California lawmakers: Arrest Enron execs
California lawmakers: Arrest Enron execs Author: Tim Wheeler People's Weekly World Newspaper, Feb 16, 2002 Houston workers demand justice WASHINGTON * A committee of the California State Senate has demanded that Kenneth Lay and other Enron officials be brought to California to stand trial for contempt for refusing to testify before a California Senate Committee investigating manipulation of the energy market. The committee also demanded that Enron turn over documents dealing with its roe in causing the state's power shortage last summer. If the contempt citation is approved, Enron could face fines of $1 million each day they refuse to turn over documents. State Sen. Wes Chesboro (D-Arcata) said Enron displayed contempt in three ways: conspiring to drive up energy prices, hiding its imploding financial condition from investors such as the California Pension Fund and refusing to appear when a subpoena was issued by the legislature. Chesboro said these Enron officials should go to jail. Three strikes and you're out, he said. I seriously doubt that Enron will ever send us anything more than a picture postcard from the Cayman Islands, said state Sen. Debra Bowen (D-Redondo Beach). Enron hid millions in profits in an estimated 900 dummy companies in the Cayman Islands and other secret offshore havens. Earlier, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said Enron's hidden wealth should be confiscated and sent back to California to compensate for an estimated $8.9 billion in overcharges inposed on California ratepayers. Meanwhile, Karen Nussbaum, head of the AFL-CIO Women's Department, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of Operation Push, joined angry Enron workers in a Houston press conference to demand that the bankrupt energy trading company pay full severance benefits in the company's collapse. The Feb. 13 press conference, held in Houston's Antioch Church took place the day after former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay refused to testify before a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee. Debra Johnson, once a senior administrative assistant in Enron's Human Resources Division and a member of the Enron Employees Committee (EEC), also attended the press conference. I was aware that Mr. Lay would take the Fifth Amendment because he didn't want to incriminate himself with inside information he had passed on, Johnson told the World. I was a bit angry at his opening statement. He said he was saddened, but he never said he was sorry. Johnson said Lay owes the employees of Enron an apology. The executives paid themselves but they left us with nothing, she said, adding that she is two months behind on her utility bills and has been forced to apply for food stamps to feed herself and two young grandchildren she is raising. Her son is enrolled at Hampton University in Virginia and may be forced to drop out. I never thought I would be forced to wait in a welfare line for food stamps. But I am, she said. I don't have health insurance. If I get sick, I'll have to wait in the welfare healthcare line. They may leave you to die since you don't have health insurance. Johnson expressed anger that President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have invoked executive privilege, concealing their collaboration with Lay and other oil and gas executives in Cheney's Energy Policy Task Force. Bush and Cheney are all tied in with this energy business together, she said. One won't tell on the other. If Lay didn't have something to hide, he would testify. The EEC, she said, is working for reform, to insure that it doesn't happen again, that other workers don't have to go through what we have been through.
On the necessity of socialism
On the necessity of socialism Author: Sam Webb, national chairman, Communist Party USA People's Weekly World Newspaper, Feb 16, 2002 During the CPUSA's pre-convention period about a year ago, we had a rather lively discussion of socialism in the party and in our publications, and there was a convention panel on socialism. But the discussion never reached beyond our circles, partly because of its nature. It largely pivoted on whether Bill of Rights socialism was an appropriate concept and term. Most of us had opinions about this, but it wasn't a discussion that would interest wider circles of people, certainly not one that would attract them to socialism. Most would think that we were splitting hairs. Since then we have not broached the subject in any meaningful way. Where it does appear in our discussion and literature, it is by and large an addendum, tacked on at the end in way that would not convince anybody of the wisdom of our socialist objective. We are doing very little to make socialism compelling and intriguing to non-socialists. And we know there are plenty of people who fit into that category. I don't know exactly how we can change that, but this perilous moment through which our nation and world are passing has forced me to think that we should take a fresh look at this question. What has occurred in the aftermath of Sept. 11 has brought home to me that capitalism at its present stage of development is capable of doing irreversible damage to life in all of its forms and to our planet. Nuclear annihilation is one possibility that we mistakenly thought fell off the radar screen with the end of the Cold War. An ecological crisis of planetary dimensions lurks somewhere in this century unless something changes. Hunger, unemployment and pandemic diseases are now cutting wide swaths across the globe. A century ago, even 50 years ago, the working class and its allies faced huge challenges. Capitalism at that time was brutal, raw and violent and as a consequence it gave rise to a powerful movement against its injustices. And yet as brutal, raw and violent as it was, it didn't threaten the very future of humankind and the planet. Rosa Luxembourg said that the choices facing humanity at that time were either socialism or barbarism, but even the brilliant Rosa did not anticipate the new dangers that are in store for humankind as it begins the 21st century. Some people think that capitalism's technological wizardry and adaptability will pull us back from the brink of social calamity. The captains of industry and finance and their lieutenants in the corridors of political power will see the destructiveness of their ways and do an about-face. Don't count on it. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that the system of capitalism is rent with more powerful destructive tendencies than we appreciate, indeed so powerful and so structured into the system that they jeopardize the reproduction of people and nature. If this is so, we have to make the case, not so much that socialism is inevitable, but rather that it is necessary, that it is a historical imperative in light of the destructive tendencies of the present system. We have to say not only that it offers a better future for humanity, but also that it is a necessary condition for humanity and nature to have a future at all. This isn't the only way that we should popularize the idea of socialism. We also have to make a convincing case that socialism creates the objective and subjective conditions for an equitable, sustainable, and non-exploitative economy, full racial and gender equality, and a robust working class and people's democracy. Nevertheless, it is a powerful and necessary argument at this juncture of history. Every species has an instinct to survive and humankind is no exception. We should find ways, beginning with our own publications and forums, to make socialism a household word in our country and invest it with a new urgency, a new necessity. Clearly, socialism is not on labor's and the people's action agenda either now or in the near term. No one should think that at their next union meeting, they should offer a resolution to establish socialism by the end of the decade in order to insure the survival of humanity and nature! Our main emphasis now and for the foreseeable future is on the immediate struggles of the working class and people against the right danger. That was the direction that we set at our convention last summer and it is all the more imperative now.
BLS Daily Report
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, DAILY REPORT, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2002 RELEASED TODAY: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2 percent in January, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 177.1 (1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in January, the CPI-U increased 1.1 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also increased 0.2 percent in January, prior to seasonal adjustment. The January level of 173.2 was 0.9 percent higher than the index in January 2001. Real average weekly earnings fell by 0.5 percent from December to January after seasonal adjustment, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. This decline was due to a 0.3 percent drop in average weekly hours and a 0.2 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Average hourly earnings were unchanged. Employers say that to avoid layoffs, they are more likely to eliminate overtime than resort to freezing or cutting salaries, according to a survey released by the Center for Survey Research and Analysis... (Daily Labor Report, page A-8). Findings in a not-yet-released government study of nursing home staffing reiterated what others before it have concluded -- more nurses and nurse aides would improve quality of care for patients. The draft study also suggested that a requirement for minimum expenditures for nurse staffing could boost the nursing workforce without necessitating minimum nursing requirements. (Daily Labor Report, page A-11). Spiraling health care costs remain a significant concern for employers, according to survey findings published by BNA, February 14, which show that all but a few organizations reported outlays for workers' health care coverage had increased over the previous year. In addition, half of the responding establishments faced great increases in health care expenses over the previous 12 months, while almost none was able to reduce health expenditures or hold them steady. (Daily Labor Report, page C-1). Nearly 25 percent, or 400,000, of the factory jobs eliminated in the last 1 1/2 years in the U.S.A. can be attributed to the sharp decline in exports of manufactured goods, according to a study to be released today by the National Association of Manufacturers. The decline in manufacturing exports was mostly attributed to the sharp rise in the value of the dollar, which makes exports more expensive and imports cheaper. (USA Today, page 1B). Bankruptcy filings surged 19% to a record 1.5 million last year, as businesses and consumers struggled under heavy debt loads during the economic slowdown. ... The economic slowdown produced a spate of corporate downsizings. In addition, many workers who rely on tips and overtime saw their incomes shrink, says President of SMR Research. And retirees who rely on interest income and earnings on investments were hammered by low interest rates and a stock market downturn. (The Washington Post, page E2, The New York Times, page C6). The male labor force participation rate -- the percentage of men 16 years or older who are working or are looking for a job -- fell to the lowest level on record in January at 73 percent. That was down more than 2 percentage points from 10 years ago and more than 13 percentage points from 1952. Women, however, have been increasing their presence in the workplace (USA Today, page 3B). The Northeast had the largest increase in workers losing their jobs in extended mass layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2001: the 65,305 layoffs were 70 percent more than those in the year-earlier quarter, new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. The South had a 40 percent increase in such layoffs, with 88,769. (The Wall Street Journal, page B3). A recently released Labor Department (BLS) survey shows how people in the Washington area spend their money. And it suggests that we are a region of people with high incomes who enjoy luxuries, yet have an underlying conservatism that makes spending patterns relatively traditional. Washingtonians, on average, are wealthy, but ordinary. .. Washingtonians drink, but don't smoke; eat out a lot and enjoy a good book; and spend more on fruits and vegetables than typical Americans, but less on meat. The article is based on the Consumer Expenditure Survey collected in 1999 and 2000. (The Washington Post, February 18, 2002, page E1). application/ms-tnef
Who started it ?
Israel Retaliates Against Palestinians for Ambush By JAMES BENNET NYT Israel forces killed 15 Palestinians today in retaliation for an ambush in which six Israeli soldiers were killed. ^^^ CB: I've never seen an NYT headline on Israel murdering Palestinians that didn't term it a retaliation. Of course, that depends on who started it. The Palestinians , no doubt , considered what they were doing a retaliation. By the way, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden. I haven't seen him in the news at all lately. It would seem that Bush has failed to get him, dead or alive.
Re: Re: Re: Re: suppression
Rakesh Bhandari wrote: Why is that when the question of oil economics came up, I seemed to be the only one who remembered Bina's work though Bina had been a co-editor (I believe) of RRPE with many of you? Hey, I had Bina on the radio. You're not the only one. Doug
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: suppression
Rakesh Bhandari wrote: Have you ever explained why Henwood was never able to get himself both to understand why most third world trade unionists oppose the linkage between trade and labor rights and to recognize that to many the US union backed anti sweatshop movements is probably a move in the direction of a protectionist system with which to replace the MFA? At 9:05 AM -0800 12/29/01, Rakesh Bhandari wrote: After this last post, I retract all criticism of Doug regarding trade issues. He returned my vinegar with honey. He has thought hard and long about the problems that we are facing. And I do benefit from his perspective that begins as always with the class struggle at home.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: suppression
Cyrus is supposed to be on pen-l. I do remember him very well from my days on the ed. board. Doug Henwood wrote: Rakesh Bhandari wrote: Why is that when the question of oil economics came up, I seemed to be the only one who remembered Bina's work though Bina had been a co-editor (I believe) of RRPE with many of you? Hey, I had Bina on the radio. You're not the only one. Doug -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University [EMAIL PROTECTED] Chico, CA 95929 530-898-5321 fax 530-898-5901
Pharma giants likely to face big challenges in years ahead
Hindustantimes.com February 20, 2002 Pharma giants likely to face big challenges in years ahead AFP London , 18-02-2002 These are unsettling times for big pharma: the sector which congratulates itself on being the most profitable industry over the past 25 years may not be so for much longer. Expiring patents, generic copies of their drugs, biotech challengers and the smouldering debate about providing affordable medicine to impoverished countries -- global pharmaceuticals giants have much soul-searching to do as they rethink the formula for the decade ahead. At first glance, the good times appear to keep on rolling for the manufacturers and distributors of those blockbuster drugs that not only prolong life but improve quality of life. Recent results showed that at the bottom line at least big pharma continues to thrive. The world's largest group by sales, GlaxoSmithKline, reported a 16 per cent jump in profits last week and predicted more of the same for the next two years. But that masks a deeper concern within the industry, which was laid bare at a forum organised by Economist Conferences last week. The cornerstone of the sector rest on the patents for massive selling drugs like Prozac and Viagra that rake in billions of dollars each year. Yet in the 2000-05 period, patents on drugs worth $40 billion in annual revenue to big pharma will have expired. And patent expiry paves the way for generic copies that naturally eat away at a blockbuster drug's profitability. Within three months of Prozac going off-patent, it lost 90 per cent of sales, noted SmithKline Beecham former chief executive Jan Leschly at the conference. He said for big pharma to retain its levels of profitability, they will have to have launches of two to four major new products every year. That is simply not the case at the moment. Leschly noted that the top 15 big pharma companies had only 14 new chemical entities approved by US authorities last year. The signs of urgency are becoming tangible. In the United States, which generates one half of the $350 billion annual pharmaceuticals market, the number of sales representatives selling pharma products into the healthcare system has skyrocketed to almost 80,000. Big pharma meanwhile is studying how it can maintain its profitability. Some executives note the US dominance of the market, which is primarily down to freedom of pricing and call on Europe and Japan to lessen regulation so that drugs companies can charge more for their products. The European and Japanese authorities must live up to their own responsibility of paying for new improved treatments, British group Shire Pharmaceuticals chief executive Rolf Stahler said. We need help to remain profitable. Some -- though not all -- executives believe that a recent wave of mergers will continue as companies seek to take out costs. Other executives said that the way that drugs are researched and developed would change fundamentally. They point to breakthroughs in genomics, with the sequencing of the human genome as a key development that big pharma will have to harness. Send your feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ©Hindustan Times Ltd. 1997. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without prior permission.
RE: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: suppression
Cyrus [Bina] is supposed to be on pen-l. I do remember him very well from my days on the ed. board. he's a good guy, too. Jim Devine
Argentinian crisis
The economic crisis that has been besetting Argentina is a manifestation of the constraints of the constraints on capital generated by the nation state. The circumscription of much of Argentinian capital within the confines of its borders checks the expansion of Argentinian capital. Consequently its failure to expand beyond its borders at any substantive levels lead to crisis for this form of industrial capital. Consequently it fails to compete successfully with multinational industrial capital. It is the increasing globalisation of capital that leads to the growing crisis facing Argentinian capital that proves too nationalised to face down multinational corporations. Because increasing globalisation of capital means that costs are globally based this means that if nationally based industrial capital cannot keep costs at the internationally based level it suffers decline. Argentinian capital has increasingly failed to keep costs in line with the international average. This ! is because it is not globally based industrial capital. The lack of globalisation of Argentinian capital means that it cannot exploit international conditions to produce cheaper commodities that can compete on the global market. The forces of production have been increasingly transcending the limits of the nation state. For Argentinian capital to survive this crisis, assuming the working class does not in the meantime take power, not less globalisation but more globalisation is the requirement. For it to come out the other side of the crisis not more regulation but less regulation is the answer. Consequently the national reformism is increasingly bumping up against its limits. It seeks to find solutions based on a nationalist framework at a time when the national framework is even less justifiable than it was formerly. Karl Carlile Be free to visit the Global Communist Group web site at http://homepage.eircom.net/~beprepared/
Re: On the necessity of socialism
At 20/02/02 15:19 -0500, On the necessity of socialism Author: Sam Webb, national chairman, Communist Party USA People's Weekly World Newspaper, Feb 16, 2002 There is much that is correct in this article. I appreciate periodically being able to read position statments from the CPUSA even though few still assume just one organisation could alone have a revolutionary strategy. I hope it does not sound like nit-picking therefore to express some reservations, but rather a way of taking the issues seriously. It is hard outside a country, and a specific environment, to judge the relevance of a political stance. But this article seems more like a commentary around a theme rather than a strategic attempt to address the question of how to integrate a struggle for socialism with current political and economic issues. We are doing very little to make socialism compelling and intriguing to non-socialists. And we know there are plenty of people who fit into that category. I don't know exactly how we can change that, but this perilous moment through which our nation and world are passing has forced me to think that we should take a fresh look at this question. What has occurred in the aftermath of Sept. 11 has brought home to me that capitalism at its present stage of development is capable of doing irreversible damage to life in all of its forms and to our planet. Even though it is true that Sept 11 did present a perilous moment, and there is a US nation, it sounds populist to my puritanical ears, to refer to a 'perilous moment which our nation and the world are passing through'. My perspective is that the USA has been challenged to flex its muscles and is ready to do so to a remarkable degree. It continues to treat allies, even, with disrepect, let alone weaker or more independent countries. Indeed I suspect that the contradictions on a global level have to unfold through this process of greater massive assertion of US military might, with other forces eroding and undermining the smug and shallow basis on which the USA claims hegemony. Just one fifth the daily number of children who die prematurely in the world through massive inequality, died in the implosion of the hubristically named World Trade Centre. Some people think that capitalism's technological wizardry and adaptability will pull us back from the brink of social calamity. The captains of industry and finance and their lieutenants in the corridors of political power will see the destructiveness of their ways and do an about-face. Don't count on it. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that the system of capitalism is rent with more powerful destructive tendencies than we appreciate, indeed so powerful and so structured into the system that they jeopardize the reproduction of people and nature. If this is so, we have to make the case, not so much that socialism is inevitable, but rather that it is necessary, that it is a historical imperative in light of the destructive tendencies of the present system. We have to say not only that it offers a better future for humanity, but also that it is a necessary condition for humanity and nature to have a future at all. I agree with that, but the limitations of perspective from being sited at the heart of the world's hegemonic power I think may be apparent. If socialism is social production guided by social foresight, Europe is far down the road of socialism. It is deeply offended and alarmed by the US attitude to Kyoto. In essence that is half the battle for socialism. What Europe does not have is specifically a class focus of in whose interests should there be social foresight. But the remarkable gaps that are opening up between the US and Europe (today Solana is pleading for Europe not to be too anti-American - at least in public!) will lead Europe to consider a number of pragmatic and unprincipled alliances which will nevertheless lean towards more radically democratic global solutions than the USA can. This isn't the only way that we should popularize the idea of socialism. We also have to make a convincing case that socialism creates the objective and subjective conditions for an equitable, sustainable, and non-exploitative economy, full racial and gender equality, and a robust working class and people's democracy. Yes, whatever weaknesses of the old communist parties they have been better at understanding how the struggle for a radical application of democratic rights, is intimately bound up with the struggle for socialism, and should not be counterposed. Nevertheless, it is a powerful and necessary argument at this juncture of history. Every species has an instinct to survive and humankind is no exception. We should find ways, beginning with our own publications and forums, to make socialism a household word in our country and invest it with a new urgency, a new necessity. Clearly, socialism is not on labor's and the
