Letters to the Editor
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Facts Fail?
Great interview, Tom. No question that Bush has gotten away with murder, figuratively and literally. No question that he has committed at least two major impeachable offenses, going to war on lies, and warrantless spying on Americans. Part of the problem is the mentality of the mainstream media in this country, which, unfortunately, is still under the influence of the years-long right-wing hararangue about the "so-called liberal media." (thank you Jonathan Alter) It's only the last two or three years that has seen a left and center pushback on the SCLM myth, and, mainly, on the Internet, which simply doesn't get into our "consciousness," as defined by television mainstream media. I think left and center needs to make a more conscious effort to create a "left wing noise machine" that calls to task the "right wing" bent of the media. Recent efforts by MOVEON.ORG, and others should help, but it will take awhile to get the balance back towards center, at least. We also need campaign finance reform: simply have the feds finance all federal elections, based on a candidate's ability to get small donations from a large number of voters, and with increased funds available to a publicly financed individual who's running against "rich Joe" who has unlimited resources. There's no constitutional bar (i.e. Buckley v Valeo) to such financing, since it doesn't limit the right of "rich Joe" to spend whatever he wants to get elected. Again, great interview.