Letters to the Editor
tempus
Published Letters: 444 Editor's Choice: 6
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It's fun and all but
[Read the article: Repeal the Second Amendment]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The reality is that the 2nd Amendment isn't going anywhere. It is a nonstarter.
It is merely a means of creating a HUGE number of letters/comments but it just isn't gonna happen.
Of all the Amendments to dick with, the original 10 are certainly NOT the ones deserving that treatment...with the possible exception of the 9th Amendment (my favorite). That one needs to be given unquestionable teeth since the Scalias on the SCOTUS see fit to consider the 9th a garbage Amendment.
Rather than altering the 2nd Amendment, how about we ADD Amendments that:
Declare an unequivocal right to privacy.
Ban any and all classification of documents or information that does not DIRECTLY tie into military operations or capabilities and intelligence methods and sources (Executive Privilege needs to be TIGHTLY reigned in) PLUS require the full declassification of ALL classified (not still applicable above) government documents/records older than 30 years.
State once and for all corporations do NOT have rights in any way, shape, or form like those of actual people. No giving of money to ANY political group, cause, or individual.
I could come up with a few more but these are off the top of my head.
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I've thought on this one...
[Read the article: The right's explicit and candid rejection of "the rule of law"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]there's nothing in the Constitution to say there must be 9 Supreme Court Justices, nor anything that bars 19(paraphrase)
I would like to see the next Dem President create 2 more seats on the SCROTUS and appoint the Justices to them. Eliminate the influence entirely of Thomas, Scalia, Roberts, and Alito. Make them irrelevant. On all cases of import and note, particularly on environmental law, privacy, etc, it would then become a bunch of solid 7 to 4 in good cases, or an immobile 6 to 5 when Kennedy flopped to the insane side.
The brouhaha that ensued from this perfectly constitutional and legal act could then be used to seal the deal by pushing for an Amendment setting the number of Justices at 11 (wouldn't do to remove duely appointed and approved Justices now).
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Let us be clear, please
[Read the article: The Politico: Exhibit A for our broken political press]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Henceforth, please let us bracket the word "debate" in regards to what has passed for same so far, with quotation marks (see above). These are NOT debates. These don't even remotely resemble debates. They remind me of the "forums" or assemblies we'd have when I was in highschool where the student council president candidates would get up in front of everyone and spew forth utter blather about why they should be elected.
Debate? HAH! Think Lincoln-Douglas, think what goes on in highschools and universities when a debate team actually takes to the stage: real debate. You know, stating a proposition and defending it with lucid and logical thought AND intelligent argument between contenders in attack/defense. Real debate doesn't look anything even remotely like what has happened on the idiotbox thus far for either the Dems or Rethugs. Put quotation marks around the term whenever used in this context, please. Think of the children. They will grow up thinking that this crap is debate and has substance!
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Venezuela
[Read the article: African oil: The real heart of darkness]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Perhaps the African nations should follow a model more akin to that of Chavez's Venezuela than the model foisted upon them by BP, Chevron, etc. Of course, it would help if they had governments that were at least a little less corrupt and less willing to fill up the pockets of a few despotic government officials and screw the country as whole...
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The Dumbocraps caved for oil
[Read the article: When Democrats collapse]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The Dumbocrats didn't vote to give more money to Iraq. They voted to fund the upcoming, new and improved, war with Iran.
They didn't just give their kiss of approval to the occupation of Iraq and the coming illegal attack on Iran, they primarily passed the blank check bill in order to support the Hydrocarbons Bill in Iraq that has the US forcing the Iraqi government to hand 70% of their oil fields over to Exxon/Mobile. THAT is what they were voting for. The rest, to them, is just gravy.
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I was deeply saddened by Carter's wimpiness
[Read the article: When Democrats collapse]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I always like Carter and voted for him in 1980. I had only grown to admire him more as time went by with his wonderful and humanitarian accomplishments. I LOVED it when he spoke truthfully and directly about the biggest failure in US history, George Bush, and the horrible sycophancy of Blair. Then he caved in like a Democrat and apologized for telling it like it is.
NEVER apologize for the speaking the truth, particularly to or about someone that really needs to hear it. I lost a lot of my respect for Carter with his abject surrender to the GOP and Bush. He can't earn that respect back now.
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I have an answer to your question
[Read the article: When Democrats collapse]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Is anyone in this country both brave and decent?
Al Gore. He's saying it like it is and he is NOT apologizing.
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Besides the ridiculous secrecy of the secrecy
[Read the article: The corporate takeover of U.S. intelligence]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I suspect that the government believes that it can sidestep the Constitution and Bill of Rights quite handily by letting private companies do the spying (and wiretapping and illegal searching, etc). They keep the funding secret to hide illegal and unacceptable violations of everything this country once supposedly stood for, but take it further into obfuscation by secretly funding unaccountable civilian contractors to whom the federal rules are considered not to apply.
The secrecy must come to an end. I am sick of it. There needs to be a very explicit and clear delineation of what is able to be kept secret from Congress and the people and it needs to be very tightly circumscribed. MOST of what the government does and spends money on must not be allowed to be kept secret. Enough. The People cannot run the government by the People, for the People, and of the People when they are denied virtually all the information required to do so.
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You forgot one question
[Read the article: Interview with Helen Thomas]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm a molecular biologist. I would like to know if Helen would be OK with my cloning her so we can fill up the WH press room with dozens of her - all different ages, spaced out over time so that in one way or another she is always there.