Headlines

Headlines in weekend editions of the local newspaper, and my immediate gut reactions to them:

Iraq denies license to Blackwater: The whole issue of Blackwater's involvement in Iraq is a classic example of privatization out of control -- turning public work over to private contractors, and driving up costs to ensure profits in the process. Now we'll see how long the mercenaries continue to operate in Iraq and whether the Iraqi government actually has any ability to enforce its own requirements.

Bonuses 'shameful,' Obama says: Employees in the New York financial sector were paid 18.4 billion dollars in bonuses last year, based on a report by the NY state comptroller. Stuff like this explains my ambivalence about federal bailout efforts. Just a waste of time and money until human nature evolves to a higher plateau than it currently occupies.

Peanut butter items pulled: Every time I turn around, something I eat is being linked to food poisoning. A while back, it was spinach, which I consume in large quantities. Fortunately, I cut back on peanut butter several years ago, so that now a jar of the stuff will last for months around my house.

Exxon Mobil profit shatters record: The company reported an annual profit in 2008 of 45.2 billion dollars, breaking its own 2007 record. Would've been even more if earnings hadn't slumped in the fourth quarter. Exxon Mobil produces about three percent of the world's oil. I imagine if they could improve their share of the market, they might be able to make a little money for a change.

GOP wants spending cut in stimulus bill: If nothing else is certain in politics, a few things are -- first, Republicans have no vested interest in seeing the economy improve as a result of anything done by the Obama administration or the congressional Democrats. In fact, substantial economic recovery between now and 2012 could spell the end of the GOP we've come to know and love. Second, any time you start to believe that being a U.S. Senator requires unique abilities or special skills, think about Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, the chinless wonder, and reconsider.

McConnell is suggesting that the stimulus bill may be defeated if there aren't a lot more big corporate tax breaks included. He may be accurate in that prediction, because the third certainty in American politics is that there are far more conservative Democrats than liberal Republicans. Frankly, I'm leaning toward letting all the stimulus proposals die in committee, and blaming the Republicans for anything that happens after that.