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Saturday, Nov 7, 2009
VTwriter
Published Letters: 31 Editor's Choice: 2
After reading the first pages worth of letters commenting on this article, I'm throughly depressed. It only took five posting to degenerate into a Hillbots vs. Obamabots diatribe, except for "A Voice of Reason's" classless, obviously elitist, and insulting attempt at, what I'm hoping was supposed to be, humor.
I'm not too surprised however, I'm sure most of Salon's readers are as uncomfortable talking about the legitimate complaints of the blue-collar working, and middle class as the politicians, and corporate leaders are. They are no doubt hoping that a few buzz words about hope, and improved opportunity will quite them down for a while. It has always worked before.
This is emblematic of what passes for political discussion in this country. Once again Obama has pointed out one of the unfortunate realities of our country, albeit clumsily, and once again the pundits and political apologists presume to speak to our sense of outrage.
As a blue-collar worker in rural Vermont, I can tell you I'm tired of being spoken down to in soothing platitudes, and lectured about why I'm supposed to be out raged by the likes of George Will, David Broder, and a mind numbing selection of like wise overpaid blow hards, from both side of the supposed political divide.
I think we prefer the truth. Even if it is poorly worded, and has a bitter after taste. After all, if we don't acknowledge the truths, how can we solve any of the problems this country faces?
It's nice to see the problems with the RFID system being mentioned. I despaired of ever seeing it mentioned anywhere other than The Saint Albans Messenger, my local paper. You should also be aware that because of the DHS's One Face at the Border the waiting lines at the border are only going to get longer aas one border guard now gets to do the job of three. I know I don't feel any safer.
O.K. actually I knew that, in fact between the public elementary schools, and the catholic high school I attended there wasn't anything new to me in this article, outside of Amerigo's fantasy life. So, you can mark me as another reader who either paid attention in school, or believes that the schools did a better job 20 to 30 years ago.
As to why our "founding" myth prefers the Pilgrims over the settlers of Jamestown, that's easy. One confirms our national identity, the other our national reality.
What American isn't going to embrace the settlers who where looking to escape their persecution at home, volunteered to move to The Virginia Colony, got lost, ran out of beer on the way (just one of the many hardships the Pilgrims endured), and had to use a book press to keep their ship together?
Meanwhile, Jamestown was all about the money. A corporate venture filled with indentured servants working to pay off debts to their creditors. This is an uncomforting image that reminds most of us of our relationship with present day Corporate America. It's no wonder we embrace the Pilgrims, Jamestown just reminds us that nothing has really changed.
I can't help but think this is another case of intentional "comedy" on Fox's part. As their slanted coverage is increasingly obvious to most Americans, their irrelevancy grows in ratio. Fox is now scrambling to attract and keep viewers, and the related advertising dollar. Apparently Fox is willing to use outrage as a way to keep people watching, and we fall for it.
We have to watch to see what they say and, do next, in order to be out raged by it. That, unfortunately, makes us viewers, and we help deliver the advertising buck. and who better than the dangerously unhinged, and strident as Malkin to do it?
Just look at some of her recent targets, and tactics. My personal favorite is the attack on Rachel Ray's scarf. The truly scary thing about that was Dunkin' Donuts response, they pulled the ad. Personally, I'm now boycotting Dunkin' Donuts in response to their response. Maybe the best response to both Fox News and Malkin is large doses of richly deserved ridicule.
For a long time (like 20 years), I was a drinker of Green Mountain Coffee. (Hell, in Vermont they're everywhere, like Maple Trees.) I bought it at work, ground it at home, got it free with a full tank of gas, it was a state institution.
Then one day I noticed the price in the grocery store I'm a manager in went up, a lot, and then it jumped again, and again. at first I was willing to write it off as being market related, and kept buying it, but started being careful about not brewing more than I (the only coffee drinker in my home) was going to drink. Than one night on my way out of the store a cashier, who apparently didn't make the connection between shoppers and her paycheck, berated me for not saving money on Green Mountain Coffee by buying it at Walmart.
I was like "Walmart?" more than just a little puzzled, because I don't shop there, and I was assured that Green Mountain was sold there at close to 3 dollars less a pound than in our store, and that I was stupid for not buying it there.
To make a long story short, the price increases I noticed at the grocery store level was Green Mountain's way of keeping their profit level the same. Most people aren't making a special trip to Walmart to buy coffee, they'll just pick it up at the grocery store will shopping, grumble about the price and blame the store (smart on Green Mountain's part, since they dictate the price). I decided on that day to stop buying Green Mountain altogether. By the way, Chock Full Of Nuts tastes just fine in a Green Mountain mug,
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The Maine fight was supposed to be the dress rehearsal for repealing California's Prop. 8 -- but gay marriage lost
Once one obtains Seriousness credentials in the Washington media, they are irrevocable no matter one's conduct.
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