WHAT DRIVES BUSH
After I read how George W. Bush won the South Carolina primary [CAMPAIGN 2000, Feb. 28], it was clear that John McCain’s ads comparing Bush to Clinton were right on target. Rather than continuing to whine, Bush should do a bit of soul searching with Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson. Taking the Clinton “I’ll do anything to win” road to Washington is nothing to be proud of. The only thing Bush will bring to Washington is hot air from a different party. SHARON FLECK HERMAN Lindenhurst, Ill.
Bush is a man who gets results, speaks from the heart and believes passionately that his policies are the best way to keep this country great. McCain is an egotistical hypocrite who will turn himself into anyone to get power. Bush is the man who will do the most for my children, and he’ll get my vote. DARCY LINN San Francisco
The Republican establishment is looking for a certain image in its presidential candidate, and the suit fits Bush. He either doesn’t realize what is happening or doesn’t care. Whichever it is, do we really want a man who is oblivious to reality in the White House? PAUL ROWLAND DeKalb, Ill.
If Bush becomes president, I just hope he doesn’t start spending our tax dollars the same way he’s been going through his campaign money. Tax money is the people’s money. As a conservative Republican, Bush should show that he is a responsible spender. MARC PERKEL Springfield, Mo.
Anyone who wants to return to party bosses in back rooms (smoke filled or otherwise) selecting the nominee should vote for Bush. This campaign is mostly about control. Pick the candidates, flood ’em with squashing amounts of money and send ’em forth. Round up the cadre to provide a flying wedge. Anyone not on board had better consider himself dead meat as far as the party is concerned. George W. Bush is merely the cover boy in this campaign; the Republican Party bosses are the real candidates. DAN THOMPSON Elgin, Ore.
Whatever it is that is driving Bush’s campaign, it needs an overhaul. SAUL KAHAN Los Angeles
Powerful interests are protecting their $70 million investment with a candidate they consider a winner because of little more than his name-recognition value. We are headed for business as usual and a choice between two bought-and-paid-for candidates. DONNA S. TRAVERS Santa Monica, Calif.
CHINA BATTLES THE NET
Karl Marx said religion was “the opium of the people,” but the real opium is ignorance. By trying to choke the spread of the Internet in China [WORLD, Feb. 28], the Communist Party is stopping the spread of knowledge. Despite their attempts, communist leaders will find that China’s Iron Curtain will eventually break down under the forces of freedom. TURHAN SARWAR, AGE 15 Kenner, La.
THE PACE OF EXECUTIONS
Margaret Carlson’s commentary on the death penalty [PUBLIC EYE, Feb. 21] was critical of the swift pace of executions in Texas. I suppose “swift” refers to the average of 11 years 8 months served in prison by Texas death-row inmates while Governor Bush has been in office. Most would agree that nearly 12 years is plenty of time for a exhaustive system of checks and balances–including state appeals, federal appeals, constitutional and due-process appeals, and parole board and gubernatorial reviews–to be effective. The indigent-defense legislation that Carlson refers to does not apply to death-penalty representation. An indigent defendant in Texas is almost always entitled to two trial attorneys and two additional, qualified attorneys to represent him on all appeals. Many efforts are made in Texas to ensure that indigent defendants have competent counsel. LINDA EDWARDS, DIRECTOR Gubernatorial Communications for Governor George W. Bush Austin, Texas
THE GREATEST SWINDLE?
I find the story of the decline of Lloyd’s of London tragic and deeply disturbing [BUSINESS, Feb. 28]. The attempts by Lloyd’s insiders to avoid and dilute their liabilities are abhorrent and completely at odds with the law. But what of the conflict between an ancient establishment rooted in honor and unlimited liability and a modern litigious society, seeking to avoid individual responsibility at all costs? Is there equity in hounding the Names to suicide or their last penny when the companies that initially profited from asbestos have already escaped behind the cloak of limited liability? At the beginning, the true, dangerous nature of asbestos was unknown to all–companies, workers and underwriters–and I ask why the whole burden of the horrible error is now placed solely on the last. JONATHAN HEMP Cape Town
Your article reported on allegations of fraud made against Lloyd’s by a small group of disaffected Names. This piece appears to have been stimulated by the upcoming case to be heard by the Commercial Court in London under the title Society of Lloyd’s v. Jaffray [Sir William Jaffray is a former Name]. It made no new disclosures and was one-sided, unbalanced and contained many inaccuracies. These old allegations relate back to events of the 1970s and ’80s, and no evidence of fraud has ever been produced. Your report purported to comment on the current state of the market in saying “Lloyd’s too is struggling mightily.” The independent rating agency Standard & Poor’s disagrees, as does A.M. Best. Their good ratings further demonstrate the strength of Lloyd’s.
The article asserted that Lloyd’s “is a shadow of its former self” and that its “capacity to write insurance is lower today than it was in 1990.” In fact, Lloyd’s market’s capacity has remained constant over this period. The market’s U.S. premiums continue to grow, totaling $5 billion in 1999, and its share of the U.S. surplus-lines market is larger than that of any single U.S. domestic carrier. Lloyd’s is confident that the allegations in the Jaffray case will be rejected and finally put to rest. It is also confident that the market has a strong future, and Lloyd’s will build on its reputation as a world leader in insurance. MAX TAYLOR, CHAIRMAN Lloyd’s London
TIME is to be commended for having the fortitude to paint a true picture of Lloyd’s, warts and all. As you noted in your report, I am one of the unwitting Names who believed that the Lloyd’s mystique was fact instead of fiction. Now that your article has been published, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men cannot put the myth of Lloyd’s of London back together again. ELIZABETH BENCSICS Rio Rancho, N.M.
Your special report on Lloyd’s alleged that “possible fraud at Equitas is one of the issues to be aired in the Jaffray suit and is likely to figure in the U.S. criminal investigation.” This statement is false. Contrary to your report, no allegations of fraud or of any other nature have been made against Equitas in the Jaffray case. In addition, Equitas is not, and never has been, the subject of a U.S. criminal investigation. Equitas did not begin operations until 1996, years after the allegedly fraudulent acts referred to in your report. The role of Equitas is to pay valid claims, including asbestos-related claims, under pre-1993 policies written by the Lloyd’s syndicates, which we reinsured in 1996 and ’97, and to do so in the best interests of the Lloyd’s Names who were members of these syndicates. MICHAEL CRALL, CEO Equitas Ltd. London
I am one of those bust Names who really did lose his cuff links. I joined Lloyd’s in 1984; no mention of asbestos was made to me. Ten years later, engulfed by uncontainable losses, I applied to the Hardship Committee for help. The committee took every penny of my remaining capital and income, and demanded a further sum from my wife. We were left looking for a new home with a total net income of 5,000[pounds] a year to support us and our two small children. NICHOLAS BROWNE Cambridge, England
You failed to distinguish between the Lloyd’s of 27 years ago and the new Lloyd’s that has learned from its mistakes and emerged stronger from the experience. You should have waited to publish your piece until there was an outcome to the Jaffray court case. RICHARD S. LEHMAN Boca Raton, Fla.
HOW TO KEEP THE PRICE DOWN
The U.S. patrols the northern and southern skies of Iraq to ensure the safety and security of Iraq’s neighbors, majority members of OPEC [BUSINESS, Feb. 28]. This commitment to security for the Middle East and OPEC has been going on for nine years, with no end in sight. Doesn’t America have any leverage with which to persuade the OPEC nations (Saudi Arabia, the emirates and other cartel members) to reconsider their production cuts and resultant price increases? We could stop monitoring Iraq and let OPEC feel the pinch of scarcity of another precious resource–U.S. military power and the security it provides. WILLIAM J. ROBERTS Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
SOLVING THE HUMAN EQUATION
In western culture, we love dichotomies. I suppose Matt Ridley, author of the new book Genome [SCIENCE, Feb. 28], would say that’s because we are genetically programmed to do so. For Ridley the only alternative to genetic determinism is the “even bleaker” prospect of social determinism. Will we never tire of this silly nature-vs.-nurture controversy? Science settled it long ago with a single word. The sum of how we look, what we think and the way we act is called phenotype, the result of a complex interaction between genes and environment. To ask whether genetics or environment is more important in the human equation is to ask whether red or yellow is more important in the color orange. MARK STRINGER Jefferson City, Mo.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
Inspired by the success of who wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? [TELEVISION, Feb. 28], I am seeking investors to produce a sequel that would run on the Golf Channel. It would be titled Who Wants to Marry an Aging High Handicapper? All able-bodied, active females will be considered for a part. THAD GUTOWSKI Auburn Hills, Mich.
Days after live coverage [of the wedding of a millionaire groom and a woman he had never met], we still get updates on the not-so-happy honeymoon. We’re a strange society. BRYAN AND PATTY GLENN Baton Rouge, La.
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