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| Arthur
Andersen Convicted of Obstruction: HOUSTON (AP)
- "A jury on Saturday convicted Arthur Andersen of shredding Enron-related documents,
dealing the company a huge blow and giving a first victory to prosecutors investigating
Enron's collapse.
The obstruction of justice conviction could put the battered
accounting firm out of business, but government lawyers hailed the verdict as major step
toward unraveling the Enron scandal. After deliberating 72 hours over 10 days, jurors
decided that Andersen's destruction of paper and computer files was an attempt to thwart
federal regulators investigating Enron.
Prosecutor Andrew Weissman said the case boiled down to a
simple principle: "When you expect the police, you don't destroy evidence." The
head of the government's Enron task force declined to comment on whether additional
indictments are expected, but said authorities were "still looking at all aspects of
the case. ... We're not finished with Arthur Andersen."
Andersen now faces up to five years probation and a fine of
up to $500,000. U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon will decide the sentence Oct. 11 and
said no appeal could be filed until then. The company also could be fined up to twice any
gains or damages the court determines were caused by the firm's action. A Securities and
Exchange Commission rule bars any firm convicted of a felony from auditing publicly traded
companies, and experts said that could put the crippled firm out of business. Andersen has
lost more than 650 of its 2,300 public clients.
Ripple effects from the verdict could seal Andersen's demise,
said Itzhak Sharav, an accounting professor at Columbia University's business school. He
said more companies are now likely to fire Andersen as their auditor, state accounting
boards will likly move to revoke Andersen's license to do business and the company could
be hit with a flood of civil lawsuits.
"Andersen is history, no matter what," Sharav
said." |
Andersen
should shut itself down
Andersen should be shut
down by the accounting profession
Andersen
was convicted partly because 9/11 events lowered our tolerance for crooks, lying,
cheating, etc.
Andersen is an example of
today's corrupt culture
I think Andersen should:
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Interesting:
 On September 20, 1998, the final Whitewater report was
issued. It stated that there was not enough evidence to prosecute Bill &
Hillary.
What do you think about this? |
I
am pleased Hillary was elected to the US Senate so she can continue to do great things.
Now I know justice prevails.
The entire investigation was mishandled. |
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| The
USS Cole naval vessel was bombed while refueling in Yemen's harbor. It is now
revealed that terrorists could have cased the ship because the US Navy allows local
souvenir sellers on board its ships. What do you think about the Navy's policy? |
Sailors need to buy souvenirs.
It's not fair to restrict terrorist
access.
It's more
important to help local economies than keep Navy ships secure.
Other |
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Experience shows that toddlers and infants should always be seated in proper car
seats in moving vehicles. Recently this practice has become law in many states.
There is a national 1-800 telephone number to report license plate numbers of cars with
kids not properly strapped in. Nurses and others are volunteering as spotters to
report violators. Neighbors are encouraged to report neighbors. Some people
recall that tattle-tale reporting of neighbors' behavior is reminiscent of Nazi Germany
and communist Soviet Union. People fear this tattle-tale mode will grow to include
other areas that should remain private.
Do you think it is good precedent to have civilians reporting on civilians or should law
enforcement be left to the police? |
Police
Civilians |
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| The
U. S. government recently reported that unemployment is down to 3.9%, the lowest level
since 1970 and inflation remains below 3%.
Do most people recall the 1960's 2% inflation rate and the 1970 unemployment rate of 3.9%
were followed by the 1973-76 Bear Market in stocks (one the worst of the 20th
century) and the insidious double-digit inflation that prevailed during the 1970s and
culminated in the prime rate going over 20% in 1979? |
Yes
No |
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We recently found the following career offering posted on an Internet site. "Our search for talent is not limited to specific skill sets. We
also seek dynamic, creative, renaissance people who will expand our capabilities and
create value for consumers and corporate alike. The ability to laugh at oneself,
participate in witty repartee and juggle chainsaws is also highly valued."
Does this sound like a place a mature adult who
is looking for a solid career position should consider? |
Yes
No |
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| The
national budget & debt: As many business
people know, it often requires borrowed money to build a business; as political
leaders and statesman know, it often requires borrowed money to build a nation.
Do you agree that the United States of America -- with
its national debt -- managed to become a safe haven of opportunity during the 19th
century, lead the world in productivity, saved the world from fascism and communism in the
20th century, and is now leading the world into the 21st century with its technology? |
Agree
Disagree |
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Several
men's magazines (such as Gear, Maxim) and TV shows (such as The Man Show, The X Show) are
gaining popularity for their glorification, enjoyment and appreciation of traditional
men-things (beer guzzling, etc.) and the female body (trampoline-bouncing boobs, etc.).
This explosion of fun is possibly a reaction to thirty years of
being imprisoned in PC-correctness-land and suppression by threats from the women's
movement. People of both genders may come to realize that this is fun stuff, normal
in moderation, and does not inflict deadly pain upon normal people. Do you believe a return to rational fun, is
approaching & may replace political correctness? |
Yes
No |
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I am a: |
Woman
Man |
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| My
age group is: |
Under 20
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70
& older |