In today's pages: Bernanke's woes, Old Hickory's slaves, salmon spawn
Columnist Joel Stein thinks Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is a great guy who just needs a hug, or a Zoloft:
I believe that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke cares about me. Those dark, deep-set puppy eyes, the beard that hides the pain, that Benedictine haircut that must be self-induced punishment for something -- the dude oozes empathy. If I needed $100, I would definitely ask Bernanke. Or I might just take it from him. Bernanke does not look like a tough guy.
That's the problem. Bernanke cares too much.The Fed's job is simple: Don't let the economy get too excited or too depressed. To do that, it gives the nation a steady supply of economic Zoloft. But Bernanke seems freaked out that his meds aren't working....
Producer Carl Byker asks whether Andrew Jackson could be called a "good slave owner," or whether the term is an oxymoron. And Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope says wild salmon may not survive global warming, unless we help them reach spawning grounds.
The editorial board praises community efforts to help homeowners caught in the mortgage crisis. The board cites a Supreme Court case as demonstrating why peremptory challenges to jurors should be abolished. And finally, the board notes that the farm bill before Congress is more corporate welfare at a time when many Americans are struggling to pay for food:
The cost of eating at home has risen more than 5% so far this year, the fastest ratesince 1990. Food banks across the country are reporting an increase in demand as the very poor are pushed closer toward starvation. For Congress to take food out of their mouths in order to shovel more money at farmers -- who are enjoying huge profits thanks to the same high food prices that are hurting the poor -- would be a disgrace.
Readers discuss a UC proposal to scrap the SAT II requirement. Patrick Mattimore of Gex, France says, "Leave it to a panel from the University of California to make exactly the wrong recommendation...."
Andrew Jackson Honorable Man did not abuse his servants. Who Put the poor people in Bondage to begin with ???? Mean Vicious African you would have to be savagely brutal to put your own people in bondage ---kettle calling the pot????? Slavery was evil no doubt --What is and was the soloution ???? slaves fared better here in slavery than in Africa they masacered thier own peoploe by the hundresds of thousands one was better off being a slave here cut the balonay
Posted by: andy | March 21, 2008 at 01:57 PM