Friday June 2, 2006 Vol. 8 No. 109

In Today's Letter: Comment: Great Raid Comments Offshore: Swiss Economy Accelerates Wealth: OECD Predicts Growth, Fed to Cut Rates? Privacy & Rights: A Landmark Privacy Ruling?

The Great Raid Compliments, Critiques and Cuss Words

Dear A-Letter Reader:

Well, by golly, you are out there -- concerned Americans (and others) who actually read my stuff.  Thank you! I know you're there because we got a flood of emails about a May 25th editorial in which I took the FBI to task for a nighttime raid on the Capitol Hill office of a suspected crook, Rep. Wm. Jefferson (D-La). It turns out that while my concerns are Constitutional, yours are practical. The consensus: a crook is a crook, congressman or not, and should be treated as such by the police.

• DAVID expressed a view that echoed many others when he wrote: "I know you are a former member of Congress but I think you have bought into the spin here. I'm a Libertarian but I don't have any problem with the Executive Branch investigating corrupt Congressmen. The FBI had a warrant approved by the Judicial Branch. There is nothing in the 4th Amendment or the Constitution that puts members of Congress above the law. If this were a case of a warrant less search, then you would have a very good point and I would be concerned as well." MY COMMENT: That's the same reason I am concerned about the NSA and Bush phone taps.
• CLAYTON and JOAN think my criticism of the FBI raid makes me a liberal: "The tone of this letter would tend to indicate a very liberal editorial leaning which adversely colors the content." MY COMMENT: Rest assured, dear readers, yours truly is beyond conservative; "anarcho-libertarian" would be the best description.
• DEBI thinks all police have gotten out of hand: "This is one of the best letters you've written. I'm from Oklahoma, where policing agencies long ago lost sight of the 'protect and serve/uphold the peace' aspect of law enforcement. (Where's Andy of Mayberry when you need him to keep Barney Fife in line?) Law enforcement doesn't seem to mind being seen -openly - as jackboot thugs and strong arm henchmen."
• MAMIE wrote in to claim she lost her job because of a false FBI investigation.
• LINNEA is irate. After my censoring the cuss words the email said: "As long as Congress gives itself perks and benefits that the rest of us don't get, well then they don't deserve the freedoms we all expect."
• N.N. agrees: "Our congressional aristocracy are now victims of the very PATRIOT guillotine they created. I think there may be divine justice in that. Perhaps this will give future noblemen of our Congress pause for thought."
• SCOTT is "shocked" at my opinion, but is also concerned about being fair and balanced: "Like you, I think the PATRIOT Act is turning out to be very creepy. And I don't mind you taking a position. Just present both sides of the story before you do so."
• BRENDON thinks all congressional freezers should be checked for "foil wrapped bribes."
• JOHN thinks: "Power breeds corruption, and nothing is an untouchable today in America as our Congress."
• And LOLO says: "I agree with you about the intent of the separation of powers, but some of our lawmakers are using that cover to enrich themselves."
• RICK is not as worried about Congress as he is about the Federal Reserve. Says he: "Our government is supposed to be a SERVANT, but we all know that what they do goes well beyond the powers designated in Article 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution.  Personally, I think our government has become a despicable, parasitic, self-serving body of corrupt buffoons that only cares about re-election. We need a third party in this country to keep these criminals in check and usher them out of office whenever possible." MY COMMENT: I'd settle for having a genuine second party!
• Dr. D.S. summed up my views: "Right on Bro Bauman. George Wallace once said: There ain't a dime's bit of difference between 'em,' referring to Republicans and Democrats. When it's one of their own, the wagons are circled. A pox on both their houses. Their motto: A people of the govt., by the govt. and for the govt. Keep up the good fight." MY COMMENT: You can bet we will.

Everyone, thanks for caring enough to write. We welcome your views. And here's a motto I have embroidered on a sampler that hangs in my home, (and used to hang in my congressional office): "Anytime the Congress is in session, the American people are in danger." 
That's the way that it looks from here,
BOB BAUMAN, Editor

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Swiss Economy on Track for 2% Growth
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) predicts the Swiss economy will grow by 2% this year. The forecast comes on the heels of first-quarter GDP figures of 0.9 percent growth over the same quarter last year. That includes a 4.3% rise in exports and a 0.7% rise in capital investments. Even with modest economic growth, select Swiss stocks could provide additional returns to foreign investors as the prospects for the Swiss franc outperforming the U.S. dollar remain strong.

OECD Predicts Strong Global Growth, While Fed Hikes Likely to Stop Soon
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) predicts strong global economic growth in 2006. The OECD revised its forecast, following better-than-expected GDP figures in Europe. The think-tank predicts a 3.1% global growth rate this year, revised from 2.9% last November. A strong global economy usually means rising corporate earnings and additional stock market profits for investors.

Is This Really a Landmark Ruling for Privacy?
It's being billed as a "landmark ruling." The European Court of Justice just made it illegal for European airlines to hand over personal information about their passengers to the United States authorities. The court ruled that it was a breach of the passengers' privacy to hand over personal information for security reasons. But since the U.S. tightened airline security after September 11, the U.S. demands all European airlines to hand over 34 pieces of information about each passenger traveling from Europe to the U.S. As Virgin Atlantic calls this "an extraordinary situation" where airlines will be forced to choosing between breaking this new European mandate or breaking U.S. law. However this new ECJ ruling will be left in place until at least the end of September.

"The Most Feared Book In Washington"

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