Loose cannons

Chill winds of competition

"Television is interesting now, whereas before the only place you could hear a free debate or criticism of communism was in church or in a church hall." — Polish priest explaining why church attendance has dropped since the end of Communist Party government.

But which is which?

"The choice is between an egomaniac and a megalomaniac." — Labor backbencher on the leadership ballot.

Sometimes?

"Sometimes too many corners are cut with the truth." — ALP national secretary Bob Hogg.

More socialist crimes

"When [Polish] Prime Minister ... Bielecki visited the sprawling Azoty chemical works, what he saw chilled him to his free-market bones ...

"'It still conducts functions so typical for a socialist enterprise,' Mr. Bielecki lamented. 'They have an indoor skating rink, a very nice swimming pool, culture center, soft-drink bottling plant and a very nice laundry. They maintain 1,000 free factory apartments, heat 80 percent of the town and still make a profit.'" — International Herald Tribune.

Strange, that

"El Salvador is a democracy so it's not surprising that there are many voices to be heard here. Yet in my conversations with Salvadorans ... I have heard a single voice." — US Vice President Dan Quayle.

Job creation

"The Bicentennial Youth Foundation, set up in 1988 with an endowment of $12.4 million from taxpayers, has spent more on staff salaries and administration than on youth programs." — Sun-Herald, June 9.

From GLW issue 16