Word: affords
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Qiao has another ploy at his disposal. As the former head of China's secret police, he undoubtedly has plenty of evidence of corruption among Jiang's allies. The last thing Jiang can afford when gathering allies for a post-Deng power struggle is the threat that they or their children could become targets. That may be impossible to avoid in today's China. "Everyone is on the take," says an Asian diplomat in Beijing, "from top bureaucrats to doctors and waitresses." "It's been said there are three options," says Lilley. "Shoot the corrupt, let them go free...
...bulk of Vietnam's population, though, reform is falling short. Urban residents may be better off than ever, but 51% of the country lives below the World Bank's 2,100-calories-a-day subsistence level. In metropolitan Hanoi, many seem to be able to afford $2,700 for a Honda Dream motorcycle. For peasants, dreaming is as close as they will ever get to that goal. Economic reform is removing them-as well as their urban countrymen-from the socialist dole for health care and education. The rural families can't afford to pay for health care, however...
Iacocca also thinks the company can afford to spend down some of its cash reserve. Auto manufacturers suffer the problems of other cyclical industries. The same domestic auto industry that had record earnings of $14.6 billion last year posted a whopping $7.6 billion in losses back in 1991. But the $7.5 billion put aside by Eaton, says Iacocca, is too much. "The most we ever needed in severe downturns was four to five [billion]," he says. Keep $2.5 billion in cash on hand, add the company's $2.5 billion bank credit line and "you're fine," he says...
...attack spotlights our increasing vulnerability to high-tech terror acts by fringe groups that are escalating their acts of violence. Our only safeguards against these threats are vastly improved intelligence sources and basic security measures, all of which we seem to regard as more expensive than our system can afford. Accordingly we shrug and go on with our lives, accepting the risk. But why continue to spend vast sums on absurd military projects when the same funds could protect us from a real threat? America's military planners are not just wasting money (no small sin) but are also guilty...
...SIZE FREAK. EVERY NEW HOTEL IS THE biggest, every new show the most expensive, every glitzy costume the most faaaabulous! And then there's Debbie. To the owner and star of the Debbie Reynolds Hotel/Casino/Hollywood Movie Museum, smaller is better. It's also all she could afford. Reynolds bought and spruced up the 200-room Paddlewheel Hotel for just $10 million, which is valet-tip money to Steve Wynn. Debbie makes do with her own perky energy. And makes more of less. "Welcome to my new little theater!" she tells visitors to her nightly show. "Doncha think it's cute...