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October 4, 2001
Letters
Easy, everyday ways we can all fight terrorism
Every American can strike a blow against Middle Eastern terrorism. When dealing with al-Qaida and their ilk, it must be remembered that their funding comes largely from oil money. The United States imports 50 percent of its oil, the bulk of it from the Middle East. Therefore, a way each American can strike a blow against terrorism is by reducing his consumption of oil.
Editorials
Remembering the other charities
In the commendable rush to aid the families of the victims who died Sept. 11, Americans are writing fewer checks to local charities. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., told a group of business leaders recently: "I've had a number of people call and tell me they are getting notes from corporations and individuals who are usual steady donors saying, 'I can't give as much this year,' or 'I can't give at all this year because I've given everything to the funds for Sept. 11.' Many of the ongoing services and charitable needs for the homeless, for AIDS victims, for after-school programs, are beginning to feel a real crunch."
Bankrupt in Tallahassee
Leadership is as lacking as money as the governor and Legislature scramble to cut at least $1-billion from a budget that already was inadequate.
Perspective
Taking jobs, alienating customers
For weeks Americans have been told that the outsourcing of high-tech jobs is good for our economy. So said Greg Mankiw, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers in a recent report signed by President Bush. So, too, writes Thomas Friedman of the New York Times in articles praising the rise of call centers in India used for everything from making airline reservations and reading medical X-ray films to providing tech support for American computer firms.
Philip Gailey: Democrats fall off campaign finance reform wagon
Well, what do you know. Soft money is back, and it's making hypocrites of all those Democrats who fervently championed the McCain-Feingold campaign reform law, not to mention those Republicans who objected to the law's restrictions on issue advocacy.
Bill Maxwell: Who is for the farm worker?
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is touting legislation to improve the lives of Florida's 300,000-plus farm workers, who endure institutional and systemic injustices each day in our fields and groves and their personal lives.
Robyn E. Blumner: For some defendants, an American gulag
In Bernard Malamud's masterpiece The Fixer, inmate Yakov Bok was subjected to psychological torture in a Soviet gulag through the humiliations of constant shackling and repeated strip searches.
© Copyright 2001 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.
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