For instanceThe Monitor observes that, one of the areas the report monitors is the functioning of prison systems. So we had the bizarre spectacle of a nation that incarcerates 2.2 million peopleone-quarter of the worlds prisonerscasting a baleful eye over Iceland, which has a grand total of 110 people incarcerated.
P.S.We have it on authority that the report was penned by military brass monitoring prison cages in Guantánamo.
The holy dollarMaurice Greenberg is chairman of American International Group, said to be the worlds largest insurer. In this capacity, Greenberg froths at the mouth over class-action damage suits that sometimes win big damages. (Insurers also pay some of the award.) The day after Secretary of Education Rod Paige threw a poisoned dart at a teachers union, the National Education Association, labeling it as terrorist, Greenberg joined in. With an apparent phobic hatred for lawyers who oppose curbs on class action, Greenberg bellowed that they too are terrorists.
May we help you?The Department of Homeland Security is busy implementing the antiterrorist Patriot Act. Last June it ordered that all phone inquiries to Immigration be funneled into an 800 number at the Homeland commissions central office. The new phone system is handled by private contractors.
Immigrant defense lawyers charge that a large amount of mistaken information has led to loss of citizenship, arrests, and deportations.
Office politicsRichard Grasso, ex-chair of the New York Stock Exchange, rejected the demand of the Big Board that he return at least $120 million of his pay package. Also, he may take court action to get a remaining $20 million he contends they owe him.
Shafted?Mark Swartz, former financial chief at Tyco International, testified that the $12.5 million hes accused of stealing was part of his bonus. He added that originally, the company board loaned him the money, but decided it might look bad. Apparently a $12.5 million bonus is less noticeable.
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