Like the pound

Like the pound

"Whatever he puts forward now in the way of economic policy won't be worth the paper it's written on." — A British economist discussing Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont's future prospects in the capitalist new world order.

Consultation

"Mr Perot then went through the charade of consulting his supporters around the country. He made a telephone number available for the public to record their views, which outraged those who called to dissuade him from running, and found that simply by telephoning they were electronically recorded as urging him to run." — Martin Walker reporting for the British Guardian on how Ross Perot consulted his supporters about getting back into the presidential election campaign.

Despite appearances

"There is no crisis. The prime minister is retiring. As for the rest, what parliament is proposing is contrary to the constitution." — Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk announcing the resignation of Prime Minister Vitold Fokin, who had been scheduled to present an economic program to the parliament, and responding to calls from the parliament for the resignation of the entire government.

Recession over

"To some extent economic activity is on hold. The employment figures, which were widely expected to be terrible, indicate stagnation more than any further worsening ... The fact that the unemployment rate decreased marginally is meaningless." — Jerry Jasinowski, president of the US National Association of Manufacturers, on the latest economic figures in North America.

No worries

"If you went back and did an honest assessment, everybody has accidents." — Rear Admiral Kendell M. Pease, explaining how the US Navy managed to blast a Turkish destroyer with two Sea Sparrow missiles. Something to remember next time US warships, refusing to state whether they are carrying nuclear weapons, enter Australian ports.

Free market

"It is important that financial institutions demonstrate that they are ready to shed some blood themselves, but eventually we'll need public understanding about the introduction of government funds." — Tsuneo Wakai, president of the Mitsubishi Bank, explaining that the Japanese government will have to bail out the bank, in deep trouble as a result of real estate and other

From GLW issue 75