[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2545]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAJOR R. OWENS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 2003

  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, it appears that the Congressional 
investigating and hearing process is over for the racketeering 
corporations of the nation. With all three branches of the government 
now controlled by Republicans, the world's most costly coverup can be 
finalized. Enron, Worldcom, and all of the rest have proved that crime 
can pay huge profits. As a member of the 108th Congress I beg that we 
at least be allowed to discuss these serious thefts on the floor of the 
House. But, alas, the Republican majority through a tyranny of rules 
changes has cut off the opportunity for free speech on the floor. We 
are forced to keep the dialogue alive through ``guerrilla'' 
communications among ourselves. The following two poems comment on 
corporate morality.

                           Corporate Credo 1

     Greed is great,
     Less harmful than hate,
     Not the business of the state,
     Each sucker deserves fat bait.
     For the economy's sake
     Protect our freedom to take
     From any investor on the make.
     Pension funds we can feed
     To the belly of great greed,
     Old guys never really need
     Too much green evil weed;
     It's a handout risk free;
     Social Security we guarantee--
     401K's must take a chance,
     The market is the ultimate romance.
     Greed is great,
     Not the business of the state,
     Each sucker deserves fat bait.
                                  ____


                           Corporate Credo 2

     The corporate board meeting fee--
     A check to cash with greedy glee,
     Payment for presence at a silent tea,
     Reward for stuff you didn't see;
     All the bored can cop a plea:
     Shareholder swindling is a shame,
     Good members just sign their name,
     Accountant culprits bear all the blame,
     The SEC behaves too tame.
     The corporate board meeting fee--
     A check to cash with greedy glee.

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