Letters to the Editor
pancho
Published Letters: 154 Editor's Choice: 8
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True Republicanism
[Read the article: Dick Cheney was never a "grown-up"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"George W. Bush jettisoned the tenets of traditional Republicanism -- fiscal responsibility, limited government, separation of church and state, and realism in foreign policy."
I don't believe this. What we are seeing now is not a departure from Republicanism (American style) but rather its fufillment. If you give Republicans absolute power as they have had for most of the last 7 years then this is what you get. In its essence Republicanism is about concentrating wealth and power in the hands of the elite. Everything else is just the smoke and mirrors used to get the hayseeds to vote against their own economic interests - Oh look the gay black immigrant over there is going to steal your job; when they look away of course their job is stolen but not by the gay black immigrant. The Republican party is a cancer and on that cancer grows another cancer of the "neo-cons" who have an additional agenda of spending US money and lives to further the goal of a greater-Israel. We need to cut the cancer out to protect America. No more pardons or looking the other way as they did with Iran Contra. This time they must be held to account. Tried, convicted and hung for treason. The whole miserable bunch of them. I bet that unlike Saddam they go to the gallows begging for mercy.
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Ray Walker says
[Read the article: Dick Cheney was never a "grown-up"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Ray Walker says "The majority of the American population is moderately conservative with slight libertarian sympathies"
This is not true and one of those abiding myths that many people cling to. In recent polls many more Americans have identified with the Democratic Party than the Republicans. But more inmportantly on a range of issues including universal health care, gay rights, the enviroment, social security, the war in Iraq etc. Americans are actually to the left of the Democratic party. For example in the poll below 50% of respondents were Democrats or lean Democratic vs. only 35% for Republicans. 69% of respondents said the government should care for those who can't care for themselves. 54% said the government should help the needy even if it means more debt. This poll was taken a year ago and the trends are not good for the Republicans.
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=312
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The media
[Read the article: Iraq: The ten commandments]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Great work Gary. I agree 9 of the 10 commandments. I don't think that the problem with the media (#9) is solely one of attitude. The consolidated corporate ownership of the media means that all we can expect is 24/7 lies and properganda (with a few noble exceptions). Broader more democratic ownership of the media is that only solution.
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I am bitter too....
[Read the article: The rubes and the elites]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My small business is about to go belly up because of the macinations of messrs. Bush and Greenspan. I worked my whole life to build this up and now its worth nothing. Am I bitter, you bet I am. I am glad that at least one politician understands this. I was an Edwards supporter before but now I am dashing of a check (from my meagre remaining funds) to Sen. Obama. Hillary and the MSM can KMA. As for you Michael Lind go back to your Ivory tower and have another Latte.
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Why we are in this mess
[Read the article: The rubes and the elites]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]John McCain wants to be President. However he doesn't know his Shite from his Sunni. Thinks it would be fine if we stay in Iraq for 100 years. Seeks the endorsement of a right-wing anti-Catholic bigot. Brazenly breaks the campaign finance laws he himself wrote and jokes about bombing Iran. No news here folks... move right along.
Obama tells the truth about the state of politics in America today and he is an "elitist". A black man brought up by a single mother is an elitist while W is the one you want to have a beer with? At least that’s what the media would have us believe. No wonder the US is going down the drain quicker than you can say compassionate conservatism.
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Bottom Line
[Read the article: Media hypocrites love personality politics]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The bottom line is this. In order for the elite to continue to exploit the rest of us while denying us the rights taken for granted in other developed countries (universal health care, 5 weeks minimum vacation, quality public education) they must convince at least 50% plus 1 to vote against their own economic interests. This requires a sustained and massive campaign of propaganda in the media and elsewhere. It starts early in the schools. I have watched as they have young kids stand in front of the TV every morning to with hand on heart listening to the SSB. This is very similar to what they did in the Soviet Union. From the earliest age our children are indoctrinated in this macho-nationalistic doctrine. It should not be confused with patriotism. Even most Liberals I know are suckers for this crap. We need fewer pins, fewer flags, and fewer hands over the heart and more use of our grey matter. Understand first and foremost that what we face is not the personality flaws of a few hundred members of the media but rather a sustained organized and planned campaign to enslave the American working person. The way to defeat it is through restoring democracy to every area of American life including control of the MSM.
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How to deal with the corrupt corporate media
[Read the article: Obama, get ready for the "Clinton rules"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]a) you answer the question quickly
b) you point out the bias in the question and ask the reporter to do his job.
c) if they ask the question again, ever, you point out that you have already answered it and return to the issue of media bias.
The American people already hate the media so you won't loose any votes by fighting back. Secondly making nice doesn't work anyway.
If Kerry had simply said "I earned my medals and as you know the people who say I didn't have no first hand experience of my service. But what I want to talk about is why is why are you spending so much time questioning my war record and not asking Bush, Cheney and Rove about their lack of service. I am sure the American people would like to see some balance from you"
That would have shut them up nicely.