Re: Chain Stores

[Ken Medlin <dev-plan@moscow.com>]

> what was the cause of the revolutions in our history? 
Briefly and at the risk of oversimplifcation: The root cause of the 
bloodiest revolutions -- English-Puritan, American, French and Russian -- 
maybe Chinese too --  was the gross inequities in the distribution of 
wealth and power. Data suggest that when about 35-40% of the population 
begins to experience poverty and hardship to survive decently, the social 
unrest takes on political forms and leads either to insurgency or 
anarchy. Note the latest issue (Feb.21) of "US News and World Report" 
cover story -- 'The Rich Get Richer -- those at the top are leaving us 
behind'. 
   Why is the gap expanding -- greed, closed corporate behaviors? I just 
sold my Lucent stock for two reasons: The company is experiencing market 
resistance, and the board of directors has gone crazy with salaries: Its 
43-year old CEO, McGinn, rec'd in l998-99  $19.6 million in income! Is 
anybody worth that amount of $, esp. when the last 6-8 months of 
performance have resulted in a sharp downturn in profits and sales? I 
recall the year that Steve Wolf left United A.L., the board rewarded him 
$18 million before the employees voted him out. I think he then bought 
some island in the Carribean!  
   It's also a matter of values, folks. The values that enshrine Moscow 
are not those that enshrine Wall St.  So, I guess we ought to tend to our 
henhouse and keep our little golden eggs coming. But for how long, if we 
continue to dilly-dally with sprawl, bad commercial deals, caving in to 
the discount chains, etc. It's still up to us, but not for long. 

------------------------
William K. Medlin
Dev-plan associates
930 Kenneth Street
Moscow ID 83843
208/892-0148
dev-plan@moscow.com