Letter to the Editor
Idealism needed
Published Thursday, September 4, 2008
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To the editor:
I’ve been criticized by a couple of people for buying into the idealism of the Obama campaign.
They say I am being naive about the change that could occur in our nation, if Barack Obama was our next president.
Idealism isn’t a bad thing.
Idealism brought us civil rights, women’s rights, brought an end to slavery, and created unions that provided better pay, safer working conditions, and benefits for all working people.
Idealistic people have helped bring wars to an end, and continue to challenge the world’s and our own government’s corruption and injustices.
No humanitarian effort, environmental effort, or animal welfare effort would exist without people who were first idealistic, and who then turned that idealism into realism with determination, unity, coherency and intelligent strategy.
This country is in dire need of a healthy dose of idealism.
I firmly will hold onto mine, because without everything that idealism represents in its purest, intellectual form, there is no hope.
Community Discussion
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The next election must stop our current dangerous actions toward our US economy! Currently we have been spending 13 billion dollars a week in Iraq since the war started. My fellow Americans, we are also in the red of trillions of dollars on our future deficit! With McCain or Republicians in charge they will continue this same spending in Iraq which have already put huge debt on our future children. Sorry but this is the fact.
Excellent comment, Wisechief....
Lets start by ending mail subsidies to the rural communities...subsidies that are the only reason Airfare from the villages stays somewhat affordable
Next, lets end money spent on all rural airstrips by the FAA/Federal Government - that would be a tangible start to a balanced budget!
Common sense is needed. Like Palins comment that running for office is not a journey into self discovery. Take a look at Lydon Johnson and civil rights legislation. Just like everything else it was deal making. Politics is the art of compromise, not idealism. Look to saints if you want idealism, not politicians.
"The major impact of Obama's idealism would be to totally shred the Constitution."
No, the major fanaticism of Bush and Co. has already shredded the Constitution. Remember? No? Let me remind you of Bush's quote on it:
"Stop throwing the Constitution in my face...It's just a goddamned piece of paper!"
Joe seems to remember events that happened halfway across the world almost a century ago, but forgets what has been happening in this country over the last eight years. Patriot act, so-called "enemy combatants being detained indefinitely, extraordinary rendition, premeditated invadsion of a sovereign nation on dubious grounds with a "coalition of the we're-willing-since-you-threatened-our-foreign-aid-money-through-the-World-Bank-IMF-and-UN", a vice president that is neither a member of the executive or legislative branches. The list goes on. No, Joe, socialism isn't the threat here, it's people like you who prefer to be led around in the dark.
Some progress is being made, however. Idealism has led to a modern civil rights movement affording marriage rights to same-sex couples, marijuana to chronically ill patients, and substantive attacks on the establishment of religious phrases that mar our money, our pledge, and any politician on camera. A little idealism in the white house might help cut through some of the bs we've been accustomed to for the past 50 years.
JoeBtfsplk - It's the Republicans who, under Bush, have worked continually to shred the Constitution. Perhaps they're only attacking the amendments in the Bill of Rights you don't think you care about - like #1 (the right to free speech), #4 (the right of people to be secure...against unreasonable searches and seizures), #5 (no person shall be held to answer for a crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury...nor shall be deprived of life, liberty,..., without due process of law), #6 (in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury), #8 (Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted - that kind of thing is also in the Geneva conventions). Right-wingers only seem to care about amendment #2 - (the right to bear arms).
Fool, if you don't protect the entire Constitution, then the Constitution, in its entirety, will collapse and so will this great country. It is Republicans who are destroying our U.S. Constitution while at the same time they destroy our economy.
akguy, you're a racist and an idiot. The amount of money we spend on mail subsidies is NOTHING compared to the amount we spend on Iraq. Ending those subsidies and landing strip maintenance would be ridiculously intangible and meaningless compared to ending the war.
Joe, to say that idealism led to the evils of Nazi Germany is incredibly ignorant. That regime was allowed to exist because of a number of reasons, including a revanchist attitude of many people, which allowed the government to slowly chip away at the freedoms enjoyed by the citizens.
If you want to compare that regime to anything American, the Bush administration is probably your best bet. After September 11th, the Patriot Act was rammed through with demands for greater security, and freedom be damned. See the parallel?
Since when has Germany been socialist? Anyways...
The three biggest spending items are the military, medicare/medicaid/the SS, and our national debt's interest I do believe.
We need to stop playing at being a super power and attend to our own house. You can only dig under a foundation so much before it faulters. IDK if either candidate will want to do anything or even be able to... its too tempting to just leave it be for 8 years and let someone else worry about this daunting, pink elephant we have.
Joe, you have 100% zero proof or argument that Obama will shred the Constitution. That's a fear-mongering argument, and holds absolutely ZERO water. I'm not saying it's okay for anyone to do it. I was pointing out that Bush has ALREADY done it. Where is Obama on record taking a giant dump on the Constitution from a great height? Here's the answer: it doesn't exist...Get some facts or a real argument or don't bother.
Ahem, that should read "you have zero proof"...
Wow, you just described our current administration again:
Central control with no checks and balances!
akguy:
"Lets start by ending mail subsidies to the rural communities...subsidies that are the only reason Airfare from the villages stays somewhat affordable
Next, lets end money spent on all rural airstrips by the FAA/Federal Government - that would be a tangible start to a balanced budget!"
First of all, maybe rural airfares are affordable in some places, but they are not in others. When my family travels to visit family in the Bethel area, the airfare from Bethel to the village is about as much as the airfare from Fairbanks to Bethel. For us to visit a village it costs nearly $1000 round trip from Fairbanks
As for the airstrips, I assume your goal is to basically close down all villages that are accessible by air only? Because there would be no way for a village to survive without airplanes. So if that were to happen, how would we fund the influx of people into the more urban areas? More kids in the schools, more folks in need of housing, and probably more people on welfare, food stamps, and other assistance because the urban areas require a lot more cash up front than most of the rural residents would be bringing with them. If the villages are abandoned, folks leaving would be unable to sell their homes, snow machines, and other similar assets because there would be no one there to buy them. So they'd arrive here, or in Anchorage, or in Barrow or Nome or Bethel with nothing. Yeah, that would save the government LOTS of money.
Wisechief claims: "Currently we have been spending 13 billion dollars a week in Iraq since the war started. "
Actually, it's more like $2.5B per week. Still a lot of money, but more than covered by the corporate taxes and royalties collected by U.S. Treasury from Big Oil.
As Sam Clemens once said to a debate opponent: "You sir, are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your own facts."
Kiki - as you pointed out, hope and idealism are essential to positive change - thanks for your input to the energy pool.
Idealism is wonderful, but a nation full of idealists isn't likely to get much done. It often takes someone willing to take action, to fight, for the idealist's dreams to become a reality.
amgray - Sadly, you are correct. I would argue that very few of Bush's policies (tax cuts, for example) qualify as truly "Republican" or "conservative". I would also argue that many of us who identify as either Republican or Conservative want to see less of this new, more-left-than-right Republican party than more of it. This includes a dislike for Obama's policies and McCain's as well.
As with idealism and realism, liberalism and conservatism would do well to have a healthy mix to keep the checks and balances alive.
Before you vote in the Presidential election, look closely at the international situation: US military went into Pakistan a few days ago; US is taking a stand (to the tune of 1 billion dollars) in Georgia (that means taking on Russia). I think US is staging a pullout of Iraq simply because it's readying Americans for another military theatre. We only have so many dollars. How are we going to pay for all of this? Oh, don't forget the recession and the credit crunch--we Alaskans will at least have help from the gov't for this winter but I have family in the Lower 48 who has those high prices, too--no PFD or resource rebate for them; additionally, they have state income tax, property taxes as well as sales tax. Snagging a job that's substantially above minimum wage "out there" is out of reach for many middle class citizens.
I don't think ANY of the candidates have faced up to the dire financial crisis that is looming--that will be our legacy to our children.
Without optimism, there is very little hope right now.
The most idealistic people in the history of the world were a group of patriots that stood up and fought against the largest power in the world at the time to create their own country from a rag-tag group of colonies. Those idealists wrote the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Some of them were hanged as traitors. They WON and the greatest country ever created became a reality - the United States of America. Anyone who supports any abridgment of our U.S. Constitution, as George W. Bush clearly has, is a traitor and a coward. Idealists rock! The reason is that they believe in a cause and are willing to work their butts off to make that cause become a reality. They don't fearmonger - they offer hope of a better future for everyone.
Prospector,
You are all wrong on that figure! Actually it's more like 15 billion
a week. The Republicians have been funding 180 billion dollars on Iraq a year. If you have solutions to this dangerous spending which has put our own economy at risk and to our future children then I may agree with you.
Also Prospector, even if the financial cost of the war was being covered by taxes on the oil companies, is that a wise expenditure of this money? What about all of the hidden and not-so-hidden costs? Permanently injured soldiers and marines and their healthcare, kids without dads, a society inhabited by mentally unstable, violent individuals (PTSD), environmental damage, the list goes on and on . . . . . We should be spending the oil tax money on building a renewable energy industry so that our kids could get awesome jobs in the future, excellent education for all Americans, healthcare for children and the elderly. We are destroying this planet - and guess what? We kinda need this planet, duh. Pull your head out before its too late.
Wisechief- you really are wise. Great comment and so true.
The Iraq occupation is draing the wealth from our country.
I am beginning to not care who wins just as long as Bush and his friends are removed. Anything at all will be better than the idiots we have in there now.
Wisechief -- using your figures, please divide 156B by 56 weeks. I think you'll find this result is $3.2B per week. Do you know what math is?
annlewis must have been skipping school with you. Rest assured annlewis, Bush will not win this next election.
I think renewable energy facilities will be built by Big Oil or perhaps by YOU. How far along on this project are you?
I definitely think that this should not be the task of government.
annlewis, McCain/Palin will be more of the same Bush policies. You have to care. If McCain/Palin win, Bush and his friends will still be in power and this country will continue going down the toilet.
Wisechief -- something else you're not so wise on: The war funding bill was bipartisan. That means both democrats and republicans voted in favor of it. You should quit trying to make the case that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are republican wars. News for you... it's a joint effort.
From the AP NewsService: (5/22/08)
The Senate on Thursday approved an additional $165 billion to wage war in Iraq and Afghanistan for another year after lawmakers blocked proposed timetables for withdrawing American troops from Iraq.
By a vote of 70-26, the Senate passed the new war money the Pentagon says it urgently needs....
akjak says "Anyone who supports any abridgment of our U.S. Constitution, as George W. Bush clearly has, is a traitor and a coward."
George W. Bush would have Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton to keep him company.
akjak -- You say "If McCain/Palin win, Bush and his friends will still be in power and this country will continue going down the toilet."
Please explain yourself. What will Bush be doing in McCain's cabinet? Which Bush friends will be serving in McCain's cabinet?
Also, I take great exception to your assertion that "this country will continue going down the toilet." I deeply resent Americans who feel like they have to trash-talk the country to build themselves up. It's immature, incorrect, uninformed, and unhelpful.
inchworm -
call your local airline and ask them what a trip to a small village would cost it the mail subsidies were suspended....
you may be surprised at the answer
Oh - and How am I racist for proposing this???
IF you have ever actually been to the Bush there are plenty of us White Folk out there....
Example - Galena - - - anyone wanna guess the etnicity breakdown out there?
You're still spouting baseless opinions about Obama, Joe. Back it up with some proof. Just calling comments stupid is a pretty weak argument. It continues to show me that you have nothing to argue.
And what the hell does quartering of soldiers in people's homes have to do with this argument???
Prospector, if people can't make a living (more people in poverty), don't have health care (millions more Americans don't have health care), are losing their homes so that kids don't even know what school to register in, can't afford heating oil, etc., I'd s