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| Mr Biz on DougStephan.com |
HEY MARTHA! WHO DO YOU
TRUST?
By Mark Scheinbaum
Florida Sentry Columnist
We were listening to the various versions of what Martha Stewart, MOS (Mother of Style) did, and when did she do it, and wondered about lingering questions, on and off of Wall Street, that America would like answered? First, how come out of all of the companies in the world, Martha ended up involved in her ImClone, her buddy's stock, in the first place?
Why do minority kids waiting in a car while their pals rob a Seven-Eleven get 20 years in a slammer, but bishops whose priests diddle little boys and ignore it get promoted?
When Bill O'Reilly, Larry King, or Alan Keyes turn their "talk show" into diatribes of opinion and commentary on their own personal agendas, people shrug it off as acceptable commentary, but when Lou Dobbs offers thoughtful political views about Islamic extremists on a "business" show, some people get bent out of shape?
Why do some of the same people who thought it was a good idea to send Elian Gonzales back to Marxist Cuba at gunpoint, complain about people who swear they want to murder Americans in a military jail?
How to failing wireless, long-distance, and telephone companies still get away with obscure and confusing bills and charges; convoluted fees; repeated "slamming," and charging for both calling AND receiving mobile calls, whether you wanted the call or not?
Why didn't the Florida Attorney General, whose retirees are prime rip-off prospects from crooked brokers, take the lead along with New York State, when phony stock recommendations were targeted at Merrill Lynch and other firms?
How do homeowners and condo associations continue to force people to abide by mandatory Adelphia Communications contracts when Adelphia has allegedly violated much of the public's trust?
And finally, if Home Depot now refused to accept GSA and other U.S. Government
orders at its stores, supposedly because they've been burned, will Home Depot
now lead the fight for military personnel and other government workers to also
get reimbursed for travel and other expenses which the Feds are slow to pay?
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Mark Scheinbaum is chief investment strategist for Kaplan & Co., BSE, NASD,
SIPC.