Re: the mysteries of capitalism

[Jim Devine <jdevine03@xxxxxxxxx>]

there was a story yesterday on U.S. National Public Radio's
"Marketplace" about the "security guard" organizations that earn so
much defending key targets in Iraq. (They interviewed the author of a
NYT Magazine article that's coming tomorrow.) It's amazing how much
they're subsidized (being allowed for free to pick and choose from
weapons that were confiscated from Iraqis) and how much they cost.
Rumsfeld is cheap when it comes to sending troops, but when it comes
to the contractors...

[liberal nightmare: both local NPR stations have their fund-raisers at
the same time.]

On 8/13/05, michael perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> The New York Times has one story about all the material compforts SOME soldiers in Iraq have.
> 
> The New York Times
> August 13, 2005
> G.I.'s Deployed in Iraq Desert With Lots of American Stuff
> By KIRK SEMPLE
> 
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/13/international/middleeast/13soldier.html?th=&emc=th&pagewanted=print
> 
> In the same edition, we read:
> 
> 
> August 14, 2005
> 
> 
>   U.S. Struggling to Get Soldiers Improved Armor
> 
> By MICHAEL MOSS
> 
> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/14/international/middleeast/14armor.html?ei=5094&en=0fca05dd8b935b11&hp=&ex=1123992000&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print
> 
> Isn't this the way of capitalism, to have a display of goodies, while
> ignoring the basics?
> 
> By the way, the administration, with the heat on Delay increasing, is
> finally taking a stand on corruption by investigating a black
> congresscritter from La.  He may very well be corrupt, but that is the
> rule, not the exception.
> 
> --
> 
> Michael Perelman
> Economics Department
> California State University
> michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
> Chico, CA 95929
> 530-898-5321
> fax 530-898-5901
> 


-- 
Jim Devine
"Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let
people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante.