Letters to the Editor
thorin01
Published Letters: 161 Editor's Choice: 24
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It’s NOT Literal Dang It …
[Read the article: Mike Huckabee hearts Israel]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I wish people would stop saying that ‘end time’ prophecies are based on a ‘literal’ reading of the bible. They are in reality a mish-mash of interpretations and assumptions based on vaguely worded passages often taken out of context or mistranslated.
The Harlot represents X country ... the ‘feet of clay’ represents the UN … the ten whatevers is the EU etc etc etc.
Do some historical research and you will discover how those passages were interpreted at the last millennial shift when there were a number of ‘end-time’ cults running around. It will be interesting to see how those passages are re-interpreted in 200 or 500 years time.
Heck there is an enormous amount of dispute among the ‘end times’ folks about how to interpret them today. There is the whole pre vs post tribulation rapture debate. How and when the temple needs to be rebuilt or if sacrifices need to start before or during the tribulation.
A 'literal' interpretation would mean that the actual literal words written on the page will happen, not a complete re-writing of the Book of Revelation and the Book of Daniel substituting modern country names in for poetic passages.
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Where to Put My Meaningless Vote ….
[Read the article: AP reports John Edwards will drop out today]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Since my state (Oregon) is well after ‘super’ Tuesday and late in the process my vote pretty much means nothing. I would have preferred to cast a vote for Dodd, to register my approval of his stand on basic constitutional rights (that little piece of paper nobody else in the race is talking about). And I strongly admire John Edwards for being to only truly progressive voice on the campaign trail.
But now (as always) by the time my state votes my I left with my least favorite candidates.
Obama gives a hell of a stump speech. It is almost impossible not to be inspired when he is speaking. But he is thin on substance and he’s not that strong when he’s off-script (in the debates or ‘tough’ interviews). The ‘experience’ thing is not that critical to me but more than any other candidate the success of an Obama presidency will rely heavily on the people he appoints to critical positions. And I don’t yet have a feel for who those people will be or how he will select them. And all his talk of ‘bi-partisanship’ is off-putting. We don’t need more cooperation/capitulation to Republicans; we need to marginalize them for next few years the way progressives have been marginalized for the last 20 years.
There is no doubt that Clinton has a command of the issues. She’s just as much of a policy wonk as her husband. The problem I have with Clinton is once you get past her stand on abortion and gay rights she’s basically a Republican on economic and foreign policy issues. Which is really all the DLC is a bunch of Republicans who disagree with the party’s social conservatives so they run as Democrats. The only reason I’ll vote for her over any Republican in the general election is the courts. We’re already looking at 15-20 years of a conservative leaning Supreme Court. Another 4-8 years of Republican Presidents making appointments and we’re looking at 30+ years of a conservative Court. Simply unacceptable.
So which candidate do I cast my meaningless vote for in the primaries?
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My Own Personal Economic Indicators …
[Read the article: Economic growth slows from a sprint to near-paralysis]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ve got my own personal little indicators that the economy is heading for a recession.
During Christmas 06 my company received about a dozen boxes of chocolates, a couple of those Hillshire Farm sample packs, two bottles of wine and other assorted gifts from our vendors for Christmas. During Christmas 07 our vendors sent us cards. We got only two boxes of chocolates. During phones conversations with my counterparts at other companies I heard constant stories or trimmed back or cancelled Christmas and Holiday parties. And of seriously reduced or eliminated bonuses.
Companies are tightening their belts. Raw material costs are going through the roof (particularly metals). Almost everybody is tacking on ‘fuel surcharges’ or increasing their existing ones. Our margins are either shrinking or gone. Mid-level manufactures are getting squeezed. We’ve had two layoffs in the last 14 months (nearly a third of our workforce) and things are not looking real good for the next three months (I’m safe unless the home office decides to close the doors permanently).
On top of that, inflation is starting to take hold. Food costs are getting higher (It feels like I’m spending 4-5 percent more each week than I did a year ago). And of course there are gas prices. Funny how those two items which affect everybody so directly are always removed from the ‘core’ inflation statistics.
Out here in the real world it feels like we’ve been in a recession for at least six months.
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Who’s Giving? Mostly Small Donors
[Read the article: Obama more than doubled Clinton's January fundraising]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Obama (like Paul on the Republican side) is getting a lot of his money from small donors ($10-500 range). His donator lists are huge compared to Clinton’s who attracts a lot more establishment large dollar donations. Unlike Paul however, Obama’s donations are translating into votes.
This gives me a much more positive view of Obama’s campaign. The fact that 50 people making under $40k a year are willing to give him $100 each means a lot more than 5 rich people giving Clinton $1,000.
Of course Obama does have big donor’s backing him too. But his fundraising support is far broader than Clinton’s (and light years ahead of any Republican’s).