> > "It's a question of priorities," Ted Williams, president and
> > chief executive of Bell Industries Inc. in Los Angeles and
> > founder of the business group, said during an appearance on
> > CNNfn Thursday. "What we're talking about is where we spend
> > our money. In this particular situation, when you're giving
> > the Pentagon more money than they are asking for, I think it
> > leaves some questions open."
>
> Consistent with this, here are some sound words from the much reviled
> Camille Paglia, in the current Salon:
>
> "What galls me about our undeclared war on Yugoslavia is that the other
> members of NATO are not footing their fair share of the bill and that
> American tax dollars are being thrown down a sewer -- or rather into a
> shambles, a slaughterhouse of medieval animosities that we cannot solve.
> Every bomb or missile that falls is a gross waste of money that should
> be going to the restoration of America's inner cities; to primary
> education and vocational training; to day care, health care and elder
> care for the economically disadvantaged.
>
> "Political leadership means prioritizing in a world of endless crises.
> America has much more to fear from a turbulent Russia and a rising China
> -- whose leaders cannot guarantee the security or aim of their nuclear
> weapons -- than Europe does from a minor local despot. Secretary of
> State Madeleine Albright, playing out her childhood scenarios (when she
> was the Czech ambassador's little princess in Belgrade), has
> systematically misinformed her distracted White House boss and the
> American people about the ancient, cold realities of Serbian
> nationalism. Albright's conceit and deceit have damaged the cause of
> women everywhere who aspire to high office and public responsibility."
Hmmmm. What have we come to when a cartoon figure can pull off sounding like a sage, even for a few sentences?
Next thing you know, Camille will be giving Lisa Simpson a run for her money.
-- Paul Rosenberg Reason and Democracy rad at gte.net
"Let's put the information BACK into the information age!"