INVESTMENTS Available for Sale Investments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, gross realized gains	$ 25,449,000	$ 18,981,000	$ 18,108,000
Investment income	4,142,000	6,593,000	5,939,000
Total Cost	71,081,000	121,280,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	8,529,000	31,820,000
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,334,000)	(1,680,000)
Fixed maturities, Carrying Value	36,598,000	41,010,000
Marketable equity securities, Carrying Value	41,678,000	110,410,000
Total available-for-sale investments	78,276,000	151,420,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities [Abstract]
Amortized Cost, Due in one year or less	9,939,000
Amortized Cost, Due after one year through five years	21,222,000
Amortized Cost, Due after five years	4,373,000
Amortized Cost, All maturities	35,534,000
Carrying Value, Due in one year or less	10,126,000
Carrying Value, Due after one year through five years	21,942,000
Carrying Value, Due after five years	4,530,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Greater than 12 months, Fair Value	5,575,000	9,587,000
Greater than 12 months, Gross Unrealized Loss	806,000	961,000
Less than 12 months, Fair Value	12,170,000	20,687,000
Less than 12 months, Gross Unrealized Loss	528,000	719,000
Other-than-temporary impairment charges on marketable equity securities	1,900,000	365,000	18,800,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Losses	(2,292,000)	(466,000)	(24,864,000)
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gain (Loss)	23,157,000	18,515,000	(6,756,000)
Foreign currency translation	(5,640,000)	(4,781,000)
Equity Securities and Other Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, gross realized gains	25,236,000	14,709,000	16,573,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Losses	(2,286,000)	(443,000)	(19,639,000)
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Marketable equity securities, Cost	35,547,000	80,664,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	7,341,000	30,687,000
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,210,000)	(941,000)
Marketable equity securities, Carrying Value	41,678,000	110,410,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Greater than 12 months, Fair Value	2,757,000	2,534,000
Greater than 12 months, Gross Unrealized Loss	749,000	482,000
Less than 12 months, Fair Value	7,847,000	5,907,000
Less than 12 months, Gross Unrealized Loss	461,000	459,000
Other-than-temporary impairment charges on marketable equity securities	1,900,000	365,000	13,600,000
Foreign Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, gross realized gains	9,411,610	9,562,340	5,936,193
Domestic Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, gross realized gains	15,821,881	5,114,768	9,757,880
Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, gross realized gains	213,000	4,272,000	1,535,000
Fixed maturities, Cost	35,534,000	40,616,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,188,000	1,133,000
Gross Unrealized Losses	(124,000)	(739,000)
Fixed maturities, Carrying Value	36,598,000	41,010,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 months, Fair Value	4,323,000	14,780,000
Less than 12 months, Gross Unrealized Loss	67,000	260,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Losses	(6,000)	(23,000)	(5,225,000)
US Treasury Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, Cost	7,053,000	4,911,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	227,000	56,000
Gross Unrealized Losses		(64,000)
Fixed maturities, Carrying Value	7,280,000	4,903,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 months, Fair Value	553,000	3,494,000
Less than 12 months, Gross Unrealized Loss		64,000
Municipal Bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, Cost	3,118,000	3,147,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	297,000	107,000
Gross Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturities, Carrying Value	3,415,000	3,254,000
Corporate Bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, Cost	23,738,000	28,365,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	588,000	783,000
Gross Unrealized Losses	(124,000)	(675,000)
Fixed maturities, Carrying Value	24,202,000	28,473,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Greater than 12 months, Fair Value	2,818,000	7,053,000
Greater than 12 months, Gross Unrealized Loss	57,000	479,000
Less than 12 months, Fair Value	3,770,000	11,286,000
Less than 12 months, Gross Unrealized Loss	67,000	196,000
US Government-sponsored Enterprises
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, Cost	1,625,000	4,193,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	76,000	187,000
Gross Unrealized Losses
Fixed maturities, Carrying Value	1,701,000	4,380,000
Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investment income	2,051,000	3,020,000	2,175,000
Corporate Bonds
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Other-than-temporary impairment charges on marketable equity securities	0	0	5,200,000
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investment income	1,405,000	2,215,000	2,479,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investment income	686,000	1,358,000	1,285,000
Spigit
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Gain on deconsolidation			8,200,000
Global Equity Corporation [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Stock in Subsidiary			(5,500,000)
Foreign currency translation			$ (6,600,000)