The recent decision to reauthorize the Patriot Act, without any examination of whether it makes sense to extend some 30 onerous money-laundering provisions, guarantees that costs will continue to rise.

FORBES: The $7 Billion Laundry Bill

We can see this backward framing of the issues, for example, in the debate over sequestration, where it is claimed that because taxes cannot rise further, spending must be cut -- without any examination of what purpose that government spending serves.

CNN: 3 ways to relieve our tax hangovers

On Wednesday a judge ordered Ms Ortega held without bail pending a psychiatric examination.

BBC: New York nanny Yoselyn Ortega denies murder charges

All forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends and data are based upon the Company's expectations and various assumptions.

ENGADGET: Court approves Kodak financing, could exit bankruptcy by mid-2013

It's a dazzling examination of Japan's rigid society without being pedantic.

CNN: VIEWS FROM THE FRINGE

So what happens is that the patents are granted without what we might expect in the way of proper examination.

FORBES: Is This Apple Abusing The Patent System Or The USPTO Abusing It?

The lawyer understood, the judge understood, everyone with the slightest knowledge of cross-examination tactics understood that you never asked a question without knowing the answer.

NPR: Excerpt: 'Oblivion'

After waiting for years to obtain a patent, and enduring a difficult path of expensive examination, the patent owner would have to endure still more attacks, without the shield of the clear and convincing evidence standard for protection.

FORBES: Keep the Current Standard for Invalidating a Patent