Letters to the Editor

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ELYDOG

Published Letters: 498     Editor's Choice: 43

  • DLC Loves Religious Tests for Elections

    [Read the article: The Democrats' God problem]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Both Obama and Clinton have had to 'bow' to the pressure from the DLC to make religion part of their appeal. Clinton, of course, meets with extreme right-wingers at prayer breakfasts in the capital. On the other hand, Obama's 'religion' is part and parcel of black religiousity, which is based on oppression, not oppressing.

    Jeremiah Wright's religion is no threat to you. While Hillary and her friends' 'religion' is ... i.e. mostly fundamentalist white Christianity...close to the levers of actual power, with sections of the military ready for Armaggedon. When Hillary and McCain say "bomb Iran," that is also Reverand Haggert talking. And they've already done it any number of times - Vietnam, Panama, Belgrade, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. - so they are not talking out of their ass.

    Mr. Wright cannot bomb anyone. Those who equate the two - Obama's religion on one side, Clinton and McCain's on the other - can't tell the difference between the religion of oppression and the religion of the oppressed.

    The DLC has no interest in the Democratic party being 'populist' except in the most shallow cultural way, i.e. by pandering to religious fundamentalism, i.e. the worst aspects of the population. It is a failed formula. Sucking up to NASCAR gets no one a job. Worshipping the flag helps no one stay in their homes. Believing that "God" is our best guide will not stop the price of oil from going up. Hating homosexuals and executing retarded people doesn't get us out of Iraq.

    As Kevin Phillips points out, part of an empire's decline is it's embrace of religiosity and irrationalism. The DLC and the Republican Party have been a big part of this.

  • There is evidence that Organic can work ...

    [Read the article: Is there enough pig manure to feed the world?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    While the massive numbers of people in the world created by unsustainable oil-based farming and religion is a parallel issue, organic farming is working in ... Cuba.

    Far be it for a bunch of conservatives and liberals to learn something from anything from communists, (although it would not be the first time), but an excellent documentary on this was done and I urge people to see it. Roberto Perez is one of Cuba’s leading permaculturalists, featured in the award-winning documentary on Cuba’s shift to sustainable development, "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil."

    When the World Wildlife Fund released their Living Planet report in 2007, only one country — Cuba — managed to meet the criteria set for sustainable development, by “improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems”.

    Because Cuba is no longer saturated with priests, and instead is saturated with scientists, they were able to work out intensive solutions for non-oil agriculture, and are reportedly 95% organic. Havana has gardens in the city. They have not had a 'die off'. They are exporting these methods to other third world countries who have seen the writing on the wall. That is the kind of 'export' the U.S. needs too!

  • Sacajewa

    [Read the article: My husband of 12 years suddenly says he never loved me]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Too bad you have borrowed such a name.

    My ex and I had joint physical custody. That allows children to be with both parents equally. They stayed at the same schools, but lived in two different houses a week at a time. There was no child support needed.

    This situation worked well with the kids. There was no robbing the children of their father's time, nor milking the father for money. Both girls are doing well, and, especially for girls, they have the support of their father, and were not considered as 'abandoned' by the father.

    Healthier for all than the 'scorched earth' strategy of keeping fathers out of their childrens' lives that you seem to like.

  • Bring back the buffalo ...

    [Read the article: Is there enough pig manure to feed the world?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    ...oh, wait, they are returning, and they are healthier and better for the land than cows. And there are now more native americans on the plains than at any time in recent history. While the Plains empty of white people. ... hmmmmmmmmmmm.

    We were using organic agriculture prior to the oil boom, ie in the 1920s... less than a 100 years ago. Parts of Europe and Asia never went away from organics. And now more and more products in the store are organic. That is what smart 'conservatives' would do - preserve the good things from the past, not just the worst from the past...and add a present understanding.

  • Runaway Train

    [Read the article: Is there enough pig manure to feed the world?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I agree, things do not look promising. The population explosion has been 'fueled' by oil. However, there is no alternative.

    Organics are not from "400" years ago, as Mr. Robot says. Nor is it just about pigs. There is evidence of organics being as productive or more productive - see my post on Cuba. The drawback, of course, is that much more human labor will be necessary, and much more thought and detail will have to go into farming, not just planting hundreds of acres in one crop, over every kind of terrain, plowed/combined by one guy in an oil-burning machine, in debt to a bank.

    The cities will start to empty again, as farming requires more people, while the tractors are parked, or upgraded to electric. People in the cities will farm their own suburban and city lots for food instead of watching American Idol. It will mean a massive change in the way we live. Meat and exotic fish will be a rare delicacy, and some, like beef, might be banned. Food will be more local. Yes, a return to the past. This is probably the only way to head off mass starvation. Unless you are rich, of course. But perhaps we can eat the rich.