Letters to the Editor
bystander
Published Letters: 1348
-
Labels, political and otherwise
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]A label is nothing more than a short cut. And, a label as short cut is nothing other than a means by which we allay our own fears. Whether that label is "nigger," "wetback," "spick," "mick," "dago," "gringo," "Uncle Tom," or "wasp" it serves as a form of group identity. Who is it safe to associate with, and who is not. Whom can we trust? Who is untrustworthy?
Glenn has a perspective that many of us have come to trust. His careful airing of Ron Paul and the various media assessments that swirl around Paul may feel like a betrayal to some. And, may make some inclined to politically label him. But, if Glenn cannot illuminate Ron Paul in a fair way, why would we trust him to illuminate anyone else? The question is, perhaps, will/has Glenn illuminate(d) other candidates (public figures) along similar dimensions? I believe he has. Each of us gets to answer that for him/herself.
The thing that bothers (? I'm not sure that's a strong enough term ?) me about the next election is, given how profoundly unresponsive our elected officials appear to be at this time, I feel an immense pressure to elect someone who will FIRST, do NO harm. Consequently, I sieve through the information available on the candidates very closely. I do not want to make a mistake by supporting a wolf in sheep's clothing. I didn't misjudge Bush. I especially don't want to misjudge any future candidate.
I need to know that Glenn will offer an honest assessment. How better to know than when he is fair with someone I am disinclined to view favorably? And, how more powerful than to provide a solid platform for tempus to offer counter arguments. This is the reason we all congregate here, Yes?
-
Feeling old
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Jeebus.
Does not anyone else remember and credit the federal government's involvement in education during the early years of the "space race?" Not the Department of Education of the 80's, but the National Defense Education Act of 1958? The National Science Foundation? Higher Education and Assistance Corporation student loans?
Much as I am uncomfortable with NCLB, I'm not yet ready to toss the baby out with the bathwater.
-
I (heart) science
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What I find worrisome is the sense that there are some initiatives in which the federal government can do positive things for the education of the populace that the states, individually, cannot, or will not do. And, that the distortions and perversions that have occurred in education at the federal level are all that anyone can see. Is that our recent history? Sure. Need it remain that way? No. Half of the economic wave we all rode so comfortably into the 21st century was our collective talent in math, science and engineering. The agencies that had spearheaded those efforts so successfully are starving for research dollars. And, internationally, we are beginning to fall behind.
Our engineering and science employers are screaming for employees. We're importing those folks from other countries. Exporting an array of jobs on the one hand, and importing skilled workers on the other. What a deal. I've nothing against home schooling. There is no research to suggest that home schooled kids are at a disadvantage in institutions of higher education. [How many of those home schooled kids pursue degrees in the STEM fields, I don't know. I don't think that data exists.] But the feds have a history and a track record of catapulting the country forward in fields where we built economic strength. Forcing the states to compete with each other to build individual research parks, that are heavily reliant on corporate dollars to survive, does not create an environment in which basic research can thrive.
-
Bebop
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]On this Veterans Day (celebrated), if I could, I would hum you a lullaby that would chase away all scary dreams, nightmares of war zones, and unwanted turned inside flash backs... banish them all. Forbidden! Instead, only great big, warm bear hugs to cradle you safely into tomorrow.
-
musicality
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]'Course Bop, I should warn you that I can't carry a tune in a bucket on my best day ;-) A cat screeching, yowling, and caterwauling might come closer to Brahms than me! It's the thought that counts, right?
-
@ Trefayne
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thanks for tagging up. You're right. It's getting late here, too. Thanks for the background. The thread will still be here in the morning.
-
Bamboozled
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here][Grinding her back molars, she heads off to bed....]
One last time. Glenn has been explicit. He neither endorses, nor promotes any current candidate. Glenn has a thing about fair reporting. He's argued that some of the reporting about Ron Paul may be less than fair. Unless I've fully lost all reading comprehension skill, I have not read anything that suggests Glenn has said, Vote for Ron Paul in '08! I'm not sold on Ron Paul, and I fail to see where Glenn has tried to sell me. Or, if he has tried, he's waaaay too subtle, and he failed. That is all.
-
Coast Clear?
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Ah, Nope!
The only thing I'm sure of at this point is, with the exception of Mona, the more I hear from Ron Paul's supporters, the less inclined I am to view Ron Paul's candidacy favorably.
If Ron Paul were a real economist, the one thing Ron Paul should view with a great deal of caution is 'over-correction.' Any economist worth their degree understands that steering the economy is like driving a car while looking in the rear view mirror. I'd be hesitant on Paul for his economic policies (such as they are) alone. Toss his supporters' interpretations of his "economics" and other policies on top and I'm disinclined to consider Paul at all.
-
LWM
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Which Hofstadter?
Richard? Robert? Douglas? Other?
-
Hofstadter
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Must be Richard.
-
Keeping the Hofstadter's straight...
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Uhhh, bebop-o...if you are going to start riffing off yourself here wont you get caught in an endless loop?
That would be Douglas Hofstadter.
Bebop, you'd probably enjoy I is a Strange Loop.
-
Gee, Chris
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]And, just as I was about to thank you for a thoughtful Ron Paul addition...