The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.59/No.23           June 12, 1995 
 
 
The Great Society, By Harry Ring  

Defrost - Modifying a "cold war" regulation, the U.S. embassy in Moscow will now permit staffers to engage in "intimate or romantic relationships" with Russians. They must, however, report any such activity to embassy security. The new regulation does not apply to soldiers or spies.

The `color-blind' society - The estimated number of white crack cocaine users is double that of Black and Latino users. But since 1986, when Congress imposed stiff mandatory sentences for crack dealers, not a single white has been prosecuted in the federal court serving Los Angeles and six neighboring counties. Invariably, white dealers have been prosecuted in state courts where sentences are much lower. The pattern is pretty much true for other major U.S. cities.

Harvard, here we come - The Clinton administration approved Arizona's welfare "reform" law which, among other things, denies additional aid for children born to a family already on welfare. But it does include a very liberal clause which allows employed welfare recipients to save some of their money for education and training.

Simple Hollywood folks - We're among the few movie-goers who didn't see "Forrest Gump," but we gather he saw some good in everyone. Winston Groom, author of the novel on which the film is based, may be reconsidering.

His contract with Paramount included 3 percent of the net profit. The film has grossed an awesome $650 million so far. But, according to Paramount's way of counting, it has yet to make a dime. Groom is suing.

It figures - When U.S. troops took over in Haiti, various governments pledged a total of $1.6 billion to aid the impoverished country. So far, some $200 million has arrived. Of this, $52 million has been spent for food, health, etc. The remaining $148 million? Payment on the national debt, plus payment for oil imports, government salaries, and costs of administering aid projects.

Comedians - A Baltimore prof has isolated an anti- corrosive element in tobacco which could inhibit rust in your car radiator or other metallic parts. He tried for research grants from the tobacco biggies but they told him, apparently with a straight face, that they're only interested in health-related research.

You'll do well to look out for them - Visiting Miami, a Puerto Rico Militant supporter helped staff a Pathfinder campus table. Nearby, Citibank credit card applications were being passed out under a sign declaring: "No fees, no worries, we're looking out for you."

Mum's the word - Scotland Yard is mortified. After eight years, someone figured out that a civilian accountant was ripping them off. He had been put in unsupervised charge of an $11.5 million undercover operations fund, and assertedly funneled $8.5 million into his personal accounts.

 
 
 
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