WorldCom: The Price of Dishonesty in a Mixed Economy
I am not sure I agree with the entire USA Today editorial, but I do agree with this point:WorldCom plans to emerge from bankruptcy protection this fall with a new name -- MCI -- and most of its debts wiped off the books. Rival telecommunication companies say that will give WorldCom a substantial advantage over them, since they still have to cover heavy debt burdens when setting prices. ["$500 million Wrist Slap"]
Don’t Believe What You Read in the New York Times
Capitalism Magazine readers should be aware of New York Times writer "Jayson Blair, a 27-year-old reporter, had lifted quotes, made up scenes and faked interviews--all in the pages of the most powerful newspaper in the world." Here is what Blair had to say:I can't say anything other than the fact that I feel a range of emotions including guilt, shame, sadness, betrayal, freedom and appreciation for those who have stood by me, been tough on me, and have taken the time to understand that there is a deeper story and not to believe everything they read in the newspapers. [Emphasis added, Times Bomb, May 26, 2003]
(Especially when Jayson writes them under the editorial supervision of the Executive Editor for the New York Times?)
The deeper story is that Jayson got away with his deception, in part, because he was not white:
"Our paper has a commitment to diversity and by all accounts [Blair] appeared to be a promising young minority reporter," Mr. [Howell] Raines said. "I believe in aggressively providing hiring and career opportunities for minorities." "Does that mean I personally favored Jayson?" he added, a moment later. "Not consciously. But you have a right to ask if I, as a white man from Alabama, with those convictions, gave him one chance too many by not stopping his appointment to the sniper team. When I look into my heart for the truth of that, the answer is yes." [NY Times]
This of course is pure racism; but, it is not called racism. This form of racism is called racial "diversity"--at the expense of real diversity, i.e. diversity of ideas.
What of the executive editor--Howell Raines--who let Blair get away with his deception? He still runs the operation of the so-called "newspaper of record", but accepts "full responsibility" for his actions. Raine's excuse? He let Jayson get by with his deceptions for so long because Jayson is black and he Raines felt "guilt" as a white man from Alabama.
In other words I feel sorry, so let's forget the facts about what I actually did. That is like saying, I am sorry for killing your wife, but I don't think I should face the death penalty because I feel bad about it. (Maybe he is related to CNN's Eason Jordan.)
The message from all this is: all sins are forgiven so long as you support the Leftist dream of "diversity"--even if the price is truth and integrity.
Thatcher Praises Bush, Blair, and Capitalists and Condemns the French, UN, and Terrorists
Speaking in New York, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher thundered:For years, many governments played down the threats of Islamic revolution, turned a blind eye to international terrorism and accepted the development of weaponry of mass destruction. Indeed, some politicians were happy to go further, collaborating with the self-proclaimed enemies of the West for their own short-term gain -- but enough about the French. So deep had the rot set in that the UN security council itself was paralysed.
...Our own Prime Minister was staunch and our forces were superb. But, above, all, it is President Bush who deserves the credit for victory.
...[Ronald Reagan and I] knew, too, what did not work, namely socialism in every shape or form. Nowadays socialism is more often dressed up as environmentalism, feminism, or international concern for human rights. All sound good in the abstract. But scratch the surface and you will as likely as not discover anti-capitalism, patronising and distorting quotas, and intrusions upon the sovereignty and democracy of nations.
...There are too many people who imagine that there is something sophisticated about always believing the best of those who hate your country, and the worst of those who defend it." ["Thatcher's back and gunning for the French", Times Online, May 15, 2003]
State of Denial
From Cox and Forkum:
For hundreds of more great political cartoons check out their new book
Buried Treasure
From Cox and Forkum:
We Have a Terrorist Problem Here…
The Saudi Arab News has an editorial titled "The Enemy Within" which declares:We have to face up to the fact that we have a terrorist problem here. Last week's Interior Ministry announcement that 19 Al-Qaeda members, 17 of them Saudis, had planned terrorist attacks in the country and were being hunted was a wake-up call -- particularly to those who steadfastly refuse to accept that individual Saudis or Muslims could ever do anything evil, who still cling to the fantasy that Sept. 11 and all the other attacks laid at the doors of terrorists who happen to be Arab or Muslim were in fact the work of the Israelis or the CIA. For too long we have ignored the truth. We did not want to admit that Saudis were involved in Sept. 11. We can no longer ignore that we have a nest of vipers here, hoping that by doing so they will go away. They will not. They are our problem and we all their targets now... [May 14, 2003]