Bozoki Barnabas writes in a debate about privatizing utilities:
" In yesterdays's Globe and Mail the Power Workers union, in a full page ad mad
e
the following claims..."
 I would take with a grain of salt any claims by unions to be affected by
privatization of an industry that employs them. Just listen to radio ads of the
Healthcare Workers Union during the recent debate on Medicare. Or read the ads
of AFSCME whenever a tax reduction is discussed.
Farkas D. Gabor

I understand that in 1996, Budapest and Vienna will cohost
a World's Fair.  Does anyone know the dates of this event?

Thank you.


--

---------------------------Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrri------------------------------
Ari Katz, Boston University                                    COM '96 Film
                                                               CLA '96 History

           "Rules are for people who need to be told what to do"
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-

On Sat, 18 Nov 1995, Joe Pannon wrote:

> Yes, in casual Hungarian conversations this is indeed the case.
> The term "szabadsagharc" is used in more formal treatment of the subject
> I think.  Not as a replacement for revolution, but as an addition (i.e.,
> "forradalom es szabadsagharc").
> In English, I hear more often the word "uprising" in connection with '56
> than "revolution."  This is also the term Imre Pozsgai used
> ("nepfelkeles") when he was the first of the former Communist leadership
> to call '56 something else than "counter-revolution."  I kinda' like the
> term "popular uprising" and perhaps it might be a good compromise term
> between the pro- and anti-"szabadsagharc" camps.  I hope you all agree
> it was indeed a popular uprising, besides just a revolution.
>
Indeed. But those doing the uprising never called themselves
'nepfelkelooek', nor 'forradalmaarok': from the beginning, they were
'szabadsaagharcosok', and that is how they appeared in the western media,
too. Whether we like it or not, the Communists had sort of a copyright at
the time on the term 'revolution', and not only on their side of the curtain.

Louis Elteto

Nope. Not really. Austria pulled out after a referendum a couple of years
ago, and Hungary -- following a series of bitter political and economic
debates -- trew in the towel last year. There will be no Expo '96 hosted
jointly by Austria and Hungary.

Welcome.

Tibor Szendrei
University of Maryland

On Sat, 18 Nov 1995, Ari Katz wrote:

> I understand that in 1996, Budapest and Vienna will cohost
> a World's Fair.  Does anyone know the dates of this event?
>
> Thank you.
>
>
> --
>
> ---------------------------Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrri-----------------------------
-
> Ari Katz, Boston University                                    COM '96 Film
>                                                                CLA '96 Histor
y
>
>            "Rules are for people who need to be told what to do"
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
>

Dear Joe,

I think you are right when you say:

>Yes, in casual Hungarian conversations this is indeed the case.
>The term "szabadsagharc" is used in more formal treatment of the subject
>I think.  Not as a replacement for revolution, but as an addition (i.e.,
>"forradalom es szabadsagharc").

And there is one more observation. As somebody rightly pointed out a few days
ago (and I also mentioned it briefly but perhaps didn't emphasize the fact
enough) the Hungarian word "szabadsagharc" has at least two meanings: (1)
fight for freedom and (2) war of independence. Andras Kornai uses the word in
the sense of "war of independence" while his opponents as "fight for
freedom." There is no question that it was a fight for freedom and democracy
but perhaps in the strict, traditional sense of the word it was not a war of
independence.

Eva (Balogh)

Laci Toth wrote concerning my question on public versus private utility
companies:

>Eva,I don't believe,that you don't understand this simple mathematics.You
>just pulling my leg?

Oh, the mathematics I understood. What I didn't understand--and still do not
understand--is why you are so certain that because of a modest 6% return on
one's investment (I assume that you are talking here about dividends) will
necessarily have to come from higher rates. It could very well come from more
efficient management. And of course, as far as interest on loans is
concerned--surely it must be paid whether we are talking about publicly or
privately owned companies.

As for Barna Bozoki's comment:

>>In any case, let's go back to the Hungarian utility company. There is no
>>"gold plating" there. The equipment is not up to standards.
>
>This is news to me. I have no hard facts on this subject. I only know that
>the *Nuclear Engineering International* shows that 2 of the Paks units were
>in the top 10 among all nuclear units in the world in 1992 and 1993. I also
>have anecdotal evidence that the transmission network is up to standard.

Unfortunately, after a while I get rid of old news from my hard disk and
therefore I can't quote you the exact quotation. However, I am sure that the
news item appeared on one of the Internet news services, either in Hungarian
or in English. The immediate necesary investment which was mention was very
high: maybe 150 billion dollars. I don't think that they were specifically
speaking about Paks but certainly some of the energy providers were mentioned
as not up to snuff. There are some people on this list who are very good at
getting older material through Gopher--I would appreciate it if someone could
come up with the original news item.

>I thought you said no "gold plating" *there*, now you say let's sell this
>"gold plated" company. I don't think you or I know the value of this
>company.

I used to word sarcastically.

>Yes, unfortunately it seems that it is. But I don't think, that it is a
>liberal/conservative conflict. I think it shows a mistrust of government,
>any government.

In the Western countries I think it may be explained by a mistrust of
government, but in Hungary it is definitely a political issue which divides
the liberal, liberal-socialist camp from the right of center and the extreme
right. Jozsef Torgyan, head of the Smallholders, is spearheading this fight
against privatization appealing to nationalistic, anticapitalistic,
anti-foreign sentiments.

Eva Balogh

A very dirty little piece of rambling prose from Janos Kiss.

I would formally request that Mr Kiss be asked to furnish evidence of the
article he claims was written by Andras Kornai.

Given that Andras Kornai can write coherent and grammatically correct English,
my strong suspicion is that the alleged quote is, in fact, a fraud.  If
Mr Kiss is unwilling or unable to prove otherwise, I would suggest that the
list owner terminate Mr Kiss's subscription to the Hungary list.

George Antony

On Sun, 19 Nov 1995, Eva S. Balogh wrote:
> therefore I can't quote you the exact quotation. However, I am sure that the
> news item appeared on one of the Internet news services, either in Hungarian
> or in English. The immediate necesary investment which was mention was very
> high: maybe 150 billion dollars. I don't think that they were specifically
> speaking about Paks but certainly some of the energy providers were mentioned
> as not up to snuff. There are some people on this list who are very good at

The MVM Rt. is not operated as a single entity, it has 8 generating plants
and a number of transmission and distribution divisions. Each division
operates as a separate entity. Some of the older generating plants are
inefficient, polluting and expensive to run. Selling the inefficient plants
to someone who is willing to update or replace them is obviously a good
idea. The Antall Government in 1992 was actively working on such a plan.
What is not obvious to me, why Hungary needs to sell the transmission
network? Wires and switches do not age as fast as turbines and boilers.

Barna Bozoki

Am interested in hearing from Americans living in Hungary.  Am
thinking about retiring in Hungary, or at least having an extended
stay in Hungary

I am looking for contacts with Americans living in Hungary.  Would
like inputs on the pluses and minuses of living in Hungary.  Am also
looking for a senior level position with an American firm in Hungary.
Have a PhD in materials engineering and am currently a Senior Manager
at the Kennedy Space Center.

Bozoki Barnabas writes in reaction to my comment on taking unions'
advertisements with a grain of salt:
"Me too! They use data what supports they objectives, but I don't think
they use falsified data."
Unfortunately my experience with unions is not that good. And here I don't mean
the Teamsters or rackets such as the New York City Fish Market or the Jacob
Javits Center, also in NYC. In our suburban New York school district the
Teachers Association (a chapter of the AFT) followed a strategy of intimidation
and lies when their fat raises were in danger. Mailings went out to parents
warning them that the quality of education was in danger. Also, the senior clas
s
teachers refused to write letters of recommendation to colleges. It is a well
known fact that public sector unions try to get what they want by referring to
each other's raises, using their well organized and financed lobbying power and
in no case considering the ability to pay (or lack thereof) of their employer,
the taxpayer.
Farkas D. Gabor