Letters to the Editor
North of the 49th
Published Letters: 189 Editor's Choice: 12
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TV "indecency" and the idiots on the right
[Read the article: Idiot boxers]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The cultural right is the slice of North American politics that wants to control what you think and see, but would let a poor person starve rather than lend a hand up. To think that these people call themselves Christian. They represent a threat to democracy ("1984" anyone?), without the accompanying social safety net of a Nazi Germany. As for control of my TV, as much as I might be repulsed by some content (South Park), the market dictates that this show is widely consumed (watched). It is truely up to me, as a parent, to control what my children watch. Anything less is a copout and an abdication of the parental responsibilities that the rabid right claims I take on.
Tim, from North of the 49th.
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America continues to awaken to an authoritarian nightmare.
[Read the article: "Never have the freedoms we cherish seemed so imperiled"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Senator Byrd is bang on. Problem is, he would have been bang on 4 years ago. When I teach my unit on democratic government in Social Studies, one of the key points about the US system is that of separation of powers. For the past four years, however, the US congress has rolled over and took every spoonful of B.S. this gang has doled up. The Democratic Party has been offensive in in its servility. I cannot believe the lack of clear voice coming from America's opposition party.
Perhaps, finally, a critical mass of oppostion will begin to emerge before America is turned into a totalitarian state. I don't use that conatation lightly; recall that Hitler was elected, and used the power of the law to "outlaw" democracy, through the Enabling Act, which allowed him to rule by decree, thereby bypassing the legislature, and another piece of legislation that gave the police expanded powers to "snoop" on private citizens. The pretext for such laws was the burning of the Reichstag, which the Nazis conveniently pinned on a communist, and the general angst caused by the Great Depression.
Recall how quickly the Patriot Act was pushed through Congress and when it was put forth. Next time we see a colour coded terror alert on TV, ask what that is supposed to acomplish, other than maintaining a state of fear. Recall how Mr. Bush joked about how easy things would be if only he were running a dictatorship. Recall how Mr. Bush once said that, as president, he didn't owe explainations to anyone.
As a Canadian teacher, I am fairly well versed in both the British Parliamentary system, as used in Canada, and the American Republican system. One thing I think would be neat would be if President Bush had to face an opposition party in a daily question period, as a Canadian Prime Minister must. Instead, Americans are reduced to press briefings from Scott McLellan, and dependent on the brave utterings of Senator Byrd and journalists who aren't afraid of losing their precious White House contacts.
The only thing worse than the latest abuse of power would be if no action is taken. Such crimes demand a call for impeachment. Let the Republican Party, the ones who gave us an impeachment over a sex scandal, be the ones who stand against the rule of law and for untrammled executive power. Come on America, you have nothing to lose except 230 years of constitutional government, complete with freedoms gained at great cost.
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Let's all click our heels together!!
[Read the article: Bush's impeachable offense]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As an observer from "north of the 49th", I am fascinated with the prospect that Bush might not be impeached. I would have hoped that, despite differences over economic and social policy, the left and right in any democracy could agree on the simple notion of the rule of law. If the president is above the law, everyone is.
My country is going through an election campaign right now where the sitting PM is in trouble due to a scandal involving parts of his own party, although not necessarily the PM himself. Had the PM came out and admitted that he had broken laws and violated the constitution and was going to continue to do so, he wouldn't last another day in office.
One reader described America as being at a constitutional Rubicon. How true. Either Bush is impeached, or America has become what it critics claim; an autocratic empire, with rigged elections, and bread and circuses for the masses.