“Meet Sharon Kruse, a 63-year-old widow from Dundee, Michigan, and the US Chamber of Commerce’s latest poster child. Last month, Kruse headlined a new video the chamber released at a press conference devoted to preserving big business’ use of binding mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer and employment contracts. That’s the small print that forces people to waive their right to sue in order to get a cell phone or medical care or even a job. Such clauses require any disputes to be heard by a private arbitrator, usually hired by the alleged wrongdoer. Consumer advocates and many congressional Democrats have blasted the clauses for forcing people to give up their constitutional rights in exchange for ordinary goods and services, a practice they find not just unfair but un-American. Kruse, though, believes otherwise.” [editor’s note: Note the sleight of hand here — an economic transaction which one is free to engage or not engage in, but one party setting terms suddenly transmutes into “force” - TLK] (05/12/08)