Capitalist justice
"US Airways Group, in its second journey through Chapter 11 [bankruptcy], had requested that a bankruptcy court impose a 23% pay cut on nearly all of its union workers. A bankruptcy judge on Friday granted the carrier authority to immediately cut the pay of its union workers by 21% through mid-February." — Forbes magazine, October 15.
Protection racket
"[New York Attorney-General Elliot] Spitzer announced a civil suit against Marsh & McLennan Companies, America's top insurance brokerage firm. He's accusing it of steering clients to insurers for lucrative payoffs under long-standing agreement. The firm collected $800 million in so-called contingent commissions in 2003 alone, investigators say." — Forbes, October 15.
Extortion racket
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed suit against two distributors of the scarce flu vaccine for allegedly charging exorbitant prices to hospitals in Houston, Dallas and Sherman, in violation of state law... The suit contends the companies offered 10-dose vials, which would typically cost between $65 and $80 each, for as much as $950 and demanded cash on delivery." — Houston Chronicle, October 21.
Short memory
"September the 11th changed me. I remember the day I was in the — at Ground Zero, on September the 4th, 2001. It's a day I will never forget." — Emperor George Bush II, October 27.
Self-criticism on Iraq?
"And a political candidate who jumps to conclusions without knowing the facts is not a person you want as your commander-in-chief." — Bush again, October 27.
From Green Left Weekly, November 3, 2004.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.