Venezuela nips Chevron—A king of the gas pumps, Chevron has agreed to repay the government of Venezuela $75 million in back taxes it tried to dodge, plus interest and fines. Chevron will survive getting caught. Currently, the media reports that nation-wide the gas pumps are headed back to $3 a gallon.

They disgrace the word ‘Labour’—England’s Labour government is doubling the cost of attending night colleges. It’s estimated that a million students will be forced out. Most of them are workers studying to qualify for a living wage. Reporting this drastic move, the Times of London didn’t even mention the impact on immigrants hoping to get a decent wage, and on a mass of teachers facing mass firings.

Blair, the art of bull—Prior to World Book Day, UK prime minister Anthony Blair told the Times of London about his early roots as a “socialist.” A deep influence, he said, was to read a trilogy by the late Isaac Deutscher, who wrote a biography of Leon Trotsky. At the time, some Marxist reviews praised Deutscher’s work. Others were critical. But one thing is for sure. My Life, Trotsky's autobiography, is truly a winner. It provides an invaluable account of his vital support to Lenin’s victory in the 1917 Russian Revolution. If you lack the book, check out our column, “Look Us Up.” Or click on Pathfinder's web site.

P.S.—If there was such a thing as a “hereafter,” Trotsky would spin in his grave at the fraud of Blair suggesting that he’s a “socialist.” No less his move to exploit Trotsky’s name.

MD, hypocritical oath—The Hippocratic Oath is supposed to commit new doctors to abide by an ethical code and human values. For head doctors at Los Angeles county hospitals, the oath is an obscenity. Currently, MDs in charge are “dumping” homeless patients back in downtown Los Angeles Skid Row. But, before kicking them out, they demand that the homeless patients sign “voluntary” departures. And if they balk at signing? Obviously a knotty problem.

Patience as a virtue—We never had a backlog of clippings as now. From veteran supporters and some new readers. So, please, give us time as we wrestle with the splendid stack of clippings.  
 
 
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