Wednesday, February 24, 2010

"Has it always been thus?"

The Bible said it best: "There is nothing new under the sun." Or at least there's nothing new in the pages of The New York Times, whose eerily relevant historical headlines bring to mind another aphorism: "This too shall pass."

This statement and the following exerpts are taken from Newsweek for March 1, 2010. The exerpts are from The New York Times. Be sure to check the dates after each one.
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Sharp Cut in Burning of Fossil Fuels Is Urged to Battle Shift in Climate

“The earth has been warmer in the first five months of this year than in any comparable period since measurements began 130 years ago.” June 24, 1988
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IRAN SAYS SHE HAS NO INTENTION TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS

“The Iranian Government denied today that [it] intended to have nuclear weapons soon. A Government minister quoted the Shah as saying that Iran had no such intentions.” June 25, 1974
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HEALTH CARE BILL HELD UP OVER FEAR OF LOSS OF JOBS

“Sources said delays in completing work on the bill has been caused by a major disagreement over whether the cost of the proposed program to employers would contribute to unemployment, which in turn would bring both economic troubles to the nation and a political liability to the White House.” April 7, 1971
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GEESE CRASH INTO AIRLINER

“The pilot…landed the plane, then went to the hospital for treatment” Jan. 4, 1961
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How Big a National Debt Can We Stand?

“The truth of the matter is that we do not know whether we have gone as far as we can go in debt…A lot of people are sure we are bankrupt already.” Jan. 27, 1952
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‘TEA PARTY’ MEETING FIGHTS NEW TAXES

“Charges of ‘taxation without representation,’ ‘confiscation’ and ‘unwarranted waste’ rang in the old South Meeting House this afternoon.” July 30, 1935
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INQUIRY INTO HIGH SALARIES PRESSED BY THE GOVERNMENT

“Since last May the Federal Reserve Board has inquired into possibly excessive compensation paid to officers of the member banks.” Oct. 29, 1933
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‘PARTISANSHIP’ AND PATRIOTISM

“The charges and countercharges of ‘partisanship’ that have been ‘hurled’ in the Senate this week have disengaged a good deal of heat, but have served a salutary purpose. By parties and partisans the country is governed; and even in a patriotic co-operation or coalition each party may properly be eager to show itself the more patriotic.” March 29, 1918
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COST OF EDUCATION RISING IN COLLEGES
Tuition Charges in the Eastern Universities Higher Now Than Ever Before

“The cost of education for college students has risen. The recent announcement that, beginning with next Fall, the tuition fee at New York University would be $150 a year, instead of $125 as at present, was but an index of a general rise in educational prices that has continued for the last five years with acceleration in the last year or two.” Feb. 22, 1916
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THE SIEGE OF KANDAHAR

“No effective work yet done by the Afghans.” Aug. 19, 1880

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