India's bright capitalist future—The government of India is considering a jobs program for the rural poor. That's evoked warnings that it can't afford a program in the billions. The utopian plan favors a wage of $1.40 a day for 100 days a year. Out of a population of a billion, some 700 million people are in rural areas and half are impoverished. Declared a government job-holder: “I cannot say that rural areas will turn into heaven.”

Thieves in the night—Meeting secretly at night, July 7, the members of the Pennsylvania legislature used a little-known loophole to vote themselves well-padded raises. That done, they left on their customary two-month vacation. The rank-and-file solons received a 16 percent hike in their pay to $81,050 a year. Senior legislators took a 34 percent increase to $145,553. They sweat an average 77 session days a year. The swindle evoked sharp public anger.

Hospitals for recovery?—A hospital worker responded to the item we wrote about the number of infection deaths in hospitals. He had data on medical deaths in hospitals caused by errors. He cites data from the National Academy of Sciences stating that about 98,000 people die each year from errors in hospitals. The reader comments, “Society has the conception that hospitals are the places where patients recover from injuries or illnesses. The facts are that legions of hospitals are the most dangerous places to be in the U.S.”

Cop spotted gun?—“Rangeley, Maine—Police shot a 200-pound black bear after it charged an officer who tried to scare it out of town. Several bears have been spotted recently wandering downtown streets, hanging around the ice cream parlor and rummaging through garbage.”—News item.

Why not a guest speaker from the Flat Earth Society?—Rio Rancho, New Mexico—“A policy adopted by the school board allows alternative theories to evolution to be discussed in Rio Rancho's public school science classes. Peter Simonson, head of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, said the policy is aimed at teaching 'intelligent design.' Critics call it religion masquerading as science.”—News item.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home