In the Public Interest

Even though many are household words, the activities of the large multinational corporations are only vaguely known to most people. Even less known are the impacts on the daily lives of Americans from these global firms. Sure, everybody knows that Dupont sells chemicals and General Electric sells light bulbs, because their ads tell us these…

At this writing, the opposition to Judge Robert Bork’s nomination for the Supreme Court is nearing decisive proportions in the U.S. Senate. Around the country, the momentum against Bork is still building, as more constituencies find out about this man’s philosophy on behalf of the powerful and rich. When it comes to small business, victimized…

The Reagan government did something bold last week, given its oligarchic philosophy. It issued, through the Justice Department, a report on white collar crime convictions and compared their cost to society with bank robbery losses. First, the statistics. Federal white-collar crime convictions rose 18% from 1980 through 1985 when they totaled 10,733 defendants. The convictions…

A deputy legislature was born fully adult in the waning hours of the California legislature’s session this month. Voters can neither elect nor diselect this lawmaking body. It is composed of the manufacturers, insurance industry, physicians, counties, municipalities and tobacco industry on one side and the California Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) on the other side.…

When I was a high school student reading the daily Congressional Record, the subscription price for this fascinating political periodical was $12 a year. That was 1950. My Senator, Prescott Bush, would promptly reply to my requests for Congressional hearings and reports. When taxpayers fund the federal government, they are paying for the right to…

Over thirteen million students return to or start college this autumn. What is their state of mind? To prepare for a job. To earn money to pay for the tuition. To have some fun. These are the generalizations often made in recent years. There are other sweeping characterizations. Students are said to be apathetic. They…

Time — or lack thereof — is a rising concern of more Americans, according to a recent poll. Not coincidentally, as Jeremy Rifkin points out in his new book, Time Wars, time measurements for what people do and how people act are becoming more intense and subject to control. The word “nanoseconds” is coming into…

Heightened tension in the Persian Gulf brings renewed attention to energy consumption and supplies in the United States. You don’t hear much about programs to advance energy conservation and solar power from the Reagan Administration. The reason is that these programs have been foolishly curtailed, while the Reaganites continue to pour your tax dollars into…

Donald E. Petersen, chairman of The Ford Motor Company, must be sittingon top of the world. His company is making General Motors eat humble pie, eventhough GM is almost twice the size. Ford is reporting more profits than its giant competitor in absolutedollars as well as producing cars about $800 cheaper. Ford has $9.2 billionin…

When it comes to the prices patients must pay for prescription drugs, what a difference a national boundary makes. In the United States, the price of Aldomet (per 100 tablets), a drug to treat high blood pressure, is $18; in Canada, consumers pay $8. Other major brand name prescription drugs cost from three to ten…