Isn’t this rich? The Bush administration’s acting assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs is seeking to bar a Nicaraguan official from entering the US because “...nations…were largely responsible for their own economic misfortunes and that they should not seek American financial support until they enforced official integrity and fiscal discipline.”
We cannot excuse the dastardly behavior of the likes of Mr. Byron Jerez of Nicaragua, or even attribute his behavior to the events that lead to putting that country in the tragic position of growing drugs for profit, rather than food for their own citizens. But, the following rationale from our assistant secretary is very rich, indeed.
Addressing the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Mr. Otto Reich had this to say: “When we are sure that there’s an individual or individuals who have stolen from the public treasury of their country, we are not going to let them into the United States of America.” (both quotes from the New York Times)
Hallelujah! Does this mean we can we expect the likes of the Keating Five and Enron‘s chiefs to Global Crossing and Arthur Andersen executives to be exiled? Excommunicated? Imprisoned?
Probably not, but surely this means there’s hope for our Congressional representatives getting past those campaign dollar signs in their eyes during the Enron hearings and starting to speak up for the American taxpayers! So far, my generation has seen a bail out of the savings and loans, and Lockheed, and Chrysler to mention just a few. At least Lockheed and Chrysler were rationalized in the name of national security.
Oops. We still have Medicare, Social Security, and our own pension funds left to bail out. Neither Medicare, Social Security, nor our pension funds can be directly tied to the defense, nuclear, or petro-chemical industries, so that leaves just good old ordinary middle class folks to carry the load again. Not many of us are left. And, who knows what will have to be funded by the time Enron, Global Crossing, and Arthur Andersen all have their way. So, has Congress finally seen the light?
Congress could go for some real action: telling a few more corporate bunch of Bermuda buddies “not to seek American financial support until they enforced official integrity and fiscal discipline.” While they’re at it, maybe they’ll even be convinced to “tax” a few foreign subsidiaries, goods, wages, and executive bonuses?
Otherwise, I think we can take our tax “rebates,” buy tickets to India, pose as locals, and apply for a job with some Fortune 100 that still has a presence in America. Now… wouldn’t Jack Welch himself be pleased? That’s GE for you… bringing good things to life.
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