Conflict of Interest with Regard to the Magnetar Hedge Fund
[Published? If so, Knoxville News Sentinel, after May 2, 2010]
I would like to thank the News-Sentinel for publishing the article by ProPublica on the Magnetar hedge fund affair. It was a long article, but it was well written and full of meat, an important contribution to our current national discussion about how to regulate the various entities that handle and promote investments.
The network news recently showed excerpts from testimony by Goldman Sachs and other investment executives; it was shocking to see how feckless these people were about taking responsibility for what had happened in terms of the investment crisis. To hear them tell it, they were as much victims as the rest of us. Of course, it is clear that they made out like bandits, not only by betting against the investments they recommended but also by collecting bonuses for contributing to the success of their firms. I hope that our elected representatives have no mercy on them and treat them like the liars they are. Too big to fail, indeed.
Trump Versus Clinton
[Published in the Knoxville News Sentinel after March 28 2016]
Trump versus Clinton? Seriously?
A buffoon versus a witch? A demogogue versus Lady Machiavelli?
One who feels entitled because he thinks he is craftier than everybody else and one who feels entitled because she thinks she is smarter than everybody else? One who disparages vast categories of people and one who dreams up vast conspiracies to disparage her?
One who will say anything that comes into his head and one who will say anything that will get her ahead? One a frequent patron of the Big & Tall Tales Store and one a regular client of Lies ‘R’ Us?
One whose marital history is an insult to women and one whose husband’s marital history is an insult to women?
One who uses intimidation as a weapon and one who uses manipulation? One who would hector other heads of state and one who would lecture them?
It is hard to believe that either of these two stinkers would put the national interest above his or her own personal interests. And it is embarrassing that people in other countries will think that this is the best America has to offer as the leader of the free world.
Illegal Immigrants
[Published in the Knoxville News Sentinel after April 12, 2018]
Regarding the government roundup of illegal immigrants working at that slaughterhouse in Grainger County, I say let them stay. Except for proven criminals, of course. And grandfather in the other illegals who have been working here for years already, and their kids.
The US should start a new admissions program for Central Americans — our neighbors– without quota. Prospective immigrants would send in applications from their home countries, including fingerprints and DNA swabs. They would then enter a waiting period of no more than three years while their bona fides were checked. Other than a modest application fee, they would not be charged. When the check was complete, they would be sent admission tickets, which would allow them to travel to any of several entry ports (like the old Ellis Island) and be scheduled into entry processing over the next several days or weeks. Their fingerprints and DNA would be rechecked against their original applications.
The government would partner with businesses and charities to establish dormitories, cafeterias, and medical facilities at the entry ports so that the applicants could be housed while waiting for their final entry approval. Entry networks would be established to receive the immigrants from the entry ports after entry approval was granted, with maybe a little ceremony to hand over the green cards. They would then be guided to various sites in the US to work.
After the formal entry system was set up, anybody who bypassed the process by sneaking in could be deported without our feeling too sorry for him. Instead of building a hugely expensive fence, we should direct the money toward guiding in these willing new workers: good for those of us already here, good for the new immigrants, and good for the folks back home to whom they send money.
