November 2008
FightingBob.com readers talk back
Letter on: How many zeros?
“One trillion is a number that has 12 zeroes. It goes million, then billion, then trillion. For example, the total value of the government bailout is now 8.5 trillion, or $8,500,000,000,000. The reason for the discrepancy between the definitions online is that the numbers vary between nations. In Britain, what we call a trillion is known as a quintillion. So Ed is right in saying that an American trillion is "one million million."”
-John Ertl | Park Falls, WI | November 30, 2008
Letter on: It is getting interesting
“Could it be that someone is finally paying attention to Mr Garvey or, have these horrific, OBVIOUS conflicts of interest (ethics) become a millstone ??”
-Calvin Rinkel | Brookfield, WI | November 29, 2008
Letter on: Read and give thanks
“In regard to Kevin Reilly. I believe the NYTimes carried an article earlier this week noting that some college presidents are voluntarily cutting their won wage and perk packages. Time for Reilly to do the same. Despite the crying from the chancellors etc. Reilly is actually doing quite well for the president of a public school. No, it will not fix the problem but sometimes symbolism does help. After all, look at how cluelss the execs of the Big Three automakers looked when they went to Congress with begging bowl in hand. If students have to suffer then the top brass can take a hit too. It is long overdue. If Reilly doesn't like it he can vote with his feet and leave. I am sure we can find someone to replace him. Just don't go to Detroit to find that person.”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | November 28, 2008
Letter on: The closing of their own minds
“The greatest, most profound challenge facing right wing corporate America is just this: how do we teach needed work skills in higher education, without accidently triggering within the student the ability to think?
If a student begins the process of acquiring the ability to think critically, a sort of mysterious nuclear reaction occurs in the brain stem, which most often results in an irritating habit of asking more questions, and invariably questioning authority.
Religious home school colleges is the obvious solution for this pesky problem, paid for with tax payer funded vouchers of course!”
-Mr. Backwards | Alaska | November 27, 2008
Letter on: Friends don't let friends
“Keep in mind that recent satirical headline from The Onion: "International Con Man Barack Obama. . . "
I still think Obama was worth voting for, simply on the hope of better federal court appointments, plus the necessity of keeping Palin out, but after all is said and done, we must realize this was never anything but a choice of the lesser of two evils, politically.
"Change you can believe in!" bids fair to join those other mementos of hypocritical hucksterism on the hustings:
"A chicken in every pot!"
"He kept us out of war!"
"Compassionate Conservatism!"
This election is just another reminder that there is good reason not to "put your trust in princes."
Hard work awaits.”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | November 27, 2008
Letter on: Friends don't let friends
“After being depressed for the last 8 years, I am more than willing to give President-Elect Obama some leeway with the selection of his cabinet members and advisors. I think he is learning from former President Jimmy Carter who also was going to change the way things were done in Washington. He wasn't successful mainly because he did not use the kind of political insiders that President-Elect Obama is using. After reading Audacity of Hope, I am going to trust the author with his vision of change for our country. If I am proven wrong, how can it be any worse than the last eight years?”
-Carol Cate | Ripon, WI | November 26, 2008
Letter on: SAVE CITIGROUP! KILL THE UAW!
“Why are you surprized? Nader has said for a long time that there is no difference between the Dems and Repugs. The philosophy may be different but the outcome is the same.
George Will is of the same mind. A polar opposite of Nader, he feels we are just picking one rich guy, beholden to corporate interests over another rich guy beholden to the same corporate interests.
Obama claims he did not win because of the base but because of the middle. Just let him fail to quickly close out he war. He will be a one termer compliments of the base. The base did it to Carter and they can do it to Obama.”
-Lawrence J. Piper | Marathon, WI | November 26, 2008
Letter on: SAVE CITIGROUP! KILL THE UAW!
“Wage concessions are not unknown in American labor. Personally, I would think the UAW would rather give up a little on current wages than abandon promised benefits. A large number of UAW workers could give up 10% and still get paid a good deal better than most teachers. Most could give up 20% and still be very comfortable in the middle classes.
However it comes out, this is going to be a big and bitter pill. It is not unreasonable to suggest that UAW members choke down some portion of it.
That said, there should certainly be a large group of people standing in the med line with them. The UAW shouldn't be taking the brunt of this one alone.”
-Jeff | Madison, WI | November 25, 2008
Letter on: Check the fine print
“Any study which does not include parents, teachers, administrators, people from the universities, tech schools, students and recent graduates ignores a huge percentage of the people who know the most about what's happening on the ground and how to improve it.
I suppose it's better than getting it all straight from DC like Nation at Risk. Many of the players are after all consumers of the public school product - our workforce. I think corporate people do deserve a chance to suggest improvements which they think would help make them more competitive.
But theirs should only be one voice of many. It seems we're pushing education further and further into the realm of job training, and that should be the subject of public debate.”
-Jeff Blank | Madison, WI | November 25, 2008
Letter on: A (thin) silver lining
“It always irks me to see people who call themselves Democrats acting undemocratically. Abolishing elective offices? Why not just abolish elections? Less important offices like Treasurer and Secretary of State still have at least the function of giving voters a look at potential public servants---makes the field bigger rather than smaller for statewide races; lets lesser-known or underfunded people get a chance to increase recognition and voter contact . . . and the offices could be beefed up with functions now delegated to undemocratic entities like that board you have now administering elections and abetting the privatization of that critical process!
As for the sales tax . . . there's a dilemma. You can hardly invent a more regressive form of taxation, but it is more popular than the income tax---due, I suppose, to decades of right-wing propagandizing on the topic. Still it's regressive and ought to be the last resort for raising revenue.
You know what they did in the last Depression? They repealed alcohol prohibition so that the liquor business could be taxed. It helped a lot! Now I suggest you seriously start advocating the re-legalization of cannabis, because there's the sure source of revenue that could pull us through the upcoming depression. Sure, politicians are scared of it---they're scared of their own shadows, really. So throw that into the debate---at least put it out there. The idea will generate its own momentum.”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | November 24, 2008
Letter on: Something very good happened!
“To be fair to Ted Olson it should be mentioned that he is the one who stopped Jim Doyle when he tried to claim that our Native Tribes had no right to control water quality on their reservations. I believe that case involved the Mole Lake Band of Chippewa and was in the context of the Flambeau Mine(s).”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | November 20, 2008
Letter on: Pig in a poke
“You and the Pig in a Poke writer both are missing the point. Both seem to suggest that these good things -- Health Care, Education -- are free to the public (or to the pigs).
The question for adults is not, do you want these things, but what is the best way of getting them? And, are they worth the cost in taxes?
Consider health care. If the government mandates health care for all, and pays for it mainly through taxes, then you have the benefit of a large, unbiased "insurance" pool. The average cost is lower.
The question of relative emphasis on public vs. private education is more complex, but that is the issue. Make the case for your preference, and consider the costs.
The challenge is to persuade a majority of voters and politicians to support an adequate level of taxes to support these good things. That's the only way to make progress.”
-Dan Cornwell | Madison, WI | November 18, 2008
Letter on: One last thing before you go
“"Even if no one is prosecuted, future U.S. presidents will be put on notice that they will be held accountable if they violate their oath of office." This is perhaps the most important sentence in the article. The person holding the office of president must be reminded that in all cases, the people have the first and final say. The job title is "President of the United States" not CEO, king or dictator.”
-Blurondo | Wauwatosa, WI | November 18, 2008
Letter on: The kids are all might
“Right on Bill.
A two-part solution. Young people need to stay with the process and we need to continue to fight for reforms which insure voters and citizens control the system.
Your point about community sustanibility is also well made. I think our younger generations understand how fragile our world is and their role in protecting it. The strength of the movement is not support of all things Green and Democratic, but all things green and democratic.”
-Mark Berglund | Medford, WI | November 17, 2008
Letter on: Insert your obsession here
“It has become so clear to me how the Germans-even some German Jews- were either molded to hate or lulled into false security. So often it's "oh don't use hitler! don't use nazis" to illustrate what's going on, but it was an extremely successful campaign, yes? And the similarities abound.
I'm German, no, my family was German-i was born here. I'm an American. But what happened 70 years ago is with me. The questions I have wrestled with all my life ... well, i guess at 50 I AM getting the answers. And they aren't what I wanted to hear.”
-Nancy | Hustisford, WI | November 17, 2008
Letter on: Life of the party
“Blue Wisconsin? It sure don't feel like that in Dodge County or Jefferson County, or Washington, Waukesha....We worked very hard to get what we got in Dodge County-it's red all over here! So many people are afraid to speak; so many people who believe all the stuff from right wing Nuts and parrot it ad infinitum. As long as people call themselves "dittoheads" there's no hope for them. Really! To be proud of being a...mindless repeater?
Another writer complains about Air America....I'd be lost without it. They probably have a job that keeps their mind occupied. It's hard not to feel isolated with just my print media...but i think the writer who thinks Stewart and Colbert aren't funny probably has access to see them regularly. It took me quite a while before I saw a daily show that was blah, but i rarely catch it at my sister's. It's been better than what's available to me-no cable, no web-i'm at the library.
I get tired of "shows", whether on tv,print, radio, npr,Jean Ferraca, Feldman, old time radio, the car guys-i'm back listening after a long time and they aren't annoying! I picked up a time magazine and couldn't stop reading! whew! It was sort of spooky. Age?
Some people get worn out on a resource/source....i think that's a good trait.
If only people would get tired of all those troublemakers on fox,etc. I try not to be "elitist" but how in the #@4# can those people suck that all up? It dumbfounds me completely. Am i sucking it up from the other side? 1st-there's more than 2 sides. And second-it makes sense, has backup, has what i see as truth! Geesh! My son was 9 years old at most when he said "that's a Lie!" regarding George W.! And some of the peple i encountered while promoting Obama? I'm sorry but I have to feel superior to them or I'd shoot myself!”
-NLL | Watertown, WI | November 17, 2008
Letter on: Life of the party
“Mark Twain never said that. Will Rogers said something sort of like that. When quoting historical figures, please check a source or two first. You can even use the internet . . . but I trust reference books more. Check ANYTHING ascribed to Twain, Lincoln, Franklin, or either Roosevelt.”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | November 17, 2008
Letter on: Can't help you
“And I find it disturbing how niggardly business and employers are when it comes to paying a livable wage. The American worker has built this nation and continues to contribute talent, energy and time, yet the response of business remains "what's in it for us".
$10-18 and hour does not pay the bills. It certainly does not allow any cash at the end of the month for the worker to have some fun and enjoy life. You disagree, you say? Pick your wage subtract taxes and then see what you can do with the leftovers: rent, health, car, groceries, clothing, medicine, personal hygiene, gas, utilities.
Without the worker, businesses become purposeless and without meaning.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton, WI | November 15, 2008
Letter on: Hooray!
“As part of the proposed power plant in Cassville, they were going to close down one of the worst polluting plants in the state and significantly clean up the Cassville facility. Not to mention the boost to the economy it would have provided to Southwest Wisconsin that it desperately needs. I am a strong believer in progressive ideas, but Doyle and Co. dropped the ball on this one. How can you say no to those kinds of jobs, especially in the current economic crisis, plus it would have been a net environmental gain.”
-Tino | Bloomington, WI | November 14, 2008
Letter on: Can't help you
“Ed, You just never got it! It was weak Management, over-regulation, and the UAW that resulted in the current U.S Auto Inustry predicament. The only course that can save the Industry is bankruptsy. We all know the UAW won't, "go away". The Labor Contracts will simply be re-structured to make them competitive with the world-wide Industry. Yes, that means reductions in bloated wages, un-employment schemes, "cadillac" insurance Plans, restrictive work practices, and excessively generous Pension Plans. If that doesn't happen the Auto Industry will disappear, and the UAW with it. Get on board, Ed! The trains leaving the station. Don't make the same mistake as the United Steel Workers who sat idly by while we lost 400,000 of the highest paying industrial jobs in th history of the World. Ed, you could be part of the solution- not the problem.”
-Glenn L. Schilling | Kaukauna, WI | November 14, 2008
Letter on: Can't help you
“I suggest the auto industry bailout ought to be in the form of single payor health insurance reform. Lift the health insurance premiums from the industry and see what they can do; this now puts them at a terrific competitive disadvantage. Not only would we perhaps save the jobs, we also get the health insurance reform we all so badly need. Its a twofer.”
-Peter | Madison, WI | November 14, 2008
Letter on: Can't help you
“The auto industry won't be gone - Honda, Toyota and others will continue to thrive and provide good paying jobs. If GM or Ford goes bankrupt, they will reorganize and continue to operate.”
-Mark Kochanski | Fitchburg, WI | November 14, 2008
Letter on: Can't help you
“No shock on the five billion really - I'm just happy the deficit hasn't gotten terribly worse in the past few years.
What we're doing isn't working. We can't deal with the lapse while we're taking the majority of the money off the table. Corrections gets 2.something billion in the next two years, but we can't touch that. The UW gets something like two billion, but we can't touch that either.
We sure as hell can't touch local aids or aides to individuals.
Well, folks, we just took about 93% of the money off the table. We're not going to balance the budget that way. We could totally shut down the DOT, DNR, DATCP, DHFS, Commerce, Tourism, Military affairs and a few others, and we wouldn't even be close.
Here's a spot to check out who gets what.
http://www.doa.state.wi.us/debf/execbudget.asp
I suggest a ten percent cut in government spending across the board. Let the agency heads figure out how to implement it and maintain their statutory obligations.
While we're at it, let's drop the "We're tough on crime" facade. There's got to be a way of dealing with crime that doesn't have us spending more on prisons than colleges.”
-Jeff | Madison, WI | November 14, 2008
Letter on: Hurry up!
“We can only wish that the Bushie forces were gone. There have been numerous print and radio stories about Bush attempting to change the rules of many government agencies before 1/20/2009. None of these are beneficial to "the common good" and many of them may be difficult or impossible to reverse.
The lame duck seems to be quite ambulatory.”
-Chris Lorenz | Milwaukee, WI | November 13, 2008
Letter on: Hurry up!
“I said this at the time this bailout was being proposed, and I will say it again. This is just another scam by the Bush people to steal more money from the Treasury and to give that purloined booty to their friends in the banking industry. I have been shown to be right.
I don't consider myself all that bright, but I sure am brighter than the members of Congress.”
-Lawrence | Marathon, WI | November 13, 2008
Letter on: Postmortem
“You can hope all you want, but denying gays equal rights under the law certainly is a religious issue. Since the fundamentalist Catholics, Evangelicals, and Mormons spent what some say is nearly 25 million dollars in advertising to demonize gays for all of California to view, it certainly is a religious issue!
Since the vote on Prop. 8 was much closer than the previous vote in California, some say this is a generational issue as well. It is consistently older voters who are in general helping religious fundamentalists keep gays from legally recognized unions. Exit polling in all states with amendments bears this out.
Religious fundamentalists always draw on old bigotries to promote their theocratic dreams of dominance.”
-Roonil Weezlib | Hogwarts | November 12, 2008
Letter on: Fair is fair
“I don't care how many mandates/regulations get imposed by the liberal democrats to keep liberal talk radio from going extinct. Its still a collaboration to regulate that which lefties oppose. Would that be a fair assessment?
"intelligent, hilarious news satires of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert"-- You've got to be kidding. Those shows are about as intelligent as your argument behind government mandates on the 'freedom of speech'.”
-Ryan | Wauwatosa, WI | November 12, 2008
Letter on: Fair is fair
“If liberal radio shows had enough listeners they would be financially free-standing. Even with public funding Air America can't gather enough interest to stay on the air. Let the free MARKET speak.”
-Dr. Dick | Appleton, WI | November 11, 2008
Letter on: Fair is fair
“If the Left could field a radio show people are willing to listen to, there would be no issue. What happened to the shows on Madison "The Mic"? I have no problem with this "Fairness" issue. I believe the Left's talk radio shows are so poor, no one listens, hence the appearance of the Right owning the talk radio airwaves.”
-Mark | Fitchburg, WI | November 11, 2008
Letter on: Not Now! Go to your room!
“From The New Yorker's May 31, 2004 profile of State Senator Barack Obama:
Jan Schakowsky told me about a recent visit she had made to the White House. On her way out, she said, President Bush noticed her "obama" button. "He jumped back, almost literally," she said. "And I knew what he was thinking. So I reassured him it was Obama, with a 'b.' And I explained who he was. The President said, 'Well, I don't know him.' So I just said, 'You will.'"”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | November 10, 2008
Letter on: So what gives with middle names?
“This reminds me of 1964, when Hubert Horatio Humphrey was the Democratic nominee for Vice President.
From Carl Solberg's book, "Hubert Humphrey: A Biography":
". . . the Republican candidate began referring sarcastically to Humphrey's middle name. 'In the name of charity I must warn him,' Humphrey replied: 'The hidden middle-name vote--all those youngsters blessed by loving parents with a middle name they choose to convert into an initial--may rise against him. He should beware of the midlash.'"”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | November 10, 2008
Letter on: Postmortem
“Now that the voters, not the big donors, have figured out how to fund and promote a candidate you want to change it back and or to public funding. Yes, Obama let these voters and contributors into the promised land, but the end result is the same.
Candidates who are funded publicly or by corporations are not accountable to "Joe the voter". I feel more empowered and proud to be an American than any other time in my life.”
-Lawrence J. Piper | Marathon, WI | November 9, 2008
Letter on: The song remains the same
“Barack the President elect did it with a lot of small donations. I just sent $100.00 and my hope is it will encourage others to join me in supporting her. "Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson Re-election Committee"”
-Joe Gruber | Campbellsport, WI | November 9, 2008
Letter on: Center-right? Who says?
“Unless action is taken to get more liberals on the radio, the administration will be on the defensive from the start.
The internet is great and progressive blogs deserve credit for blunting the force of fascist propaganda this year. But radio is the key, because you have a captive audience of commuters twice a day, five days a week, getting brainwashed by the Limbaughs and Hannitys and their ilk. This is how they frame the issues and dictate the terms of what passes for political discourse in America.
Obama's election shouldn't be seen as the conclusion of an effort but instead as a starting point.”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | November 8, 2008
Letter on: Stranger than fiction
“"What do you think of the human mind? I mean, in case you think there is a human mind."”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | November 8, 2008
Letter on: Center-right? Who says?
“Why did Obama get elected? Quite simple, George W. Bush.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton, WI | November 8, 2008
Letter on: So what gives with middle names?
“Sarah's back home in Alaska and the moose are nervous. McCain is sulking in one of his many homes. He just can't remember which one. Bush is feigning the art of being gracious. The real question is, where's Dick Cheney and what damage doth he wrought?”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton, WI | November 8, 2008
Letter on: Stranger than fiction
“Yikes. Thank you for linking to the original piece. Gay marriage and a shift in tax policy will clearly be the undoing of America.
I believe you've done an exceptional piece of writing here, and I will make sure everybody in my contact list gets a link.”
-Jeff | Madison, WI | November 7, 2008
Letter on: Any damned fool?
“I didn't realize that yesterday was Eugene Debs' birthday. I invoked his memory on Tuesday, when Vigo County, IN came through for Obama early in the evening. Terre Haute, in Vigo County, is where Debs was born and grew up.”
-Suzy Grindrod | Madison, WI | November 6, 2008
Letter on: Any damned fool?
“Have you thanked your local evangelical today?
Now that the elections are over and the winking moose hunter has been hung out to dry along with her hockey mom wardrobe, it's not up to Democrats or Republicans to make this nation work. It's up to each one of us as a people to guide this nation forward.
The challenges ahead need not discourage us. Our future will be nothing like the misery of the past 8 years we have had to endure.
What's that Wisconsin motto again? Forward!
I'm excited, are you?”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton, WI | November 6, 2008
Letter on: And for the next generation
“Fine. Thank all those civil rights workers who sacrificed whatever in the 60s. While Obama was playing in the sand in Hawaii, or was it in Indonesia? You should thank all the Joe the Plumber, Larry Lunchpail, and Wendy Waitress types in, first, Iowa, and then all across this country who yesterday broke the mold you've been stewing in for those 47 years. And those folks who yesterday voted for Obama don't give a rip about your 60s experiences.”
-A Nonymouse | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | November 5, 2008
Letter on: And for the next generation
“The day before the election on a call from my inlaws on Okinawa to my wife Taeko they said "tell oji (thats me) not to worry because Obama will be elected."
The whole world was watching and praying for this to happen.”
-Joe and Taeko Gruber | Campbellsport, WI | November 5, 2008
Letter on: And for the next generation
“All day long today I kept hearing the three sweetest words in the English language - President Elect Obama.
I have "issues" with some in the black community but nobody in their right mind can deny that all people should have an equal right to make of their lives what they will.
As I watched the coverage last night I was struck by the differences in the crowds for McCain and Obama. One thing was clear. The Obama crowds showed a much more accurate cross section of the real America.
The whole thing brings to mind the title of an obscure tune that I have on an obscure recording of Agentinian music. This is "The Happiness That Makes You Cry".
Just as a side note. I work the polls in the Town of Jacksonport in Door County. This is a solid GOP voting Town. We had tons of new registrations. They were mostly young, some mixed race, some minority. This was their first time voting and they came in groups of three or four. We also had one woman who was about five months pregnant drive all the way home from Marquette Michigan to vote. She made it just 45 minutes before the polls closed. Obama won the Town handily.
This is historic in so many ways. For the last few weeks I have felt as if I were inside and "American Experience" documentary on PBS. I kept waiting for MacCollough to narrate this whole thing.
God speed Mr. Obama. How can we help you?”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, Wisconsin | November 5, 2008
Letter on: And for the next generation
“Amen! It wasn't just Jesse Jackson's tears that spoke for all of us. It was the tears and joy of blacks and whites, latinos and asians, young and old--crying together, cheering together, hugging each other as Americans, rejoicing that the seemingly impossible happened.
The crowd in Grant Park represented the entire "rainbow coalition" that Jesse Jackson once campaigned on. Barack Obama hit it right on the head in his acceptance speech and throughout his campaign. We need to move past the idea that we are African Americans or white Americans or red state Americans or blue state Americans. We are the United States of America, and we need to unite to solve our problems with good old fashioned American hard work and ingenuity.”
-T. Warren | Rice Lake, WI | November 5, 2008
Letter on: Love thy political party
“Unfortunately the Catholic hierarchy has become synonymous with the Church. The people are the Church. The hierarchy is no more than a good old boys club dominated by control freaks who choose to lead by instilling fear. Each of us is on a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual adventure, yet the hierarchy has lost its purpose and has failed to enrich our journey and to bring out the best in each one of us.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton, WI | November 3, 2008
Letter on: So you think you are Catholic, do you?
“He's making a clear statement for a particular candidate - perhaps the tax exempt status for Madison's diocese should be reconsidered.
Let the Catholic Church pay its taxes, and Bishop Morlino can speak however he likes.”
-Jeff | Madison, WI | November 3, 2008
Letter on: Love thy political party
“Madison is not the only diocese which tries to interfere in the freedom of Catholic people to vote as they choose -- apparently this goes on in other parts of the country as well. I have heard of fliers being posted on cars outside churches, telling voters how to vote. My own parish ran a notice in the bulletin that this would not be allowed.
This type of coercion is NOT the consensus of the American Bishops. So Bishop Morlino is out of line, as are several other Bishops who would even prevent Catholic politicians from receiving communion!
What is most interesting and rather ironic is that this type of dictatorial behavior on the part of the "princes" of the Church may frighten and confuse parishioners, but it does not prevent abortion! Recent statistics show that during Democratic administrations, abortions tend to be less frequent, while during Republican administrations, they tend to rise, probably because under the former, poor women (who comprise 3/4 of women who seek abortions) receive better social services.
The time is over for the endless and non-productive legal struggle against abortion; we need to do all we can to help women make better decisions for their lives and provide the services they need to make this possible.”
-Marliss Rogers | Port Washington, Wisconsin | November 3, 2008
Letter on: Love thy political party
“This sort of abuse of the pulpit is exactly why I am no longer attending a Catholic church. As devout Catholics, my family and I are now members of an Anglican parish. We have become disgusted by the warped, politicized American Catholic Church. I hope the Church loses its tax exempt status and many, many of its flock. There is no place for bigotry, hatred, and intolerance in Jesus' house. And the Church has no business in politics.”
-Patricia Acha | Milwaukee, WI | November 3, 2008
Letter on: Two more days
“Over heard in church today...
"Obama is not a citizen. He was born in Kenya but has a faked Hawaiian birth certificate. Besides he was born before Hawaii became a state. I'm mad..."
"I'm not voting for the black man"
"It's going to be interesting after Tuesday"
"The bible says to be wary of the smooth talker..."
All this and more in a Catholic church of all places. Hard telling what the religious nuts are saying in other sects.
I still chuckle when I recall Bush's comments about this being a Christian nation. Yep, Christian fighting Christian when they are not bearing false witness. Gotta love religion and how it warps the ability to reason.
The Internet is both good and bad, as we know. Unfortunately it makes lies into half-truths into gospel too easily for the uniformed and narrow-minded.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton, WI | November 2, 2008
Letter on: Hoping young
“I am 54 years old and I play poker every month with some guys who are older than me. I took a chance several months back and brought up Barack Obama to get a read on what these guys were thinking. These are all relatively successful men in their various fields from factory worker up to business owner. Most of them were high school graduates, but with little in the way of further formal education. I was shocked at the racist and religious intolerance of these men toward Obama. One of the most venomous statements went "I'm not going to vote for any F#X%&@^g Muslim n#%&@r! I underestimated the depth of their fear and loathing.
Next, a couple of months later, while on vacation in Wisconsin, I took a side trip to see a local site of interest promoted in an obviously locally produced roadside advertisement. While navigating slowly through the small town to find the site, we passed it and had to drive beyond it to a turnaround to go back. At the turnaround one of my children expressed concern because she had noticed that a van was following us. Arriving at the site again I pulled over and the van pulled up alongside of me. The elderly man in the van rolled down his window and I rolled down my window to find out what he wanted. With an obvious reference to the Obama bumper sticker on my minivan, he yelled at me saying, "Only an ignorant Obama supporter would drive like you".
These events have emphasized to me the real danger of wedge politics used by mostly conservative, but also by some progressive idealoques. That is the increasingly dangerous incivility that pervades our politics that this kind of politics promotes. It's goal is to divide us with the unintended but inevitable result that we will be a weaker country. And, finally, with these recent experiences that my family and I have had, I fear that we are going to have to see that generation before me die before we truly begin to achieve the goal of racial, ethnic and religious tolerance. I only hope that with a victory by Obama there can be presented an example for these persons to see beyond their fears.”
-Tony | Fond du Lac, WI | November 1, 2008
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