[PEN-L:3332] FW: BLS Daily Report
What I get from the information below is that the number was right (OK, perhaps there was a positive disturbance since it was so large) but that the Wall Street interpretation was wrong. Dave Richardson -- BLS DAILY REPORT, TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1996 USA Today on page 1B, "Economists Say Fears Overblown," looked at the economy and the job figures and said that "part of last month's payroll jump was a recovery from January, when blizzards caused a loss of 188,000 jobs. Put the two months together, and you get average job growth of 259,000 -- strong, but not explosive" "States, Not Congress, Pioneer New Directions in Labor Law" was the title of an article in Sunday's Washington Post (page H5) by Frank Swoboda. Swoboda says that the annual survey of state labor law changes shows states dealing with a wide range of employment issues, from prevailing wages and equal employment law to employment testing and worker privacy. He analyses the summary of state legislative actions compiled by Richard Nelson, a DOL state standards adviser, that appears in the current issue of the Monthly Labor Review. While service wage rates remain well below those of other sectors, the gulf has narrowed in recent years, a study by the Commerce Department's Economics and Statistics Administration says (Daily Labor Report, pages 2,A-9). The report points to a February 1994 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland that found a dramatic improvement in wages for service sector jobs. In 1979, the median service wage was $82 less each week than the median manufacturing wage, the report said. By 1992, the difference had narrowed to $19. Also job growth appears to be faster in service industries with relatively high wages or in high wage job categories of traditionally low-wage industries, according to a BLS report released August 25, 1994 .Less reassuring, ESA said, is whether service industries are functioning in the same way manufacturing industries once did to create well-paid jobs for employees with mid-level skills . What's the cost of a middle-class lifestyle these days? It depends on where you live, according to Runzheimer International, a relocation consulting company in Rochester, Wis. A standard lifestyle package -- including owning a 2,200-square-foot house; a new car and a second older car; federal, state, and local taxes; and normal goods and services for a family of four -- will annually set you back $77,754 in San Francisco, $60,007 in Miami, and $54,805 in Memphis. Small towns typically offer a better deal. That standard middle-class life can be arranged in Soda Springs, Idaho, for $52,409; in DeLand, Fla., for $53,416; or in Bucksport, Maine, for $55,968. You'll spend $65,715, or about l0 percent more than the national average in the Maryland suburbs.
[PEN-L:3333] The Torrent from Mr. Torrent
Youch! The coffee machine at the Public Utilities Commission must be broken. Steven Zahniser [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Wed, 13 Mar 1996 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Chris Jackson a.k.a Rauf is a hypocritical asshole. of course by standing he is not condoning anything. he can sertainly say he is standing out of resoect for his teammates and fans who may have differing views on certain issues. I would suggest he go live in one of his beloved Moslem countries where the daily horrors might not be so shocking to him.
[PEN-L:3334] A particularly virulent right-wing assertion
Dear Doug: I'm reviewing a Principles Textbook. The author is Robert Sexton --- he seems like a right-wing Public CHoice type. I'm having fun bashing his one-sidedness. My pleasure is that he won't listen to anything I say, he won't take any of my advice, his book won't be any better and he won't sell any more books because of me and I'll still get paid by the publisher to bash away! However, I came accross this particularly ridiculous statement in one of the chapters I'm reading: "The median income of all individual stockholders is not dramatically higher than the median income of all American families." Now even if it were true it's misleading because lower income stockholders hold VERY LITTLE stock. But still and all, I doubt this is true --- unless he's counting all people with private pensions and life insurance policies. Can you set me onto some data that I can include in my report. This sentence ought to be exposed as phony. If it isn't phony, I need to know that too because I don't want to say things in my class that can be proven wrong later. All the best, thanks in advance for whatever you can help me with. By the way, I haven't gotten any posts from PEN-L. Is it down? I sent another (more recent) copy of the Springfield Republican article attacking balanced budgets. How was the "debate" on SS privatization. Maybe I'll order that one. How much again? cheers, Mike -- Mike Meeropol Economics Department Cultures Past and Present Program Western New England College Springfield, Massachusetts "Don't blame us, we voted for George McGovern!" Unrepentent Leftist!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] [if at bitnet node: in%"[EMAIL PROTECTED]" but that's fading fast!]
[PEN-L:3335] What's up
I haven't received anything for a couple of days. Is the computer down? -- Mike Meeropol Economics Department Cultures Past and Present Program Western New England College Springfield, Massachusetts "Don't blame us, we voted for George McGovern!" Unrepentent Leftist!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] [if at bitnet node: in%"[EMAIL PROTECTED]" but that's fading fast!]
[PEN-L:3336] Re: Anti-Religious Play by NBA
The NBA has a web site: http:\\www.nba.com. I suppose it is possible to forward a protest through their e-mail address and the web site.
[PEN-L:3337] CHRIS JACKSON
Of course all of my earlier comments concerning Chris Jackson are mine and do not reflect the views of the PUCT. Thank you.
[PEN-L:3338] Ralph McGehee - For My Protection
--- Forwarded Message Follows --- Date sent: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 21:35:16 -0800 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (The Parapolitices List) From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Bob Gonsalves) Subject:Ralph McGehee - For My Protection 11 March 1996 President Clinton The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Fax 202 456 2461 Mr. John Deutch Director of CIA Washington, D.C. 20505 Fax 703 482 6790 Herndon Town Council P.O. Box 427 Herndon, VA 22070 My name is Ralph McGehee and I am a twenty-five year decorated veteran of the CIA and a critic. My primary effort in this regard is a computer data base, CIABASE. The below letter was posted on Internet today - a measure I reluctantly take in order to defend myself from efforts by local police, especially the Herndon Police, to apparently implicate me in some crime. The level of effort directed at me has increased substantially in the last few weeks -- and I ask that these actions be halted. I over the last few years have made similar appeals with no action taken in my defense. I appealed to Mary Pecora, of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (File no. MA-95-2196), only to be advised that she believed me but the CIA was exempt from the Counsel's authority. In October of last year there was an effort at Fair Oaks Mall to "catch me" as the exit door alarm sounded just as I entered the exit area. I veered away fearing to exit, only to be confronted by an angry, apparent security officer. Due to a medical problem, I have in the last couple of weeks availed myself of the Jacuzzi at the Herndon Community Center. On my second visit a Herndon policeman came into the locker room and advised me that he would, "catch me later." Yesterday shortly after I entered the center two apparent plain clothes police (one forgot to turn off his portable radio that began broadcasting) entered the area and focused their attentions on me and probably set a trap. A number of recent incidents in the local K Mart have made me avoid that establishment. It is impossible to enter commercial establishments in Fairfax and Loudon Counties without being the subject immediate interest by the store security services. In my defense I have begun -- just as I enter an establishment - to explain to the spotter that I am a critic of the CIA and that it is slandering me and this is the reason for (whatever) notice that have re me. For bona fides, I hand them a brochure of CIABASE. In the past I have addressed letters to both you Mr. President and to you Mr. Deutch about this situation. I was advised by Lee S. Stickland, Chief Information, Privacy and Classification Review of the CIA, that his office would conduct an FOIA search but that I would have to wait my turn. From others I know that it takes around three years for action on a request. In any case it is extremely doubtful that the responsible Agency office(s) would make a written record of its illegal operations. The actions against me began in the summer of 1993, shortly after a review of CIABASE appeared in the journals of AFIO and NMIA. It soon thereafter became obvious that my phone was tapped and that local commercial establishments had been warned about me. When I made my knowledge of the tap obvious, the tap was used as much for harassment as monitoring. I have also received an implicit phone threat and was surveillied on a trip to Maine. Since I have the written approval of the CIA to distribute my data base -- it uses only non-classified material -- the actions taken against me by the CIA are in violation of United States law. Do you Mr. Deutch wish to be the medium for violations of law? Has not your Agency disgraced itself enough without adding this crime to its record? Do you Mr. President allow your executive branch to operate illegally without taking action? Do you members of the Herndon Town Council, allow your police force to act as vigilantes and are you willing to accept the consequences of its actions? I request that addressees take appropriate action and advise me of the results. Ralph McGehee 422 Arkansas Avenue Herndon, VA, 22070 *---** * James Craven * "All things have inner meaning and * * Dept of Economics* form and power." (Hopi) * * Clark College* "In this world the unseen has power." * * 1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd. * (Apache) * * Vancouver, Wa. 98663 * "Be satisfied with needs instead of * * (360) 992-2283 * wants." (Tenton Lakota) * * [EMAIL PROTECTED] * "The Great Spirit is always angry * * * with men who shed innocent blood."* * * (Iowa)* * * "It is no longer good enough to cry * * * peace, we must act peace, live peace, * *
[PEN-L:3340] Re: CHRIS JACKSON
So this basketball player who won't salute the flag or whatever is a "limo-rad". Does this justify the sort of typical low-grade anti-Moslem crap that "Ci-Torrent, Gary" chucks around? Thus: " I would suggest he go live in one of his beloved Moslem countries where the daily horrors might not be so shocking to him." Personally I'd have thought the "daily horrors" of the USA are hard to beat for the one-third of US black males aged 18-34 who are in prison, on remand or on parole. Plus the gratuitous insult of referring to the "limo-rad" by the name which he has deliberately given up. Just what kind of a civil libertarian are you, Gary? Hugo Radice [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:3339] 1996-03-12 President Remarks on Signing Helms-Burton Bill
Vile toxins emitted by the chief executive of the world bourgeoisie Delivered-By-The-Graces-Of: White House Electronic Publications Precedence: Bulk To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 20:06-0500 From: The White House [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: 1996-03-12 President Remarks on Signing Helms-Burton Bill Keywords: Bill-Signing, Central-America-Caribbean, Foreign, Government, International-Security, Legislation, President, Remarks, Security, Topical-Remarks, World-Order Document-ID: PDI://OMA.EOP.GOV.US/1996/3/12/3.TEXT.1 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release March 12, 1996 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT SIGNING OF THE HELMS-BURTON BILL Washington, D. C. 10:37 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Welcome to the White House Senator Helms, Senator Gramm, Senator Mack, Senator Lautenberg, Senator Coverdell, Congressman Menendez, Congressman Torricelli, Congressman Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Congressman Deutsch, Congressman Burton, Congressman Kennedy -- I hope I haven't missed any members of Congress who are here -- to the family members of those who were tragically shot down, Ambassador Albright, Assistant Secretary Watson, and my fellow Americans. We are here today around a common commitment to bring democracy to Cuba. Two and a half weeks ago, the world received a harsh reminder of why a democratic Cuba is so important, not only to us but to the people of Cuba. In broad daylight and without justification, Cuban military jets shot down two unarmed United States civilian aircraft causing the deaths of three American citizens and one U.S. resident. The planes were unarmed, the pilots unwarned. They posed no threat to Cuba's security. This was clearly a brutal and cruel act. It demanded a firm, immediate response. On my instructions, Ambassador Albright convened the United Nations Security Council which unanimously deplored Cuba's actions. Dozens of countries around the world expressed their revulsion. Cuba's blatant disregard for international law is not just an issue between Havana and Washington but between Havana and the world. I ordered, also, a number of unilateral actions. One of those steps was to have my representatives work closely with Congress to reach prompt agreement on the Cuban Liberty and Democracy Solidarity Act. Within two days, and with the extra efforts of our friend, Congressman Menendez, Democrats and Republicans came together and produced a better bill. It will strengthen the embargo in a way that advances the cause of freedom in Cuba. Today I sign it with a certainty that it will send a powerful, unified message from the United States to Havana, that the yearning of the Cuban people for freedom must not be denied. This bill continues our bipartisan effort to pursue an activist Cuba policy, an effort that began some four years ago with the Cuban Democracy Act. Under the provisions of that legislation, our Administration has encouraged Cuba's peaceful transition to democracy. We have promoted the free flow of ideas to Cuba through greater support for Cuba's brave human rights activists, a dramatic increase in non-governmental humanitarian aide to the Cuban people, long distance telephone service. And the more the Cuban people are free to express the freedoms and rights their neighbors enjoy the more they will insist on change. We have also kept the pressure on Cuba by maintaining a tough embargo policy. The legislation I sign today further tightens that embargo. It sends a strong message to the Cuban government. We will not tolerate attacks on United States citizens and we will stand with those both inside and outside Cuba who are working for a peaceful transition to freedom and democracy. Finally, let me say as I sign this bill into law, I do so in the name of the four men who were killed when their planes were shot down on February the 24th: Armando Alejandre, Carlos Cofta, Mario De La Pena and Pablo Morales. In their memory, I will continue to do everything I can to help the tide of democracy that has swept our entire hemisphere, finally, finally reach the shores of Cuba. The Cuban people must receive the blessings of freedom they have been so long denied. And I hope and believe that this day is another important step toward that ultimate goal that so many of you in this audience have worked so hard for, for so very, very long. Thank you very much. (Applause.) END
[PEN-L:3341] Re: A particularly virulent right-wing assertion
Mike M, The latest business week has some nice figures in the 'Economic Trends' section on the US distribution of stockholdings by wealth percentiles. My copy is at home - I'll post the figures when I'm next in. But as I recall the bottom 80% of wealthholders own 2% of stocks... Hugo Radice [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:3342] Re: A particularly virulent right-wing assertion
Mike M. is right to single out the following passage as a particularly egregious attempt on the part of a right-wing textbook writer to misrepresent reality. However, I came accross this particularly ridiculous statement in one of the chapters I'm reading: "The median income of all individual stockholders is not dramatically higher than the median income of all American families." This statement is simultaneously breathtaking in its irrelevance and yet unavoidably suggestive of significantly misleading conclusions. First, the irrelevance: a lot of people own a little bit of stock, especially if the above sentence allows inclusion of ESOP programs, mutual funds, or holdings through pension funds. But so what? This statement doesn't have any implications whatsoever for the distribution of wealth or income. The irrelevance of the statement is compounded by the vague qualifier "not dramatically higher". Relative to what? Now, as to the suggestiveness: since the statement, taken by itself, implies nothing of significance, people are likely to read more into it, just in giving the author the benefit of the doubt that he is not mouthing irrelevancies. Perhaps it suggests that the distribution of stocks or the income therefrom is not that skewed? But any such suggestion is horsecrap. The richest 1% of families in the US holds 49% (!) of all publicly held stock; the richest 10% hold 85% of all stocks. And in 1992 only 14% of individuals over 15 received dividends. [Data are from the CPE's New Field Guide to the US Economy]. Paints a little different picture, no? Gil
[PEN-L:3343] Re: CHRIS JACKSON
This sort of comment has no place on pen-l. I do not see how trashing muslims does anything to further progressive values in any way. I assume that other lists would find sort of comment more compelling. Chris Jackson a.k.a Rauf is a hypocritical asshole. of course by standing he is not condoning anything. he can sertainly say he is standing out of resoect for his teammates and fans who may have differing views on certain issues. I would suggest he go live in one of his beloved Moslem countries where the daily horrors might not be so shocking to him. He's the kind of asshole Orwell talked about who would be nowhere to be found when the trigger is pulled. What a punk. Of course it's easy to say he'll never play the game again, he's probably got 8 or 9 million socked away. Yeah, I guess the persecution he faces is akin to a jew in Nazi Germany or a dissident in the Soviet Union. I weep for him and his struggle. I consider myself a civil libertarian but these limo-rads are assholes. -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 916-898-5321 E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:3344] Re: 1996-03-12 President Remarks on Signing Helms-
Doug writes: Vile toxins emitted by the chief executive of the world bourgeoisie I can't help thinking that Clinton reveals his true colors in actions like this. But in order to start some discussion - I have been bothered for some time now by the following thought: Since the establishment and legalization of the dollar economy in Cuba, this dollar economy has threatened to escape the control of the socialist state. To the extent that it does so, socialism is undermined in Cuba (maybe the last place there is any "actually existing" socialism). The only thing preventing the explosion of the dollar economy in Cuba is the embargo. Socialism is being partly preserved in Cuba by this reactionary embargo. Is this completely off the wall? Terry McDonough
[PEN-L:3345] Re: 1996-03-12 President Remarks on Signing Hel
Terrence McDonough writes 3/13 that "the establishment and legalization of the dollar economy in Cuba . . . has threatened to escape the control of the socialist state. To the extent that it does so, socialism is undermined in Cuba." George Selgin and Larry White couldn't have said it better. I thought you guys didn't want Austrians butting in. Michael Etchison [opinions mine, not the PUCT's]
[PEN-L:3346] RESPONSE
Here were my comments:
Chris Jackson a.k.a Rauf is a hypocritical asshole. of course by
standing he is not condoning anything. he can certainly say he is
standing out of respect for his teammates and fans who may have
differing
views on certain issues. I would suggest he go live in one of his
beloved Moslem countries where the daily horrors might not be so
shocking
to him.
He's the kind of asshole Orwell talked about who would be nowhere to be
found when the trigger is pulled.
What a punk. Of course it's easy to say he'll never play the game
again,
he's probably got 8 or 9 million socked away.
Yeah, I guess the persecution he faces is akin to a jew in Nazi Germany
or a dissident in the Soviet Union. I weep for him and his struggle.
I consider myself a civil libertarian but these limo-rads are assholes.
Your response
{This sort of comment has no place on pen-l. I do not see how trashing
muslims does anything to further progressive values in any way. I assume
that other lists would find sort of comment more compelling.
No one trashed a Muslim. I trashed a hypocrite. if it it so repugnant to
him I would suggest he retire, which he won't do ()
What are "progressive values"? Yours, I suppose.
I would also suppose you feel yourself part of the oppressed masses
sitting there with tenure behind your state-funded pentium. You and Mr.
Jackson are the kind of hypocrites the West breeds. Weak. Ya'll are not
Nelson Mandela, or even Cassius Clay. Those guys risked something. You
are just worried about your 401K plan like everyone else.
gmt
These are my views and not those of the PUCT
[PEN-L:3347] Re: Bercuson
Recently Paul Phillips wrote: Ken Hanley posted a negative review of David Bercuson's work yesterday on the net. I would like to qualify somewhat this view. Bercuson did some quite excellent work early in his career. He worked with Kenneth McNaught,a well respected social democratic historian, in his PhD thesis on the Winnipeg General Strike. His book on the One Big Union _Fools and Wisemen_, though not without problems, is still a very good book. I contributed to his collection on Canadian federalism, more years ago than I want to mention, though I still think the volume is worth reading. (Hey, naked promotionism!). However, I think his more recent work is rightwing, nativist (in the worst sence) and anti-intellectual. I consider it rather sad to see the degeneration of a rather accomplished scholar to a kind of narrow "reformer". But then, I have been told that the whole history department at Calgary (devastated by cutbacks) has been reduced to a department of regimental military historians celebrating death and gore in the past, and ignoring society, past and present. COMMENT: While Bercuson's earlier work on labour might be OK from the point of view of scholarship, it never seemed particularly radical. Even his THE GREAT BRAIN ROBBERY has some excellent criticisms of academia. But that book is surely also an opinionated and unscholarly shit-disturbing tome aimed at irking academics and pleasing the public. His statements about UI speak for themselves. They are simply absurd. Even on the General Strike I find Norman Penner's book WINNIPEG 1919( 1973 Lewis and Samuel publishers) much more interesting than Bercuson. Bercuson can, when he is perturbed about something-and that is most of the time--write some great polemical prose. Anyway, I agree for the most part with Paul. I don't understand your points about Bercuson being anti-intellectual however. He is an elitist intellectual, and the Great Brain Robbery is an attack upon anti-intellectualism all the way through. He is opposed to democratisation of the academy, to its unionisation, and to its broadening of curricula to include things like Canadian Studies programmes, women's studies, aboriginal studies etc. He wants a thorough traditional high standard liberal arts programme. By the way, he thinks that the publish or perish movement in the States was great and that it is too bad that it did not take root here. In fact he suggests that academics turfed out of the US because they failed the test migrated to Canada and caused us to reject the publish or perish model. He also wants to raise admission standards and stop grade inflation, again all part of a move to make the university elitist again. What is Bercuson's nativism? Do you mean his criticism of the flow of US academics into Canadian universities or what? This is surely an issue that is of little relevance now. Cheers, Ken Hanly
[PEN-L:3348] Re: A particularly virulent right-wing assertion
However, I came accross this particularly ridiculous statement in one of the chapters I'm reading: "The median income of all individual stockholders is not dramatically higher than the median income of all American families." Median household income was $28,906 in 1989; according to the NYSE's 1990 shareholder survey, median income of the average stockholding household in 1989 was $43,800. That looks like 51% higher, which is pretty dramatic where I come from. According to the same survey, 1 in 4 adults owned stock, and nearly twice as many men as women. Doug -- Doug Henwood Left Business Observer 250 W 85 St New York NY 10024-3217 USA +1-212-874-4020 voice +1-212-874-3137 fax email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: http://www.panix.com/~dhenwood/LBO_home.html
[PEN-L:3349] Re: A particularly virulent right-wing assertion
The activist/ideologue mind at work: "If it isn't phony, I need to know that too because I don't want to say things in my class that can be proven wrong later." -- Meeropol Not "If it isn't phony, I need to know that too because I don't want to say things in my class that aren't true." Certainly not, "If it isn't phony, I need to know that too because I don't want to be wrong." Michael Etchison[opinions mine, not the PUCT's]
[PEN-L:3350] Re: low-grade Anti-Moslem crap
Hugo Radice writes, indignantly, Does this justify the sort of typical low-grade anti-Moslem crap that "Ci-Torrent, Gary" chucks around? As I recall, some months back one of your comrades jumped all over RP Burns for his affiliation with the abominable Church. I don't recall Mr. Radice's vigorous protest. Michael Etchison [opinions mine, not the PUCT's]
[PEN-L:3351] Re: A particularly virulent right-wing assertion
GC-ETCHISON, MICHAEL wrote: The activist/ideologue mind at work: "If it isn't phony, I need to know that too because I don't want to say things in my class that can be proven wrong later." -- Meeropol Not "If it isn't phony, I need to know that too because I don't want to say things in my class that aren't true." Certainly not, "If it isn't phony, I need to know that too because I don't want to be wrong." Michael Etchison[opinions mine, not the PUCT's] For the record I never want to say things in class that are wrong. However, it's not always possible to say things in class you're sure of. Lots of time people believe things; they "hear" things, etc. -- surprise, even smart honest knowledgeable people say things that are wrong. President Gerald Ford said on national TV that there was no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe. Confronted by questions from students I often will say: "I think the following --- ... --- I'll try to find the exact facts for you." Sometimes, surprise surprise, I say something, then go check it , and turn out to have made a mistake. There is nothing wrong with making honest mistakes. My question was a way of guarding against an honest mistake. I see no contradiction between what I wrote and Etchison's alternatives which he believes CONTRADICTS what I wrote. He's entitled to his opinion ... -- Mike Meeropol Economics Department Cultures Past and Present Program Western New England College Springfield, Massachusetts "Don't blame us, we voted for George McGovern!" Unrepentent Leftist!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] [if at bitnet node: in%"[EMAIL PROTECTED]" but that's fading fast!]
[PEN-L:3352] Re: A particularly virulent right-wing assertion
Snipped from a post by Mike Meeropol: President Gerald Ford said on national TV that there was no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe. I heard the broadacast, and understood him to mean either that the USSR had no de jure rights in Eastern Europe, or perhaps that they hadn't been able to suppress the cultural sovereignty, so to speak, of those countries (a Czech was still a Czech, c). Obviously he couldn't have meant that the USSR didn't have predominant political influence in the region, and this is not what I heard him say. Of course, everyone jumped on him for the comment but, in a sense, 1989 may have proved him to be more correct than he was ever given credit. C.N.Gomersall Luther College [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://econ-www.newcastle.edu.au/economics/nick/nick.html
[PEN-L:3354] Re: RESPONSE
To gmt: Your comments are probably not worth responding to, but... 1) Some of us have tenure, but if you have been following this list recently you will realize that tenure is under a general assault right now, and is no guarantee of a job anyway, not on my campus at least. 2) Why do you presume that everyone on this list is a gutless wonder? I happen to know several people on this list who have gone to jail for their beliefs. There are very few Nelson Mandelas in this world, and there may well be some self-satisfied hypocrites on this list. But there is probably a higher percentage of people who have actually stood up for something and paid a serious price for it than on most lists. But I see no reason to either prattle on about my own experiences or those of specific other people on here that I know about. Let others speak if they so choose. But your remarks are very wide of the mark, to say the least. Barkley Rosser
[PEN-L:3355] tax comparisons (fwd)
-- Forwarded message -- Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 16:51:25 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: tax comparisons Has anayone come up with a good way to make the case that the "right" way to compare tax burdens is on the basis of collections/$1,000 personal income? Our taxpayers' association just did a critique of this method of comparison that we need to rebut. How about a good defense of the progressive income tax (of course some of you don't have to worry about such things... Thanks, Jean Ross CA Budget Project (916)444-0500 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:3356] Re: A particularly virulent right-wing assertion
... But any such suggestion is horsecrap. The richest 1% of families in the US holds 49% (!) of all publicly held stock; the richest 10% hold 85% of all stocks. And in 1992 only 14% of individuals over 15 received dividends. [Data are from the CPE's New Field Guide to the US Economy]. Paints a little different picture, no? This data ignores the impact of pension funds, 401(k), IRAs. The numbers look much less dramatic when this is factored in although they're still highly skewed. The same book puts "the total assets of corporate, state and local employee benefit funds" at "over $3 trillion" adding that most "is in the hands of employers who invest it as they see fit." Dan Epstein Gil --- End Message
