Jun. 17, 2002 - 22:48 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Do They ?

In the editorial pages a person can see what thought is going on about recent happenings. Most of the time the columns are about events that show that things are not right in the bean field according to the writing columnist. Allowing for the sins of omission and exaggeration it is I think possible for a person to reach some understanding of the truth. Often those truths are things we don't admit or want to think about or decide to put our personal spin on. I don't believe in this spin doctoring -- a thing that diverts the truth of a situation in the attempt to gain unfair advantage for the spinners organization.

A column in The Rocky Mountain News June 10, 02 by Bob Herbert of The New York Times says that, "The Bush administration has acknowledged that the United States will experience far-reaching and, in some cases, devastating environmental consequences as a result of global warming. But it does not plan to do much about it." Despite the administrations interagency report, which was compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency, notes that the warming of the United States is expected to be greater in the 21st Century than in the 20th and will affect every region of the country." It goes on, "the report made it clear that human actvity -- the burning of fossil fuels that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere -- was the primary culprit."So President Bush assured that had no plans to lead any assault on global warming."

So there it is to my way of thinking the reason for the inaction on global warming. Do I dare say that the Conservatives screamed about the possibility that our so very profitable petroleum industry would maybe suffer a bit ? Bush the former governer of the Oil State of Texas ? He just said, "I read the report of the bureaucrats." Apparently he has not read other observations made around the world that global warming is a fact, is getting worse and is adversely affecting many things. That eventually the whole earth will suffer and that United States does not have King's Ex. Seems to me that we did not put affirmation on the efforts recently made by world experts that global warming is real or would take part in trying to solve the problem. Still the establishment man it seems.

Then there is our ambivalent position on world trade and human rights. Bush urged more trade with China as a way of trying to open it up to the rest of the world and let in some fresh ideas. He rejects using that line of thinking in regard to Cuba. Looks to me as if its following his apparent line of reasoning, the bucks are in Chinese trade and Cuba is a pipsqueak tiny island.

That is just one thing that Ann McFetter mentions in her column of the same day that leads my way of thinking. She also mentions other things that the administration is walking on the fence, putting on the big guy face and then saying he won't do that. For instance she cites the stance of the White House of being ready to infringe on civil liberties and restrict information, even as it admonishes other nations to broaden their civil liberties and be more open. Seems that our administration is pushing to go in and wipe out Saddam, Bush then privately reassured the Europeans that he was not, for the time being, actually going to get into another military conflict with Iraq. Seems that Europe is trying to arrive at some sort of peace with Iraq. Waffle, waffle, waffle, more waffle ball than a world stadium will hold. This reminds me of a candle burning brightly in a drafty room, first the smoke is pushed back and forth with the shifting breeze and the flame waxes and wanes, leaning first one way and then the other.

All this in the paper of June 10th

June 17, 02 issue of The Rocky Mountain News Paul Krugman of The New York Times mentions a few stats that point up where we peons stand. In a book by Kevin Phillips, in the middle of the chapter titled "Millennial Plutographics," is a table that reports the compensation of America's 10 most highly paid CEOs in 1981, 1988 and 2000. In 1981 these folks were paid on the average of $3.5 million, by 1988 the average had soared to $19.3 million but by 2000 the average rose to $154 million. So says Paul Krugman, he also mentions that in that period the average workers income was doubled -- but the gain was eaten up by inflation. During that time according to Mr. Krugman earnings of top executives rose 4,300 per cent.

He mentions and it coincides with what I have read, the mouths of the spin doctors have tried to minimize the vast difference in income, tried to discount the state of affairs.

To me, if that condition persists soon our nation will be peopled by serfs led by the nose by the rich - getting richer elite. Mr. Phillips also points out this bit about the effort to cancel the inheritance tax.

Holy catfish, How many of us peons will ever be threatened to have to pay inheritance taxes ? From the obscene wealth amassed by the CEOs who got their golden parachute even though their corporations were going down the tubes -- even the inheritance taxes will still leave enough to buy Denmark or some small country. With enough left over to assure the welfare and ease of those left behind.

You know, things change, but really Do They ?

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