Letters to the Editor
Terry A.
Published Letters: 177 Editor's Choice: 22
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One group is ahead of the curve on this . . .
[Read the article: The Great Depression: The sequel]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]One of the results of severe economic suffering is the desire to blame, and demagogues on both sides of the political spectrum successfully take advantage of this. In retrospect, it's a miracle that FDR was able to keep this country out of the hands of extremists (but then the conservatists don't think he did - they think he **was** an extremist).
In the unlikely event that we do go into a depression, the conservatists and Christianist right are way out in front in terms of blame. If we suffer a real crash, we can expect a cadre of modern-day Father Coughlins ("Bill O'Reilly, white courtesy telephone . . .") to have the run of the airwaves. It will turn out that our economic woes were not the result of reckless tax cutting and an elective $1/2 trillion war, but of abortion, gay marriage, and socialized medicine.
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Vonnegut and prophesy
[Read the article: How "Slaughterhouse Five" was born]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The article states, "One need only replace the noun 'Germany' with 'Iraq,' however, to discern the unique prophetic role Vonnegut continues to play in our literary culture . . .' and then quotes the following from the book: "'[T]he 'Get Tough America' policy . . . has earned us a name for obscene brutality, and cost the World the possibility of Germany becoming a peaceful and intellectually fruitful nation in anything but the most remote future.'"
The choice of quotation is ironic. America's conduct towards Germany in WWII didn't "cost" the World anything - whether because of, or in spite of, American "vengeance," Western Germany was a social and cultural vanguard within a couple of decades - a leader in public education and socialized medicine, a rich source of music and literature and science.
Iraq is a mess, and Bush's elective war has materially damaged our country's reputation. Still, the Iraqis would do well indeed to become as "peaceful and intellectually fruitful" a nation as Germany became, and as quickly.
I won't be holding my breath.
t.
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With deference to Mr. Buck
[Read the article: McCain's bizarre reluctance on the new GI Bill]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't doubt that many American WWII veterans of African ancestry were cheated out of G.I Bill benefits, just as so many were (and are) cheated out of other positives in our government and society.
Still, my understanding is that historians and economists are close to unanimous that the G.I. Bill was the single most important element of the creation of a middle class among African-Americans.
On of the loveliest things about this is that it gave absolute lie to the notion that higher education was beyond, or wasted upon, the average African-American. Whaddya know - take take an average person of any race and lay some education on them and (for the most part) instant and equal achievement!
Given the ethnic makeup of our volunteer armed forces, an enhanced G.I. Bill would be of enormous benefit to young African-American men and women today.
I don't know whether Senator McCain realizes, or cares about, that effect, but the fact that the press is not making the point of the racial aspect of fighting improvements to the G.I. Bill is just more evidence of the free ride McCain gets from most reporters.
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Learning from the (OY!) master.
[Read the article: DNC challenges McCain on campaign finance]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"He has imperiously announced that the law doesn't apply to him . . ."
Sounds like Wet-Start Johnny has decided to emulate Dubya in more than just pointless elective war-making.
t.
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Some reassurance.
[Read the article: McCain defends comments about Hamas, Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Now that Obama appears to be the "inevitable" nominee that the Clintons sought to make Hillary, it's nice to know that he can counterpunch.
There's really no telling how nasty Wet-Start Jackie and his proxies are capable of getting, especially with President Feeb's "brain" helping out.
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Big deal.
[Read the article: McCain: "Facts of global warming demand our urgent attention"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'd like to get worked up about this guy's hypocrisy, but it's old news.
This is the same man who talks tearfully about giving veterans the sort of honor and care they deserve and then fights against a bill that would actually do something for them.
This is the same man who excoriated Christianist extremists and now embraces some of them and refuses to repudiate the worst of them.
This is the same man who was ***videotaped***saying American troops may have to be in Iraq for 100 years, and attacks people who ask him about it, claiming never to have said it, in perfect execution of "The Big Lie" principle that repetition can make a lie "the truth."
This guy is the quintessential American politician. He will stand up for any principle that won't interfere with his election or fundraising. This guy makes William Jefferson Clinton look like George Washington.
And until the "mainstream press" starts reporting it, he will continue to get away with it.
Meanwhile, *yawn*, another opportunistic conservatist hypocrite.
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Hooookay
[Read the article: Can Scarlett Johansson sing?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Wonderful actress, getting better with the years. But how can you tell from this album whether the woman can sing?
On the strength of your recommendation, I listened to samples on the web, and it seems like the producers did everything they could to prevent the listener from **knowing** what Johansson's voice sounds like, starting with overdubbing several tracks of her own voice on almost every sample to which I listened. Shades of early Donald Fagen.
Ordinarily, a studio would expect a singer to support a debut album like this with a tour, or at least a few live appearances. If Johansson has done any live performances, I haven't hear about them. But that would certainly tell a lot more about her singing voice than this album.
I also see that the album is being issued on vinyl as well as digital versions. Given the degree to which the producers relied on digitally synthesized sound and the effort they made to disguise Johansson's voice, you have to wonder why they are bothering.