The Militant (logo) 
   Vol.66/No.11            March 18, 2002 
 
 
The Great Society
 
BY HARRY RING
Say cheese--A columnist for the Financial Times of London cites a study by two "social scientists" who report that marriage brings about the same amount of bliss as an extra $100,000 a year. And, they report, psychologists have found that people who say they are happy smile more.

Just keep trying--Data derived from the 1996 census indicate that nine out of 10 people in the United States get married at least once. Fifty percent of first-time marriages end in divorce.

What's all the excitement?--"U.S. Will Not Lie to Public, Defense Chief Says" (Headline, February 21 Los Angeles Times); "Bush Promises No Lying on Defense Policy" (Headline, LAT, February 26).

Zzzz--The Wall Street Journal reports that numerous employer groups are pressing for FBI "watch lists of suspected terrorists, including people who may have infiltrated the American workplace years ago as 'sleeper' agents. One of these lists, from the State Dept., contains 64,000 names from around the world."

Defending 'our way'--Immigration and FBI agents have been instructed to "detain" immigrants--legal and "illegal"--for possible criminal charges rather than shipping them out as they're now doing. The targets are said to include a guesstimated 314,000 people alleged to have ignored orders to get out.

He wants to open a chain?--The Kansas City, Missouri, pharmacist who diluted chemotherapy medication, has cut a plea bargain with the feds. He will plead guilty. What he'll get has not been disclosed.

Part of the learning process--In Baltimore, Maryland, where the school children are mainly Black, the fleet of 364 school buses rank as the oldest in the state. In recent inspections, more than 25 percent flunked safety tests.

A 'terrorist' film?--In South Hampton, New Hampshire, Jessie Cohen was busted and her car impounded when, on a traffic stop, cops found there was a warrant out for her alleging she failed to return a rental video. She faces a fine of up to $1,200 on a charge of unauthorized use of rental property.

Have a good weekend--Fourteen European Enron managers split $9 million for four days work helping with the sale of Enron's retailing business.

Shucks, we missed again--Last month, interior furnishings at Enron's London offices were auctioned off. Like: A state of the art health club and gym; a bio-strength abdominal crunch workout machine; a collection of commissioned art works, including one that the artist explains "contains layers of images which oscillate between the conscious and the unconscious."  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home