August 15, 2002
	August 15, 2002 - 9:00 Oh, more madness and insanity is pending from our "leaders" in Washington.  It seems that the airline industry is reeling.  United and American are going through cash like proverbial crap through a goose.   United's management is placing much of the blame on the rigid rules established by airline unions, for which I have some sympathy.  After all, I'm of the opinion that organized labor is comprised of society's dregs and losers.  Union management is at best hopelessly corrupt; at worst pure evil.  But that is a blog for another occasion. The real problem resides in United's urgent request to Uncle Sam that it must receive guaranteed gov't loans to avoid probable bankruptcy later this year.  Guess who picks up the tab for that bill should the politicians fall for their groveling?  You guessed it... Once again, a successful and profitable airline doesn't share its windfall with taxpayers, so why are we on the hook when they screw up?
		August 15, 2002 - 8:11 pm I try so hard to keep this site non-political, despite my utter contempt for politicians.  The recent news is too much to bear.  Have you heard that the IMF is bailing out Brazil to the tune of $30B?  Guess who is covering the lion's share of that wad of money? So, in effect, American taxpayers are subsidizing a corrupt S. American government that is too irresponsible to reform itself.  We will prop up an incompetent and greedy bunch of Brazilian elites while their countrymen are mired in poverty.  It also aids various American banking interests that are highly leveraged in Brazilian investments that have gone south.   Funny how when banks make a profit, they keep it for themselves and their investors; when they face losses of their own doing, we all pick up the tab.  Nice racket. The next time you look at your paycheck and wonder why half your money disappears and you get nothing in return, think of this immoral bailout and of the boobs in Washington who supported this policy.