Letters to the Editor
Rambling Rose 22
Published Letters: 757 Editor's Choice: 6
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Yes, We Can Steer Another Course
[Read the article: American empire, going, going ...]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Yes, certainly, the United States can steer another course - and in fact, it must steer another course. We cannot be afraid of our own plurality and diversity. Nor can we throw open our borders doors to "all comers" in this post 9/11 world.
The United States has become increasingly more balkanized, primarily through the conservative, right-wing politicians who have practically advocated the destruction of public education in America, once the glue that binds, the common denominator for past generations of Americans. Unfortunately, public education has become the poster child for every social ill in our society. It should be the logical solution. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have directly or indirectly, by placating their small, narrow constitutencies, have sold out public education in America. It should be the national jewel of our country. Instead, it is often a pathetic shell of its former self. For example, why are Mississippi and Louisiana, after hundreds of years, still dead last in literacy? Why are so many Americans' right to a fair and equitable education being denied?
I'm not completely blaming all the ills of our public education system on the right wing politicians. But let's face it, when there are million-dollar give-aways for millionaires, while our schools rot, there's something wrong.
There has always been tension between capitalism and democracy. We have to put the basic tenets of our U.S. Constitution first. Illegal immigrants do not have rights until they are citizens. There's nothing wrong with wanting people to be here legally, and enforcing the laws. If it means that much to businesses and our economy that we get more people in the country to fill the jobs that supposedly other Americans don't want, or are not qualified to fill, then let's figure out a way to do that legally and manage the program effectively.
The problem isn't that we don't have solutions. The problem is finding the leadership to enact the solutions for the common good of our country and our citizens - and be willing to take the political hit if necessary.
If our founding fathers could find ways to craft the first glue, our U.S. Constitution, on behalf of 13 different states with competing interests, then there's no reason why we can't figure out meaningful, productive ways to refresh the glue that binds us together as Americans. After all, did we not fight our own civil war to right a wrong that our founding fathers could not, or chose not, to deal with a hundred years before?
The glue that binds us all together are the laws of this land, the U.S. Constitution, protected individual freedoms,and the promise of opportunity for all. If anyone of them perish, then they all fall down. Let's stop the hand-wringing, playing on the politics of personal destruction and fear-mongering, and start electing leaders who remember why this country is a democracy first - and secondly,a country with a capitalist-socialist (government-supported individual and corporate welfare)form of an economy.
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"By Any Means Necessary"
[Read the article: Huckabee: God wants us to fight global warming]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Whatever floats your boat, Huckabee. Let's just get about the business of cleaning up the environment and stop preaching the semantics of global warming. Cleaning up the environment will take care of many ills - and many arguments. No need to get politically correct about it. Clean drinking water, clean air, clean food, clean toys, clean transportation, clean industries, clean cities - it all works for all of us.
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Be Careful What You Wish For
[Read the article: The bright side of consumer paralysis]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It wouldn't hurt Americans to stop spending money they don't have and get their debt under control. Whether forced through bankruptcy, foreclosure, or just normal market conditions like a reduction in credit extention, Americans need to stop buying so much junk anyway. How many lead-tainted plastic gizmos from The Dollar Store, WalMart, and others do we really need anyway?
I confess, I've been a Dollar Store junkie for years now. But even I've grown tired of the same-ole-same-ole-made-in-china-last-year's-stuff.
I'm going back to glass because I can't trust the Chinese OR the American inspectors to keep my food bowls free of lead. I won't even buy toys for friends' kids anymore for fear of giving them a disease or forcing the parents to throw them out.
I want a high-speed rail here in Ohio so I can stop driving the traffic-laden I71, 77, 70,etc. corridors where the trucks still lumber along like dinosaurs at 55mph, hogging the right and middle lanes, while the rest of us experience road rage in the left lanes.
We need a national energy policy that forces corporations to manufacture all hybrids, and get the bugs worked out on them, within 10 years - no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Reduce passenger vehicle gas consumption by 40%. It's a function of homeland defense, the environment, national security, economic security, increasing our disposable income, and stop killing and being killed for the oil.
Lastly, there are 3 required courses every high schooler should have to take before graduation regardless of what school they attend:
1) Citizenship: How democracy works; how laws are passed; and how stupid people get elected to office in the first place.
2) Economics For Dummies: what is capitalism really, where the jobs have gone and why, and how to start your own business.
3) The Power of Money: How to save, why we have to pay taxes, and never mind who's packing your parachute, what's your parachute worth on ebay by the time you're ready to retire.
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Typical Bait & Switch GOP Politics!
[Read the article: Pickens weasels out on Swift Boat challenge]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My, my...there should be no shock that Pickens plucked a page right out of the GOP playbook, "Bait and Switch" when losing.
George W. Bush has been playing this game since he stole the election in 2000, and most recently, defending the miserable adventure in Iraq by changing the definition of "success."
Now Pickens wants to change his tune. Who asked him anyway about the Swiftboaters? And who cares? We already know they were the liars.
Kerry should just tell him to "put up or shut up...better yet, shut up."