Facing South

[Michael Hoover <hooverm@xxxxxxxxxx>]

F A C I N G   S O U T H
A progressive Southern news report

March 12, 2004 * Issue 75

INSTITUTE INDEX * Blue-Light Special America
Number of Georgia children on subsidized healthcare whose parents work at Wal-Mart: 10,260
Percent of Wal-Mart workers who can't afford the company health plan: 55
Percent of health care premiums Wal-Mart workers have to pay: 40
Percent that workers have to pay at average Fortune 500 company: 20
Rank of Wal-Mart among biggest employers in Georgia and U.S.: 1
Amount taxpayers subsidize average Wal-Mart store through welfare programs a year: $420,750 
Number of world's 10 richest people that are Wal-Mart executives: 5
Sources on file at the Institute for Southern Studies.
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DATELINE: THE SOUTH * Top Stories Around the Region

INTERNATIONAL ELECTION MONITORS TURN TO FLORIDA
An international group that usually monitors elections in developing democracies said Monday it would take up posts at Florida precincts in November in hopes of averting another debacle when voters pick the next U.S. president. (Reuters, 3/8)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&e=3&u=/nm/20040308/pl_nm/campaign_florida_dc

FLORIDA COULD BE KEY TO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS -- AGAIN
Four years after the Presidency was decided in Florida, polls showing a tight race between George W. Bush and John Kerry indicate the sunshine state may again turn the elections. (Salon, 3/9)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031004D.shtml

BUSH INSIDER INFORMATION PRECEEDED HUGE STOCK PROFITS
In the wake of Martha Stewart's much-covered conviction for obstructing justice on an insider-trading investigation, a D.C. watchdog group is drawing attention to large profits George W. Bush made due due to a questionable sale while on the board of Texas-based Harken Energy. (Center for Public Integrity, 3/7)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030904A.shtml

HALLIBURTON GIVEN CONTRACTS DESPITE PENTAGON WARNINGS
Houston-based Halliburton, the company awarded nearly $6 billion in military contracts, significantly and systematically violated federal contracting rules by providing inaccurate and incomplete information about its costs, according to a Defense Department report. Yet 16 days after that Dec. 31 report and after a second warning by Pentagon auditors, the Army Corps of Engineers gave Halliburton a new $1.2-billion contract. (Detriot Free Press, 3/11)
http://www.freep.com/money/business/halli11_20040311.htm

WAL-MART WORKERS TOP RECIPIENTS OF GA HEALTH PROGRAM FOR KIDS
A state survey found 10,261 of the 166,000 children covered by Georgia's PeachCare for Kids health insurance in September 2002 had a parent working for Wal-Mart Stores. Wal-Mart, with 42,000 workers in the state in 2002, had about one child in the health care program for every four employees. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/27)
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/0204/27walmart.html

WAL-MART FINDS RESISTANCE IN HISTORIC AFRICAN-AMERICAN TOWN
In Sandfly, Georgia, residents of this historically black town 10 miles north of Savannah are resisting Wal-Mart's attempts to move in. (New York Times, 3/6 -- reg. required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/06/national/06WALM.html

GI DENIED HEALTH CARE AFTER SPEAKING OUT
An Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran says Army officials at Fort Knox, Ky., refused him medical treatment after he talked publicly about poor care at the base, which helped spark hearings in Congress. (UPI, 3/1)
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040301-050521-5978r

CHRISTIAN ATHLETES DOMINATED BY SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which boasts leading sports figures and draws over 13,000 youth to its annual camps, is led by key figures from the conservative Southern Baptist Convention. (BP Sports, 3/11) 
http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=4432
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PERSPECTIVES AROUND THE SOUTH
"RECOVERY" MEANINGLESS IF THERE AREN'T JOBS
On White House Spin and Main Street Reality
Jay Bookman (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/bookman

STROM THURMOND'S LEGACY
Segregation -- and Hypocricy -- Forever
Kevin Alexander Gray (CounterPunch)
http://www.counterpunch.org/gray03082004.html

THE WAL-MARTIZATION OF AMERICA
The Grocery Workers Were Fighting for All of Us
The Black Commentator
http://www.blackcommentator.com/78/78_cover_unions.html

HOW TO RUIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
A Primer from Texas
Molly Ivins (Creators Syndicate)
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=16578