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The Moderates Are Restless

Greetings. I am not sure I am in your demographic. I am a lifelong Democrat who generally spurns the more radical elements of the Party. I am a moderate. Nonetheless I had some opinions about the show you had on KEXP this last Saturday [Feb. 4 --ed.]. I can't quite remember the context of the comments you made but the general idea was that Democrats are weak, and have no real ideas about how turn the situation to their advantage. It irked me enough to remember to write to you. I have thought about this over the week repeatedly because it was so often a theme in the media. I find this argument to be: (a) disingenuous--as Democrats don't hold a majority in either the House or Senate; and (b) rather counter-productive towards creating an environment where progressive agendas--and surprisingly, democratic agendas--can be accomplished. Josh Marshall's site encapsulated my ideas far more eloquently here (www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/007633.php):

TPM Reader PM on the [New York] Times article: "Looks like the Times is reporting on the Dems the way [Judith] Miller, et al. reported on Iraq: repeat the administration's theme and talking points. In this case: Dems are weak. I assume the quotes reported were selected to present that point of view. It follows a pattern. Dems speak out forcefully and fairly against some administration action, and the press report is couched in 'Dems are weak' tones."

I read your paper from time to time and [am] appreciative of your thoughts and opinions even when they differ from mine. But when they echo Republicans, it doesn't exactly embolden me to embrace a more progressive agenda.

Thanks,

--Dan Bremson, Seattle

2) They don't even make that case very well. In case after case--Samuel Alito's confirmation being the best recent example--a Republican move that should have provoked all-out Democratic opposition did nothing of the sort. I don't think Democrats are weak. I do think, far too often, they're timid, both about what (if anything) they stand for and what they oppose. And that, as much as anything, is why Republicans continue to consider the War on Terror a winning political strategy even though they've been so demonstrably inept at it. The idea is to show that R's are leaders, and Dems are not. And it works, because, disorganized and disunited, the Democrats let it work.

"Educator-in-Chief"

We are not supposed to use the hot, impolite term "fascist" to refer to the dictionary-definition fascistic US merger of private business and public government (Benito's definition), enforced by police/military might, plus the rest of the baggage. But who does what they are "supposed to do"? Depends on who's giving the orders.

That said, "president" GWB said today (yesterday, depending) that he is not only "commander in chief" (of what, not said), but also "educator-in-chief" (of whom, not said). It seems that the implication is that he's OUR Commander-in-Chief ... of the entire US of A. Il Capo de Tutti Capos.

(That GWB passes himself off as an "educator" of any kind is too easy a target to deal with at the moment. Picture him in that class in Florida on 9/11, for instance--try Google Images with "bush" and "my pet goat"...)

This "commander-in-chief" line has been used and tolerated all over the place in our media lately, including so-called "public broadcasting", despite the fact that a president, IF he/she is legitimately elected, of course, is only Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, period. It is apparent that there's a move to have GWB be seen as C.I.C. of the entire population.

No US president is commander of We the People. We, the people, are Commanders-in-Chief of HIM (or her) ... so sayeth the Constitution which GWB swore, on his besmirched Bible, to preserve, protect and defend ... so help him God.

If we want a Commander (and Educator) -in-Chief of ourselves, we must get to a Wayback Machine and return to the golden Mussolini Era or the Third Reich. Hey, lotsa folks prefer being controlled to having freedoms. Shall we VOTE on this point? Ha. The majority, mindless of the concept of irony or idiocy, may "democratically" vote to eliminate democracy, or to elect officials with that in mind. That Can't Happen Here.

With our National "Public" Radio and "Public" Broadcasting System tolerating such Bushistic rhetoric without question or rebuttal, we ought to remember and act accordingly during upcoming "pledge" drives on such media outlets. If we send checks for Minus $100, will they send us money to support opposition to their biz-uber-alles directions?

--John Jonik, Philadelphia

Got True Cost Economics?

Once again, the timber industry is left without a leg to stand on. The recent Oregon State University study on post-fire "salvage" logging in the Biscuit fire area vindicates what environmentalists have been saying all along: that fire is a natural process in our forests, and the best thing to do after a fire is let the forest recover on its own.

The study proves that more seedlings have grown up and survived in burned areas that were not logged, than in areas that were clear-cut (surprise, surprise). The study also shows how the woody debris left on the ground after post-fire logging actually increases the risk of a re-burn, contradicting timber industry propaganda.

In addition to the OSU study, a World Wildlife Fund study documents a $14 million net-cash loss on the Biscuit sale by the Forest Service, whose funding comes from the pockets of US taxpayers.

These studies contain timely information that should motivate citizens to take action and demand that their elected officials strike down Rep(s). Baird and Walden's, as well as Sen. Smith's, dishonest "salvage" bills, which they are currently pushing through the House and Senate.

But even these important scientific studies ignore the most critical issue of all: the lack of a system of natural resource inventory accounting. Claiming the Biscuit sale cost American taxpayers $14 million is a gross understatement. For if we attempted to place a price tag on our forests, taking into account the topsoil, clean air and water they produce, our assets would measure in the hundreds of trillions.

Isn't it about time someone conduct a study on the value of our standing forests, the engines of production for Nature's services and life on Earth?

--Josh Schlossberg, Communications Coordinator, Native Forest Council, Eugene, OR

Eat the Sugar-Frosted State!

Sorry folks, the numbskulls are at it again, so I have to write.

In a story appearing in the New York Times on Jan. 19, Melanie Warner reported that "[t]he Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Boston-based group Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and two parents served notice that they intended to sue Viacom, the maker of the popular children's TV show 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' and the Kellogg Company, a big marketer of food to children, which features the lovable SpongeBob on packages of cereal, Pop Tarts and cookies."

So, the CSPI is championing the actions of two parents, one of whom stated: "If my youngest sees her favorite TV character on the box, she will push me to buy it, even if she has never had the product before. ... Whenever I shop with my kids, I end up compromising and finding some 'best of the worst' junk food to keep them happy."

So, what is really at stake here? Control of the home. These two parents allow themselves to be held hostage by the demands of their children. No matter how much a child whines, cries, kicks, screams, bites, or beats his head against the tile, eventually he or she will understand that no matter what, Mommy is not going to buy Sugar Frosted Chocolate Bombs Brand Breakfast Cereal, as long as Mommy realizes who SHOULD be in control.

Perhaps rather than attempt to subjugate corporate America with a frivolous lawsuit, the parents involved should step back, pull their collective heads out of their asses and fork over a few bucks for some assertiveness training. Maybe we could take up a collection...

--Peter Sosso, Hustisford, WI