Enron Provokes Storm of Controversy

It seems to me that malicious acts that result in mass confusion and a loss of confidence in America’s ability to protect its citizens is called terrorism [“Enron’s Trouble Could Spur Securities Reform,” Nov. 25].

Except that the scale is smaller than the attack on New York, I view the actions of the tyrants running Enron as having exactly that effect on the company’s employees, investors, and pensioners.

Our president was quick to announce that he was freezing the assets of the “evil doers.” I suggest that he now treat his good friends at Enron, Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, the same way.

I don’t know how far the return of the $200 million these fat cats grabbed would go toward relieving the pain felt by the thousands of honest financial losers in the Enron situation. I do know it could add a few cents to their diminished holdings and give them a modicum of satisfaction.

S.J. Baer

Woodland Hills

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Here’s some good news! Today, we can celebrate the demise of Enron, a rogue energy trading company whose mandate was to manipulate world energy markets. Kenneth Lay, the company’s CEO, was one of President Bush’s biggest campaign contributors and the “main man” to the Republicans’ much maligned energy policy.

California officials have openly called Lay a “crook” due to his attempt to defraud the state during its energy crisis.

Enron has been revealed as a snake pit of phony deals and grossly misstated earnings that led investors to flee and the stock price to tumble to $5 from a recent high of $90.

It has temporarily skirted bankruptcy and is the subject of a torrent of class-action investor lawsuits.

Lay, of course, cashed out stock options to the tune of $123 million last year while investors got the shaft (an empty one). Just the kind of guy the U.S. needs to help us with our energy problems--yeah, right.

Kenny Feuerman

Benedict Canyon