Letters to the Editor
David Larry D
Published Letters: 194 Editor's Choice: 15
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Agree defection would be the right thing for Christian-right
[Read the article: Giuliani's Christian-right foes to meet again]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This wouldn't be a long term defection either. Think of it as a 4 year power-play.
They abandon Giuliani and go with a totally un-electable, sacrificial victim. (Like Jesus!) We'll call him, Koresh. Now, Koresh loses the 2008 election, and so does Giuliani without the right-wing Christian support. Presumably, current frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton wins in 2008. Now, inheriting George W. Bush's presidential seat is not looking to be as inviting as Bill Clinton's. The next four year term looks to be difficult at best: first there is the mess to deal with in Iraq, along with all the partisan bickering that will entail. And god help the next pres if we withdraw and there's another terrorist attack somewhere... Then, on the home front the possible economic meltdown due to the reckless fiscal policies of the Bush Administration. Most recently, note the housing/mortgage credit crunch, Congress RAISING the debt ceiling, and the Fed STILL lowering interest rates despite all this.
Lowering the interest rates here is a short term solution... keeping interest rates so low while the national debt skyrockets would lead to massive inflation (if my economics is correct...). So interest rates will have to be raised again soon, which will slow economic growth, almost guaranteeing a recession for some period of 2008-2012. So with all this, the long term thinking would be that it's likely the next President will be one term and done.
Then the Republicans would HAVE to come back to the Christian-Right in 2011, learning the lesson in 2008 that they need their support, solidifying once and for all, their place in any subsequent administration. It's a bit of a 4 year gamble... unless you have Jesus on your side.
One additional variable would be whether the Democrats can retain control of the Legislative branch for 2008-2012.
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Yeah, kind of a stretch to blame Hollywood for the Iraq War...
[Read the article: Movies that shock and awe]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The signs of what kind of President George W. Bush would be (meaningless figurehead), and the political agenda that was to be put in place by his administration (Project for a New American Century) were on the wall in 2000. We were just too naive to see them for what they were.
It would have taken some very insightful and courageous members of the media to bring these facts to the public consciousness.
We're a nation of sheep; and worse than that, we don't even realize when we're being fleeced. Democracy requires an intelligent, well-informed, and activist populace to function "correctly." Otherwise it's just a vehicle for special interests to exploit the general public.
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No one likes a slob, but heaven help you if you're actually neater than your wife/girlfriend...
[Read the article: Are our husbands really so helpless?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]True, the whole "men are helpless around the house" is just a way of thinking some women use justify their existence, or reassure themselves that their man isn't really going to leave them for a younger, fitter woman. "But he neeeeeeeds me." If you are an actual neat, organized man, fully adept at cooking and cleaning, you unintentionally screw up the dynamic for a lot of women. I think it results in a lot of the same issues a man would have if his significant other earned more than he did, or was famous, more athletic, etc.
It's a totally old-fashioned way of thinking, and certainly doesn't apply to a modern, two-income couple. It's a hold-over from the WE Generation, and alas, old-habits die hard. I'll never forget something my step-grandma once told me... "You marry her mother." Boy, that one sure has helped me avoid some death traps...
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The upside to this war?
[Read the article: Movies that shock and awe]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]but not very realistic, at least from the reviews here, as they are not showing the UP side to it.
Yes, the down side is bad...very bad. But as with anything else there IS an upside too...and if that is not included in the films, then that's a shame.
The upside to this war? Well, certainly a film showing Halliburton & Blackwater execs rolling in piles of money, snorting mountains of blow, and banging hookers would be interesting to watch, but I doubt it would provide the patriotic call-to-action you're seeking...
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Not really like Reagan though...
[Read the article: And then he's going to take a little nap]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I thought Reagan didn't do a lot of prayer in the Christian sense of the word. First thing Ron did was have Merv Griffin over, along with Nancy and the local Hollywood palm reader...
"The Stars are telling me you should BOMB Libya."
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The problem isn't privatisation itself...
[Read the article: Corporate profiteering against Iraq vets?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's the fact that there isn't any oversight. The most insidious development in government contracts - and this applies to all departments, not just defense - is the "revolving door" between the public and private sector.
"Ambitious" political appointees can guarantee themselves a cushy private sector position by turning a blind eye toward graft, and steering no-bid contracts to the right parties. Maybe this is nothing new, but it seems to have morphed into an absolute monster with the current administration. There has been absolutely no oversight, as emphasized by the fact that the Iraq conflict is the most expensive war the United States has ever fought in, despite the "privatisation" of non-combat functions that Rumsfeld had promised us would cut costs.
It is/was absolutely ludicrous to think that for-profit entities would be willing to make the cost/benefit sacrifices necessary to provide essential services, and get them right. They do the bare minimum, obscure their dealings, and try and place the blame on the public sector when they are caught.
There needs to be some sort of bar in place, where perhaps gov't employees are barred for a specific term from taking private sector positions. There isn't any easy answer here, and sure there is a concern of making government service too unattractive.
Corruption is not a joke either. It will eventually destroy the ability of our country to pay to support basic services for all its citizens, creating a privileged class of those wealthy enough to afford basic services like police protection, and those left to fend for themselves.