Letters to the Editor
MarieA
Published Letters: 299 Editor's Choice: 20
-
Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better
[Read the article: Interview with ACLU re: constitutional challenge to new FISA law]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Reflecting on history, it generally appears that things have to deteriorate to a significant degree to incite a critical mass of people to action.
Let's hope that, in this instance, things will soon appear bad enough to enough people actually to do something, rather than waiting until things are really, really bad.
But I also know from history that it is very hard to wrest power from the powerful.
-
There but for the grace of God go I ...
[Read the article: Torture and the rule of law]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]may be the politicians' mantra. Would most of the current crop of politicians have done anything differently (other than perhaps engage in war with Iraq)? Wouldn't the temptations to wiretap, to torture have been as great?
After all, rendition began under President Clinton.
There is always a propensity to take more power and presidents throughout our history have abused the office in many ways, but the momentum for extra-legal tactics built up speed during the 20th century.
Now we have reached the precipice and we must either stop or be flung headlong over the cliff.
-
Well ... not totally awesome, not totally awful
[Read the article: Awesome or awful? Self-cleaning underwear]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]While I imagine that the washing machine will not go extinct quite yet, there's no reason not to think clothes that kept themselves clean wouldn't be fabulous, once perfected.
Unfortunately, it's likely that, at least for the foreseeable future, the clothes wouldn't be fresh-out-of-the-dryer clean but more like battlefield conditions clean.
But, hey, every little bit helps!
-
Flying high, falling hard
[Read the article: Tom Friedman doesn't understand why America is unpopular in the world]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Much of the good will America sustained throughout the world over the years was justified, but we were also placed a pedestal we did not fully deserve.
Until the War in Iraq and the subsequent revelations of torture, abuse, illegal surveillance, civil rights violations, callous and cowardly behavior of our heads of state, much of the world gave us a pass because they could say, "Oh, that's just the president, not the American people."
But throughout all of this, the American people have been largely silent, as has our media (cause, effect? discuss). To anyone on the outside looking in, America is largely unanimous in its desire for brutal world domination.
-
Yep--this isn't the Fifties, although ...
[Read the article: Teen pregnancy: "Rational long-term economic choice"?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]in the Fifties, there were plenty of teen mothers, although most of them were married, some at the "point of shotgun" and some because that's what people did, especially if we're going to talk about 18 and 19 year olds as being teen mothers (that's not the image most of us have). Not that I want to go back there, believe me.
When I was a teenager (in the 70s), you couldn't even be on the school newspaper if you were married and/or had a kid. Going to college was a pretty tough slog if you were a single parent. And that's not even talking about the attitude you were going to get and the turmoil your parents were going to get into.
Moving on, however, what's the big deal about teens getting pregnant, per se? Yes, a child is an awesome responsibility and should be treated as such. Yes, it's not great when a 13 has a baby, period, or a 15 year old gets pregnant because she wants to be loved. Statutory rape is not laudable. I prefer that people use birth control assiduously, but really, should a baby cause such a furor?
Nowadays, if my daughter got pregnant (she's 15), I wouldn't think much of it. You deal. A baby doesn't keep you from going to college if you want to and, if you don't go right away, there's little that keeps you from going to college or having a decent career when the baby grows up. If you were going to make something of your life, having a child is something that you cope with. And may even improve your marketable skills.
There ARE some advantages to having kids early in life. While I made a different choice, there's a lot to be said for having child rearing out of the way while you're still relatively young.
Let's all calm down.
-
Wa Wa Wa
[Read the article: McCain plans to keep up attacks while Obama's away]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why is this even newsworthy? Why wouldn't the campaign continue?
Obviously, the campaign is continuing on Mr. Obama's part, and the networks are wholeheartedly participating. Any candidate traveling outside of the country is only doing so for show. After all, what will they learn while conducting these carefully crafted photo ops, other than the "news" media will dutifully traipse after them like geese following a trail of breadcrumbs.
-
Power Corrupts
[Read the article: The right-wing understanding of Government]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It is naive to think that any part of government which comes under the control of the President will not, at some point, be abused.
Of course, this is true of Congress as well.
This is the central argument for keeping the government as small and transparent as possible. Oversight is wonderful and necessary, but it fails. At least a smaller government can do less damage and is more likely to be observed and contained.
I am glad that you are clear in calling the President and his cohorts "neoconservatives." Although I have my quibbles with conservatives, there is a difference between the two.
I hope that the faulty premise of right wing-left wing is abandoned soon, because it is too broad.
-
The Courtesans of the "Press"
[Read the article: The Washington Post editorial page's latest rule of law sermon]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I was very intrigued by Chris Hedges' ("Collateral Damge") appearance on C-Span's Q&A this past weekend wherein he called television "journalists" in particular "courtesans."
And he stated that Mr. Obama is simply a bright, shiny member of the political power structure who simply puts a nice spin on what the powerful want (he specifically cited the recent telecom immunity vote).
The interview can be viewed here:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/698zfz
Any thoughts on this, Mr. Greenwald?