Letter to the Editor Ashland Daily Press 17 May 2008
American Curiosity Has Collapsed
Jesse Ventura was interviewed on MPR the other day & it was interesting on several counts. The one that interested me most was his comments on the 9/11 event. He said, among other things, something that I, too, have been asking people, with no satisfactory answer. He is the highest official, as ex-Governor, that I have heard ask any real questions about the way those buildings fell. A couple hours after the two main buildings were hit, a third building, called WT#7, went down, collapsed perfectly into its own "footprint".
What was the cause of that? That's the question, how & why did that third building go down? If your curious, find a film of the building coming down. Don't get sidetracked when someone dismisses the question by calling you a conspiracy nut, just take a look for yourself & try to answer that question. Consider the speed of the fall & the perfectly uniform timing of the collapse. To me it is not credible that it could fall as it did without a demolition team having a large hand in it. Buildings don't fall that way without help.
Old Jesse also said the founding Fathers would turn over in there graves if they could view the party system we now have. They were, for the most part, sure that political parties would be so divisive they would be the ruin of the republic. I too, think those old Founders had it right.
Stephen Dunker
Cornucopia, WI
Letter to Editor Ashland Daily Press 26 April 2008
Cruel & unusual interpretation.
I'm flabbergasted! Listening to 60 min interview with Supreme Court Justice Scalia, I now realize we have a very influencial Justice who believes that torture is not a "cruel or unusual punishment". Why? Torture is not a punishment when applied DURING an interrogation, it is a "interrogation technique." Forget about the cruel or unusual aspect, forget about the fact that the results are unreliable info, the MEANS of obtaining info are not punishments. Will some one ask him, please, is not torture during interrogation punishment for not answering questions the way the interrogators want?
He argues that punishment, by definition, can't occur till after a judgment has been rendered. This seems pretty convenient (for Bush & Alberto Gonzales) & for this Conservative Justice but not surprising for the Reagan appointed Justice who was so instrumental in putting Bush in office. (Bush vs. Gore)
Evidently the Founders should have said "cruel or unusual punishment or interrogation techniques." They screwed up by limiting that protection to the time after judgment, or so Justice Scalia would have us believe.
Stephen Dunker
Cornucopia. WI
Letter to Editor Ashland Daily Press 18 Mar 08 (Printed 31mar)
"A sharp downcline..." Treasury Sec. Paulson
When the Fed bails out a big company, or fiddle with the supply, they don't go into their wallets & pull out some bills they have tucked away for a rainy day. They order the supply of money to increase, in other words, print up more money. When they print more money it devalues the money that is already in circulation.
So, the big fellows, those folks who advocate unregulated free markets & lazzie faire, get bailed out & it's the little fellow who takes the loss, each of us has our dollars devaluated, our life style choices limited a little more. The Republican mantra in effect is "Privatize the profits & democratize the loses."
The traditional Republicans & Neocon call for less government rings pretty hollow as does the Republican finger pointing, their great concern about the Dems as being "fiscally irresponsible tax & spend types." Really folks, has there ever been a less fiscally responsible administration than this charge-the-next generation Bush pirate cabal? I think not. What else will he do to damage this country in his remaining 9 months? After all, one of the reasons the Presidency is so coveted is that its the only position you can break the law & then effectively pardon yourself & friends.
Stephen Dunker
Cornucopia, WI.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 2 Feb 2008
U.S. Sinking Deeper in Debt
I heard in the president's State of the Union, Mr Bush instructed Congress to get these tax rebates moving as quick as possible. The sooner we get this money to the taxpayers, the sooner the consumer can do his job. Sounds reminiscent of Bush's advice after 9/11 . What can we do? What guidance will the President give us? Spend some money! Get out there & shop!
I got tell you, this sounds like some variation of Voodoo economics. I'm not really knowledgeable enough to understand the US economic system, but then who is? Not even the near hallowed Greenspan had it figured out. I really doubt that giving tax cuts to the rich, pleading with people to consume, throwing new money at them when we are so far in debt, is in anyway good economic practice. I'm sure it is not sustainable so why not start making some corrections, now? Of course we know the Bush's solution for every situation is to give the rich more tax breaks, make the breaks permanent, but it sure sounds irresponsible to me.
These folks who make so much money should be delighted to pay more tax, grateful to the Country for the opportunities they have. There are no self-made men. We are all connected, all contributing & dependent on each other. Ayn Rand & her fiction is dead. Without some real correction & honest talk/understanding, we are going to be buried. Our debt is burying our freedom & we will soon be serfs, working more & more to pay off our ever increasing debt & its interest..
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia, WI
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 13 Oct 2007
Bush's Balanced Budget?
I was amazed to hear the other day that the Busy/Cheney administration said that their plan for a balanced budget by 2012 was on track, & further, that it was because of the tax cuts to the rich. That may be the way it is on some bogus scrap of paper, but, I submit, the truth is considerably different. My guess is that their plan calls for some draconian belt-tightening measures that the next administration will have to impose on all domestic programs. My guess is that the immense cost of the wars are not included within that budget. Nor the cost of rebuilding the Armed Forces which are nearly spent. It's a bogus budget plan from a most divisive administration that is itself the most self-destructive force to America that America has seen since the Sessionists of Civil War times.
The ideology of Self-centered Irresponsible Predatory Capitalism has been victorious, it has devoured democracy & looted this divided country. It has the Legislative branch cowed & the Judicial owned & the citizens left in a right wing media enhanced fog, wondering if Brittany is going to jail or just twiddling their thumbs, unaware of the bill which will soon be coming.
Stephen Dunker... Cornucopia, WI
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press August 10 2007
Censure is the right thing to do
Kudos to Sen. Russ Feingold for his effort to censure Bush & Cheney. Once again he has stepped up to the plate & spoke truth to power. His own party tells him it is to no avail, but I say it's the right thing to do. The consequences of no censure will be similar to the consequences of not rejecting Bush in 2004. Once the American people did not reject him, they joined in the ownership of the war. The rest of the world said, "Well, you Americans do not reject this President's illegal war, so it's your war too, not just some errant neo-con clique's."
Without censure the American people are validating, making precedent, taking ownership of this Administrations incredible abuse of power, destruction of our constitution, wild spending & the barbarous imperialistic knee -jerk violent responses for which we are becoming notorious. Our children will pay for this with much diminished life choices. "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to triumph is that enough good men remain silent" attributed to Edmund Burke.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia, WI
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press May 18 2007
Great Service in Herbster
On an appreciative note, I'd like to comment on the state of service in the North country. One Saturday mourning lately I was in Mpls, noticing that the car had been getting louder the past week or so, and that it was taking a turn for the worse. I had no idea, but thought perhaps the brakes were going, so with a van full of books I wheeled over to the freeway & headed north, thinking that once on the freeway I'll not need my brakes more than a couple times before I got home to Corny.
It was so loud I couldn't even hear the radio. Three & half hours later, 4pm Saturday afternoon, I pulled into Jim Reha's Auto repair in Herbster. Jim said it was the worst wheel bearing he'd seen in quite some time. Jim and his assistant James jacked it up & with good humor at the end of a long week fixed it. Well, by 5pm I was back on the road heading home to Corny with a new bearing in place. I just had to share my appreciation for this excellent mechanic and wonder where else one could ever roll in late on Saturday, have a great conversation, get a wheel repaired & get back on the road, smooth as if I were just stopping to stretch my legs. That's what I call great service.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia, WI
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press February 1 2007
Our engagement in the Near East is substantially like Brier Rabbits story of Brier Fox's engagement with Oooh-black, a substance very similar to that which has our National attention. Like Brier Fox, our leadership has been lured in, our leader's weaknesses played to the max... and we are all stuck. The way out starts with a getting new leadership. The old can wiggle all they want, but only get us more stuck, perhaps stuck at a whole new level, as they themselves are stuck in their old mindset. The longer we are stuck the more vulnerable we will be, the birds of prey will start to swoop in, making passes at what more & more looks to them like their next meal.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia, WI
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press Jan 02 2007
Which Game Mr. President?
Recently the president's spokesman was asked how the President reconciled saying last week that we were winning the war & that now, apparently not. Snow said that Bush said he would "No longer play the game." We wonder what game it was that he has admitted to playing up to now. Is it the "keep the truth from the press & citizens" game? Is it the commander-in-chief game?
What game is he no longer playing? Is it the con game he & his cronies have been playing on the American people? Is it the "shucks, I'm just a regular Texas guy like you all, 'cept that God talks to me" game? Is it the "divide & conquer" game? Perhaps it's the monopoly-like "get the rich richer" game? Is it the "all power to the executive & screw the Constitution" game?
I wonder how long the American people will play the "my head is buried in the sand & we will follow your inept leadership anywhere you want to take us' game." How long will American public play the "Oh, I'm too busy trying to make a living to be an active citizen & I'm sure it will work out ok" game.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia, WI
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 26 Nov 06
How Conservative is that?
Its been amusing listening to the Republicans pundits trying to spin the mid-term elections as a victory for Conservative ideas, citing several moderate Democrats who won seats. This is too humorous, that they should even clutch onto the phrase "conservative values". The Republicans haven't had a conservative thought in 25 years, much less acted in that direction. Fiscally irresponsible, they have been the borrow & spend party since Reagan was elected, how conservative is that? They have had, the past few years, some very authoritarian ideas, so, perhaps conservative in the sense of accumulating power at the top, conserving us right back to the Age of Kings. Even their ideas regarding abortion are not conservative in the sense that classic Conservatives do not want the government to interfere with a person's private life. Most of their thoughts & actions seem to revolve around ways of getting the very rich even richer & aiding the corporations gain leverage over citizens. There surely has been no thought of making Government smaller, more efficient or more transparent. No thought of taking care of natural resources or the poor. No thought of safeguarding the Constitution or personal liberties. No thought of heeding the Founding Fathers' warnings about avoiding dangerous foreign entanglements.
This prideful authoritarian branch of Republicans has gotten us into a jam. I think we ought to impeach Bush/Cheney/Rove, round up all the neo-cons, right-wing radio/TV propagandists, spinmeister-cheerleaders, hangers-on & ship them to Iraq. Only a couple of them have ever served militarily so they could get some first hand experience under their belts before they drag this country into another mess.
I hear that Ms. Rice is working hard, begging Syria & Iran to help us get out & they may eventually do that, but the price for that service will be very high. I do not think we should entrust the same folks who got us into this blind canyon, to get us out. We need better decision makers, not some muddy thinking Decider & his pseudo-idealist cabal of proven poor decision makers. How much more damage can they do in the next two years? Far as I can see, the big winner of our reckless Project Iraqi Freedom adventure, other than Korea & Iran, are the oil companies. Well, now that I think of it, that may be a success in the Bush/Cheney/Rove playbook; they got more money, more power, and they can play the fear card yet again. Now is that Conservative, Republican or Roveian ? I know it's not Democratic, Liberal, Progressive or Christian. It's Reckless & self-serving to the max, high crimes & misdemeaners I'd call it.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 20 October 2006
Time to change one-party rule
I'm a little relieved to see that a new decision making team in Washington is making itself known, but disappointed that they, Mr. James Baker & the Iraq War Advisory Group, will not put their recommendations forward till after the election. One thing we can infer though, is that the definition of "stay the course" will change. I think that one of the other "recommendations" that the adults will suggest, is that the administration actually open talks with our enemies. The juvenile Administration practice of not talking to all countries is mirrored in their refusal to listen to advisors outside of their own blinder-bound neo-con circle.
It is said that in a democracy we get the government we deserve. It is pretty humbling to think that we deserve no better than this. On the subject of elections and the dubious electronic voting machines I offer the following quote by Josef Stalin. "The people who cast votes decide nothing. The people who count votes decide everything". Lets demand paper receipts!
The vote I cast in early November is not to cut and run but rather to start the process of getting better decision makers in office & hold the present ones accountable. This current situation of one party rule is a disaster.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 18 July 2006
Most of us like the idea of sustainability. It has more than a nice ring about it, its a great idea. On July 21st there will be gathered at the Great Lakes Visitor Center, a conference about, Tourism & Rural Life & Sustainability. I think fondly of the old self-sufficient homesteads making & growing what they need, getting an order from Sears once a year. Of course most of those farmsteads are now full of shopping malls, Suburban cars and cul-de-sacs.
I'll be working that day, but hope folks that attend ask some good question. I suppose there will be questions on how to better package Honey, burn corn in the stove, and how to attract more "soft" tourism, like kayaking. Don't get me wrong, I like honey & Kayaks & wouldn't be without popcorn. But when I think of sustainability in this country I'm reminded of the story of Nero fiddling while Rome burned.
I hope a couple hard questions are asked. I hope someone asks if the speakers thinks that sustainability is a value that is compatible with capitalism & just how would that work, where has it worked? Tribal peoples lived, for the most part, in a sustainable fashion, until they were forced on reserves by the capitalists. I'm almost thinking that sustainability is one of those juicy bones, thrown out by the powers that be, to keep the little dogs busy, while the big boys are carving up & selling the earth underneath us all.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 4 July 2006
At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney, I ask "What's the deal with sirens at Parades? Did you notice how incredibly loud they are... is this really the desired effect we are looking for in a celebration? I don't think so".
Nearly every association I have with sirens is unpleasant.. the speeding ticket, the trip to the hospital... who needs more of that? The new sirens are strange & sooo loud that it offends the ear. It might be fun for the folks inside the vehicle, like flexing their muscles, but for those on the street its an auditory hell.
How about flying flags & pendants? Towns could hold contests to design a town flag to fly on emergency vehicles while in parades. Bells would be ok, but these sirens & blasters are so loud & harsh it is terrible on the ears, scares kids & the old as well. Years ago they were never so loud, the crescendo /decrescendos of the old sirens was music compared to the sirens vehicles are equipped with these days. Its great that they have improved these sirens for emergency use, but lets keep them for emergency use ONLY. I think we need to rethink this assault on our ears. Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 29 April 2006
America is Sliding Backwards
By using our power, to say the least, injudiciously, we have undermined our real power, that moral high ground which we still have. Any basis of American exceptionalism is gone, that is part of the non-financial capital GWB and the Republican Neo-con cabal has wasted. Rumsfeld has offered his resignation at least twice, but W has said no, so the responsibility for the bad strategic military decisions lays in the Oval Office. What further poor decision making can we afford?
Internationally, there will be more effort to hold the US in check, to balance American excesses now that the world sees we can't balance our own. The political block in Asia will have more world support & power. Perhaps an Iran backed by energy hungry China, banding together defensively. A World becoming more polarized, just as they have made this country.
Welcome to the world where we are just another country with imperial ambitions, questionable human rights record, decreasing freedoms and dubious financial dealings. We have jeopardized our leadership in the world by forcing it on the world.
We have let the short-sightedness of this Boardroom Administration loot, oops, I mean run the country, decimate every government institution except prisons, & while the quarterlies may still look ok, the foundation is weakened. This Boardroom president & his gang have thrown just enough fish to keep the religious right supportive, leaned just enough on the fear button to keep the left in line, waved the flag just enough to keep the middle feeling righteous. Karl Rove has done well & sensing a bit of resistance ahead, he has cleared his desk so he can once again throw fish & push that fear button for the next round of balloting. Voting, of course, will be done, more and more on questionable Diebolt Voting machines.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 7 January 2006 (sent in 20 Dec.)
I think Democrats ought not put all their eggs into the "get out now" basket, or even into the "get this whole administration out now" basket, my personal favorite. The chances of it happening are pretty slim. Nope, I think Dems ought to take advantage of the low polls & get educating the public, who may be getting more receptive, as to what this cabal is doing, and on the positive side, what this Country could do with new leadership.
Only God, Karl Rove know how much control this gang will have over the electoral system in three more years. By then it may be considered terror related to even speak about Bush in less than glowing words. He is evidently already bugging the Quakers & Catholic Charities. Who thinks there will EVER be an end to the State of War that Bush has proclaimed? Where will his assumption of power take us?
This is a small-minded & mean-hearted corrupt Administration, hell bent on class warfare. They hide behind the Flag & your fear. Their every effort has been to strengthen & equip themselves & the rich with the tools of that class war... raiding, debilitating one agency after another, while protecting corporations against suits & allowing them to raid pension funds, increasing our debt beyond rational limits. We're living at a time when rumors are more likely to be true than the news, or certainly more likely than the administration's comments.
Within this Country we need a truth squad at ever newscast & announcement. Internationally we need a positivity offensive, a massive Peace Corp-like effort to actually help other peoples & show them something positive to emulate. A democracy that actually believes in democracy, not one, like we appear to be, one that says "Do as I say, not as I do." Bush is scaring the world away from democracy and democracy here is becoming an illusion. We need a democracy that revolves around people, not one that is merely a front for profit gathering Capitalism ...generating hostility around the world. How about some conscious capitalism? One that values something greater than the quarterly bottom line.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 18 Oct 2005
Crying wolf from the oval office
One of the real dangers of having a President, who speaks & acts mainly to suit himself & his sponsors, is that when real dangers come up, its very hard to believe him. When we can't believe him its hard to take seriously what he says. Like the boy who yelled wolf a number of times, he had all the villagers running to help him...but no wolf to be found. When the wolf was really at the door, the villagers didn't believe him & consequently didn't come to his aid.
The country is no doubt in danger from extremists. I for one, do not have any faith in this administration's pronouncements of what the danger is, where it is or what is being done about it.
When the president diverts the energies & attention of the nation, he runs the very real risk of not being credible when he does speak a truth we need to embrace. When a president uses volunteers for his own purposes, volunteers who volunteered to serve the country, that is a diversion of our assets & a subversion of the good idealism of those volunteers.
At this point, the extremist I worry most about is in the oval office.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 10 August 05
Who can decern God's will? A reply to the letter way below...
In his warnings of the dangers of a "Live & Let Live" attitude, the Christian gentleman from Butternut, wrote on 9 Aug., "Christians are often wrongly accused of judging others, when they are merely announcing whom God has already judged." Which is to say, that those Christians "know" the mind of God, how He judges, what His judgments are. I may be wrong, but this seems to me to be a rather arrogant statement, dangerously unChristian, bordering on blasphemy... If you know God's mind why do we even need God? It must be quite heady indeed. Are those knowing Christians equal to God? We could just call you on the phone, which would much easier than trying to understand His will.
The gentleman's further assertion that the phrase "Live & Let Live" may come from satanic worship, is really an indication of how much at odds the Religious Right is with the principles of democratic society. Well, at least this gentleman from Butternut will have philosophical friends among, not only the Right, but also among the militant Muslims who have equal disdain for the idea of "Live & Let Live." Are democratic ideals now incompatable with our new strident Christianity?
I'm reminded of the great quote by Author Anne Lamott "Its safe to assume you've created God in your own image when you discovery God hates the same people you do."
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
Live and Let Live: Dangerous
Joanne Petersons letter in the July 30 Daily Press quotes Scripture correctly, but draws some incorrect conclusions.
It is untrue that the Bible teaches us to take care of ourselves, not everyone else. There is no Scriptural support for "let others be."
Jesus said: "Preach the Gospel to every creature." Jesus taught His followers to be "salt" and "light." The Parable of the Good Samaritan makes it clear that the Christian is to affect others. The early church was accused of "turning the world upside down." The late Mother Teresa lived the Christian life well, and wasn't afraid to say: "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
Our Father in Heaven judges sin. Christians are often wrongfully accused of judging others, when they are merely announcing whom God has already judged.
Where did the expressions "let others be" and "live & let live" come from? I don't know for sure, but they come very close to the motto "do what thou wilt, but harm no one" which has been associated with witchcraft and the worship of Satan.
Rorbert L. Senne Butternut
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press 20 July 2005
WHEN IRAQ BLOWS UP
When Iraq descends into civil war. That should be the signal that is it time to impeach Mr. Bush. An unnecessary, unwinable war of his choosing, ill conceived & unplanned for, undermanned, destructive of the cradle of civilization; that should fall into the category of "high crimes or misdemeanors". When the civil war breaks, our understaffed, over extended troops will be right in the middle, caught in the crossfire. The result will be more death & instability, less control & less friends. Fellow citizens, we need a new team in the White House... we need leaders who make better decisions, not ideologues who push their agenda ahead regardless of the cost, in lives & wealth, to this country.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press Who is Ayn Rand? 15 July 2005
When I was about 19, I was in the Navy & reading Ayn Rand. She appealed to an adolescent strain of idealism in me & some friends. I held the foolishly fearless belief that we are a powerful, self made elite: we were 'the special few' who were destined to be above the ordinary, with an ethic of our own.
Well, by the time I read her VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS I knew something was terribly wrong with this way of thinking. I moved on, thinking she would be a mere footnote in the history of philosophy. Was I surprised, indeed, when I realized that our Government was firmly in the hands of Ayn Rand followers. Now called 'Neo-Cons', they had somehow morphed into the Christian Right Wing & were in fact the "brains" behind Bush the Younger. How the Christians incorporated the self-centered elitist atheism of Ayn Rand into their flock is truly a question worth pondering. I think the reverse happened - the Neo-Cons conned the Christians into thinking that they had something in common. Well they do, they both want to change the world. I'm not sure who is using who, but I'm quite sure it's a marriage made in Hell. I heard it suggested that the particular Hell in which that marriage thrives is that of the shared hate of Israel's enemies, the Arabs-Muslims. Its called "shared values" in Orwellian-Bushspeak
The Neo-Cons realized the Christians would follow them anywhere if they had a frontman that was credibly born again. Then they just promoted a few agenda items that the Christians wanted. These divisive "wedge" issues are pretty well known by now, and they have swung the election into the hands of the Neo-cons' man, Bush.
I can't imagine the Christians knew who they were getting in bed with. The narrow spectrum of Christian agenda items that these Neo cons are helping, seems to me, are completely overshadowed by the very unChristian agenda that the Neos bring to the table. The tremendous debt passed on to our children, the stratification of society, the accumulation of wealth at the top, the effort to indenture the world, subvert other nation's welfare to our capitalistic ends, (under the guise of Democracy)..the effort to silence opposition. These all seem distinctly unChristian, distinctly imperial, & a far cry from Christ's humble adages. With Neo-Con Wolfowitz at the helm of the World Bank, I pity the peoples of Africa. They will soon have their resources "privatized" along with the pirate's share of profits. God help them - they will be colonized in their own country this time.
With Neo-Con Mr Cox at the helm of the Securities Exchange Commission, I pity the small investor, as he will somehow take the brunt of losses & be excluded from much of the gains. Such has happened in numerous 'bail outs.' Remember, the Neo-cons have an ethic of their own & it's closer to "Pi-- on you" rather than their earlier, gentler "trickle down" version of separating you from your money. It's the very same folks doing the separating.
I think the Evangelical Christians have spiritually sold out to the Ayn Randian Capitalists for a few pieces of silver & a back seat in the Neo-Con snowplow.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press What's in store for us Now? 6 Dec 04 (Printed 20 Dec 04)
I'll admit it, I'm a pessimistic Democrat. I worry for the real safety of this country. The insurgents in Iraq are more bold, incensed by the unmerited invasion & the wholesale death of Moslem civilians. More Moslem groups will see the righteousness/merit in opposing us, and they will start to oppose us. Other countries too will oppose our arrogant imperial tendency in more subtle ways. Perhaps making it more difficult for us to gather intelligence, or compete economically, allowing assassinations to go uninvestigated, turning there backs on Al Qaeda in transit, all may be ways their unspoken fear/anger will manifest itself. Undermining of the Dollar is very possible.
I say this President should be impeached for spreading us too thin, putting us in real harms way, not the pseudo harm that he claimed as the rational for invading Iraq. In this country, many people still believe the lies that the Bush Admin told to get us involved in Iraq, but no one in the Near East or the rest of the world believes any of it. The Islamic masses see through the neo-con smoke screen. They see raw aggression & an untruthful, unrepentant, expansionist US Policy. The Moslems are on a righteous cause to free their country & their fellow Moslems' country from a outspokenly Christian Crusader. ( Who was that US General who publicly said "Our God is Better than Their God!"?)
If the Russians were doing what we are doing, we would be arming the Islamic freedom fighters against the Imperialists, as we did in Afghanistan. One wonders why the Russian leader endorsed Bush. Was it because because Bush turned a blind eye to the happenings in Chehnea? or the promise of oil? Is it possible that the old KGB man Putin, is looking a few moves ahead on the international chess board? Does he see Bush as a self righteous fool who's overreaching arrogance will lead him (& US) into a box canyon, weakening us & paving the way for the return of a relatively more powerful USSR.
Mr. Bush, raw might is not the only or even the best way to be strong. Politicizing the CIA is not the answer either. I can understand Mr Bush's avoiding Viet Nam but not his avoiding understanding the lessons of Viet Nam... not to commit an inadequate # of troop, not to equip them properly, not to give them clear achievable goals. Study the adversary & have an ACCURATELY informed public with you.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press: 12 May 04 Self-proclaimed "Moral" Leadership?
Today I heard Mr. Bush talk about the revenge beheading of an American as an outrage & typical of the kind of people we were dealing with. Yesterday he spoke about the terrible deeds our Guards perpetrated on the prisoners in their charge...as being unAmerican, antithical to what we stand for. Both statements may be true... but it did bring to mind the Biblical story of how easy it is to see the smallest flaw in others while being blind to the bigger one in ourselves.
This Administration has set the stage for all sorts of abuse. Claiming that the POW rules don't apply, was like announcing they would treat prisoners any way they wanted. Prisoners being sent to other countries, where torture is used, or to our own "non-countries" (ie. Guantanemo). The Bush proclaimed permanent state of war is the end of such democracy as we have. This administration has created an environment where any means are ok. Where is the Morality?
I can't understand why the Vets are not in the streets, enraged. As a Veteran, I shudder when I think of the possible treatment our troops and our children will receive in the future if captured. I hold Bush/Rumsfeld responsible for not having an adequate number of trained troops in Iraq. Is it not bad enough that our troops are over there, half dependant on mercenaries, breathing in the depleted uranium, most likely the cause of Gulf War Syndrome, from our own artillery shells? This group too will come home & come down with illnesses, at a time when this War President is closing or playing politics with Veterans clinics. Where is the Morality?
The continous fictitious Bush drumbeat-like claim that the Iraqis, Islamists or Terrorists hate us for our freedom is an insult to anyone who knows anything about history. They don't hate us for our freedom; they hate us for our foreign policy which has devastated one country after another. Our Military has many times been the strong arm of the Capitalist designs of US corporations. This economic imperialism is the source of much of the world's resentment. We here in the US do not often see it, & for the most part accept the benefits, & are unaware of what corporations have done outside our borders. ..much of it is what could not be done here. (for example, Wallmart & its hundreds of Chinese factories staffed by near slave labor). Where is the Morality? Now they, the corporations, with their billions & their representatives all but rule the Country. We are living in a "Corpocracy".
We hear from the Administration that outsourcing is great for America (ie. corporations). I wonder why they fight outsourcing for consumer medicine (ie. pills from Canada) as an evil to be made illegal? Where is the Morality?
We hear that rightwing stalwart, Rush Limbough dismiss the mistreatment of prisoners as no more serious than a fraternity "hazing". How's that for Morality?
Administration connected Contractors are writing their own cost-plus contracts. Where is the Morality?
And now Mr. Bush sounds like he wants to pick a fight with Cuba... (or is that just political saber rattling for the Florida Cuban vote?). Well, at least the transportation cost for hauling Cuban prisoners to Guantanemo won't break the bank. (not that there is anything in the bank but IOUs which the Saudis, Chinese & Japanese own.) & where's the Morality in that debt we are leaving for our children?
In my opinion, we are one self-rightous mis-step away from a world wide religious war & economic collapse. The Fundamentalists, ours & their's, may look forward to that, but I for one do not. I don't know how much more Mr. Bush's "Moral " leadership the world can endure.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press: 6 Oct 2002 Debt, Domination & Destruction (printed on 12oct02)
It appears to me that the Bush policy is to indenture the taxpayers of this Country. Put the little people on the treadmill of interest paying perpetually. Say what you want about Clinton, but we were getting out of debt... now we are in free fall into economic servitude, at least those of us who don't own either big blocks bank stocks, or corporations in the tax free Cahmen Islands
Internationally, Bush has managed to turn the world's feelings of sympathy for our Country into feelings of increasing suspicion, distrust, & anger toward America. It is becoming more apparent that the the US policy is to pave the way for Corporate domination of the world ... it has little to do with democracy or freedom... much to do with economic/cultural imperialism... "access to markets " or some other euphemism. It is exactly that economic/cultural domination which other Nations & Peoples resent more & more. Our drive to access/dominate every market will only further isolate us. The cost of protecting that dominance will only increase.
And now, with Bush having so publicly shown his hawkish hand to Iraq & the world...how can we not go to war?* And Sadam, he would be a fool at this point not to get whatever weapons he has amassed, aimed at us & our allies... & booby-trap his country, in anticipation of our arrival. I don't believe we will occupy Baghdad... it is more our style to blow it to smithereens from the air & let our lesser allies police the area & breathe in the depleted Uranium dust from our armor piercing shells... & the spores of God only knows what germs which may be tucked away in those bunkers. I think bombing, as we did in Afghanistan, could really backfire. I wonder if our bombs are "smart" enough to avoid contaminating the atmosphere & our "liberating" forces with the deadly spores they are trying to destroy?
Mr. Bush, how about leading this Country out of oil dependency and away from the politics of domination? For Bush to get us off of oil would be like Nixon going to China, & then some. It will happen though, the day that the oil people can get the patent rights on sunshine.
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia
*[the Downing Street memo exposed in Spring 05 confirms that indeed, they decided in July of 02 to "fix" the intelligence & go to war]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ashland Daily Press the past couple years
27Aug2002 (6 months before the war)
A questionably elected President is now arguing for the right to go to war preemptively, with a country that has not attacked us, & to go to war without a declaration from Congress. Putting aside the Constitutional questions, are we to now suppose that the concept of preemptive warfare is now ok? Is it ok for Iraq? Or is it just ok for us? I would say we are now more of a threat to Iraq than Iraq is to us. Is Iraq now morally justified to strike out at us while they still have some capacity? So if they attack us, will the Bush Hawks agree that Iraq has a right to do it?
The Hawks are flying high, too high to see the unintended ground level consequences. We can't even make safe Kabul, a city which we were more or less welcomed into, to say nothing of the Afgan countryside. How are we to pacify Baghdad & tribal hinderlands of Iraq. Our troops will be sitting ducks for any Arab who has Religious or Nationalistic feelings. We will be the Occupying Infidels... fair game for both righteous Nationalists & Religious partisans. Will our exit from Iraq be more graceful, less humiliating than our exit from Viet Nam?
Stephen Dunker Cornucopia