Post is joining the growing chorus calling for tort reform in America after several recent high profile stories of abuse. 

The truth is that there have always been and will always be voracious and ethically challenged lawyers, just as there have always been and will always be voracious and ethically challenged people in business. Both sets of scoundrels deserve to be punished. What is needed now is a sober discussion about how best to achieve a fairer, more balanced legal system through comprehensive tort reform. Such a system would not be lopsided but would shield businesses from legal blackmail, just as it would protect the rights of legitimate plaintiffs to win just compensation from negligent businesses that caused them real harm. Smart and ethical businesspeople and lawyers -- and, yes, there are many who fit the bill -- would be wise to start working together to craft such a fix.

Conservatives have been calling for tort reform to fix a justice system that allows frivolous lawsuits and outrageous awards to drive up the cost of living, from consumer products to heath care.  Many Democrats have long opposed these reforms, at least in part because trial lawyers are among their largest block of donors. 

Freedom's Watch finds itself in an unfamiliar position today - we agree with President Bill Clinton.  President Clinton supports the Colombian free trade agreement, presented to Congress this week, and has been working to ensure its passage.

Mr. Clinton supports the pact with Colombia even though his wife opposes it, a Clinton campaign spokesman said Tuesday. President Bush, who also backs the pact, sent it to Congress Monday to push for its passage.
 
Many Democrats oppose the deal, amid mounting concerns about free trade as well as the murders of trade unionists in Colombia by right-wing paramilitaries. More broadly, economic concerns have made trade pacts -- such as the North American Free Trade Agreement pushed through Congress in the early 1990s by President Clinton -- a hot issue in the Democratic presidential race.

Mr. Penn stepped down from his senior role with the campaign after The Wall Street Journal reported he had met with Colombia's U.S. ambassador over the pact. Mr. Penn is chief executive of Burson-Marsteller Worldwide, a public-relations and lobbying firm hired by Colombia last year to win U.S. approval of a deal.

Protectionist economic policies are not good for the American economy, and would harm our relations with staunch allies.  The Colombian free trade agreement would serve two purposes.  First, it would benefit U.S. companies by reducing barriers to U.S. exports.  Second, it would reward the strongest ally we have in the region - an ally that exists in a dangerous neighborhood and needs our support.  We'll see if Democrats beholden to Big Labor will be able to do what's right for our country or succumb to the whims of union bosses.