Letters to the Editor
droogoy
Published Letters: 590 Editor's Choice: 9
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X-files
[Read the article: Bugliosi vs. "Brothers"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"I'm convinced that we'll never get to the bottom of this until they open the X-Files"
Naaah. We're already 99% to the "bottom". At least those of us who've actually read all the available documents, materials that have been released - including from the HSCA investigation.
All the evidence seen in toto shows this was a conspiracy, as the HSCA concluded. Given that more evidence and witnesses and tests (of superior quality) were available for the latter, it makes eminent sense that its findings would trump the bastardized Warren Commission anachronism.
The problem isn't that we will "never get to the bottom" it is that so many people are prepared to comment on the assassination without having done the grunt work and research.
That is also the real tragedy.
As Michael Parenti noted (Dirty Truths, p. 155):
"To know the truth about the assassination of John Kennedy is to call into question the state security system and the entire politico-economic order it protects."
As Parenti has also noted (op. cit.) until Americans grow up and realize the JFK assassination was the work of a “gangster state” they will remain in an infantile mindset and never be able to surmount the underlying forces at work in our society. Rather they'll remain pasive victims to any and all deep politics machinations.
The lone nut "hypothesis" with its absurd assault on truth, basic physics and common sense ("single bullet theory") must now be interred with other assorted dreck.
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National Health Care is a matter of national security
[Read the article: "Sicko"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't know why the issue of a national health care system is still being debated. It is clear as clear can be that it's the only sensible option.
The government is part and parcel of the civil commons. And if the civil commons is dysfunctional or impoverished then the nation’s internal security is compromised at its highest levels. This applies particularly to health care.
A nation with half sick or under-functioning citizens cannot protect itself. A nation that denies paid sick leave leaves open the compromise of healthy citizens and the loss of productivity. A nation with millions of financially dependent and sick oldsters cannot have the resources to move ahead, since young families must now care for the oldsters themselves.
We know and have the evidence that a single payer system is not only feasible but superior to private outfits. For example, Medicare’s administrative costs are less than one-twentieth those of HMOs. Thus, far less money is squandered on paper pushing.
There is no reason a priori that a Medicare-style system can't be implemented nationally, but it will necessitate:
i) repealing every last one of the Bush 2001 tax cuts
ii) Raising taxes across the board on the wealthy, back to 60% marginal level at least - on all those earning $500k or more per year.
In other words, do the same thing the other advanced western economies have done to ensure health care is a basic right.
Do people still have an obligation to take decent care of themselves? What they eat, etc.? Of course! But a civilized (as opposed to barbaric) nation also provides for a safety net to withstand the health vagaries of life. The untimely car accident - perhaps caused by being hit by a drunk, or the untimely and unanticipated illness.
It is time to get back to the injunction in the Preamble to the Constitution to "promote the general welfare".
As Adam Smith himself pointed out in his “Wealth of Nations’,
“that which benefits the lesser half can never be an inconvenience to the whole”
Bravo to Michael Moore for once again placing a critical issue on the front burner.
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Taxes
[Read the article: "Sicko"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]shannonr wrote:
"By reforming health care, the US could actually have a system that was better and also cheaper! Taxes, in other words, could actually go down. What's not to like!?
"
Not intially they wouldn't! You need the outlay money (from higher taxes at the outset) to initially implement the single-payer system - which, of course- means that the HMO system is phased out. THAT will cost moola. (The HMO system must be phased out since up to 30% of its profits are based on its paper-pushing costs, there is no issue or debate on this)
I agree that once the system is reformed and delivery begins savings will be manifest that possibly will lead to decreased taxes to support the system.
OTOH, if some unseen health catastrophe strikes (Avian flu, new strain of MRSA running rampant) all bets are off, and there likely would be no change or higher taxes. Simply because of much more onerous demands nationwide on the system.
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Why don't
[Read the article: "Sicko"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]prenticehill wrote:
"Why don't the people who think that other countries are better than ours leave?
Why don't the ignorant right wing trolls who think that people who think that other countries are better ought to leave the country, leave Salon.com? And never come back, or read anything here ever again?
I mean, if it gets your dander up so much reading liberal-slanted articles and comments, what's the point? You'd be a happier lil Reaganite camper at the Free Republic.
I'll make you a deal: you stop whining about us leaving the country and I won't demand you cease frequenting Salon.com. How's that?
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Sources
[Read the article: For more information]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Other very good sources for research:
http://www.geocities.com/verisimus101/faq/index.htm
Touches on many facets of the assassination including Oswald's CIA background, his sheepdipping and set up as patsy, as well as questions of evidence, motives, and so on. Also, a superb introductory section on the use of logic.
One of the best assets of the above link are the compendious references, and sources. I have found it to be a boon in my own research.
Also see, the Real History archives at:
http://www.realhistoryarchives.com/collections/assassinations/jfk.htm
Lastly, I heartily recommend one of the best books ('Deep Politics and the Death of JFK') by the 'Dean' of JFK assassination researchers, Peter Dale Scott.
I believe it behooves all real Americans to do their bit and at least make some effort to acquaint themselves with the research. It isn't good enough to simply fob it off on others,or believe the most facile claptrap from the likes of Gerald Posner, that the case is closed.
And btw, if you think Posner's codswallop is worth anything more than yesterday's lickspittle, I advise checking out the "Posnerisms":
http://spot.acorn.net/jfkplace/09/fp.back_issues/19th_Issue/posner_dozen.html