Letters to the Editor
casual_observer
Published Letters: 1359 Editor's Choice: 1
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A suggestion for The Rich Lowrys of America
[Read the article: A nation of Rich Lowrys]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In the American Civil War, those who were too rich, too important, had "other priorities", or otherwise could not attend the war themselves, were allowed to purchase the services of other US Persons to serve in the ranks in place of the rich/important/prioritized person. This was called a "Commutation Fee", and had the benefit of filling the ranks with people who needed the money (generally poor, recent immigrants--hint, hint), and filling the federal coffers to pay for the conflict generally. I believe it was used by both North and South during the war.
Unfortunately, the Commutation Fee and related issues also lead to the New York Draft Riots, and to a general objection that the Civil War was "the rich man's war, but the poor man's fight".
The fee itself was a bargain at 300 bucks. However, for those who believe that the occupation of Iraq is of global, if not galactic, importance (and also accounting for inflation since 1861) the 300 dollar fee should be revised upwards smartly.
As a rough guideline, I would suggest that the modern Commutation Fee should be equivalent to 15 months of salary, benefits and overhead for a Blackwater Mercenary. Minimally, @ $600.00 per day, a modern commutation fee should be somewhere between $270,000 and $300,000 bucks. (the $600.00 figure is, I believe, the per-capita Blackwater charge to US government for fully armed patrolling of New Orleans following its destruction by Katrina).
Yours in glorious victory,
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Jim Montague @ Foxman
[Read the article: A nation of Rich Lowrys]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I know that Mr. Foxman's lecture will be on another subject, but wouldn't it also be a great opportunity for him to strongly present ADL's position regarding the Armenian Genocide, including the Congressional Bill in the news currently. I'm sure Mr. Foxman and ADL will want to strongly support the Bill.
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Draft Him
[Read the article: As Clinton gains, one group asks: What about Gore?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I believe several presidents have been drafted. Eisenhower was the most recent, and I believe he made filled the office well.
Gore is better-qualified to serve as President than any candidate currently running from either party. His unwillingness to run for president is simply another indicator of his common sense and intelligence. Running for president has become an exhausting exercise in stupidity and idiocy.
Draft him.
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Jim Montague @ Harmon
[Read the article: A nation of Rich Lowrys]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Harmon, Rice and Bush all seem to be objecting to the bill not becuase anything in it is untrue, but rather because it might be inconvenient to anger Turkey. Through which a significant amount of war materiel flows to Iraq. Without which, the Iraq occupation would become much more difficult and perhaps even impossible to sustain in current form.
But the Jewish Anti-Defamation League is not part of our government, and its goals are clearly defined in its charter. Clearly, the ethnic cleansing of over a million Armenians is something the ADL must feel strongly about. One has to think that a bill that correctly identifies the historic event as genocide is something they will welcome and they will support.
I believe I have read that every living US Secretary of State supports the bill, except the one currently filling the office. How strange.
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thomas c @ Armenian Statement
[Read the article: A nation of Rich Lowrys]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thomas, I'm not subscribed to WaPo, can't seem to hook to the article, but take your word for it, regarding Secs. of State. It's unfortunate that we can be so bold and courageous in classifying Darfur as genocide, but can't seem to come to grips with this event, even though it happened almost a century ago.
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-- KBRtrucker
[Read the article: A nation of Rich Lowrys]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Great comment--thanks. On his old radio show, Al Franken would hit this point again and again. He probably still is, as a candidate. He argued that we should do what Truman did--set up a commission (Truman did this when Democrats had the WH and the Congress, by the way--) to investigate war profiteering. And yet, as far as I know, this Congress hasn't done much along these lines.
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JM and RMP @ Gore
[Read the article: A nation of Rich Lowrys]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You could be right. I know he would have a serious fundraising problem, and who in their right mind would want the task of cleaning up the mess the Republicans have visited upon this country?
I tend to think the only way to get Gore in the WH is to draft him. Wasn't Eisenhower drafted? I believe it is a rare occurrence, but it has happened. In my opinion, Gore would make a better president than any of the candidates running. But I also think that, putting Gore himself to the side for a moment, drafting a candidate would be a very healthy thing for the country and the democratic party. It would remind the power players within the party--the ones who have influence in who wins and who loses in the primaries, and even who gets to run for office--that they are not all-powerful.
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"Trustworthy Individuals"
[Read the article: Joe Klein's defense of warrantless eavesdropping and telecom amnesty]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Ignatius:
As near as I can tell, the only ax he has to grind is catching terrorists.
Greenwald:
Why would anyone dare to suggest that our Director of National Intelligence is anything but pure in his motives and deserving of the blindest of faith in his statements? Just because he got caught manipulating and outright lying to Congress...
I absolutely do not trust McConnell, following the senate debacle. But even if he was trustworthy, we place our faith in divided government (checks/balances), and in law. Tom Paine had it right. Faith in the Law, not faith in any particular man or woman.
The critical check here is a warrant. Accept no substitutes. I don't give a fiddler's fart if they put George Washington himself in there. If you are listening in on a US person, get thee to the judge, and get thee a damn warrant, and get thy red herring out of my face with your judgements of the trustworthiness of anyone in the Bush administration, or any other administration.