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   Vol. 68/No. 12           March 29, 2004  
 
 
Great Society
 
Well, of course—The Christian Science Monitor took the annual U.S. human rights report and dipped it in a bit of acid. It observed: “The U.S. State Department issued its annual review of human rights around the world—grading each nation on its performances. Only one country escaped scrutiny: The U.S. itself.”

For instance—The 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 people—one-quarter of the world’s prisoners—casting 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 dollar—Maurice Greenberg is chairman of American International Group, said to be the world’s 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 commission’s 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 politics—Richard 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 he’s 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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