The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Panic City

9.23.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 4 of 5)

PRESENT COMPANY EXCLUDED
Re: Brett Joshpe's Obama the Harvard Lawyer:

We need more articles enlightening us about lawyers/Harvard and the damage both do. While I lived for a time in Montgomery, Alabama, my wife and I attended a showing of the musical deriving from Cervantes Don Quixote. Site was the beautiful Shakespeare Center there. Arriving early, we browsed the gift shop and lo and behold purchased our most prized Pair of T shirts (we having a weakness for such). A beautiful red, they are inscribed with: "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers. --Henry VI." Though still a registered lawyer, I left it long ago. Only the very wealthy can afford a fair fight in the system that has evolved. Lawyers are one thing. Harvard ones, quite another.
-- M.J. Turkelson
Lebanon, Ohio

READ MORE BORING BOOKS
Re: Lawrence Henry's How to Read a Hundred Books:

I'm just wondering why Mr. Henry only reads works of fiction. Non-fiction would seem to be a world full of works that he could (and should) spend more time with.
-- John E. McConnell
Asburn, Virginia

SCAPEGOATS NEEDED
Re: Letters under "Bankers Will Be Bankers" in Reader Mail's Long Arm of the Law School:

I'm telling you, no matter how you explain it, most people are not going to understand why their government is going to bail out the financial institutions that are facing collapse.

A few years ago, the banks pushed through Congress legislation which allowed them to increase monthly payments on the one hand and make bankruptcy more difficult to declare on the other. There was quite a bit of moralizing about people paying their debts. On top of these are the expensive penalties that are charged when payments are late or one is over their credit limit -- even if by a single penny.

Now these banks are in trouble and we are the ones who have to get them out of the hole their dug for themselves. Corporate heads walk away with millions and benefits while those who can least afford it are left holding the bag.

This viewpoint may be overly simplistic but political reality is the public is not going to look too kindly on this additional debt laid on them and their children and grandchildren for those who are only looking out for themselves.

Luther had a saying. "The little thieves they throw into prison. The big thieves they hold grand feasts." So it appears to the general public.
-- Mike Dooley

TWO CENTS, 100 MPH
Re: Ira Kessel's letter (under "Why Stop at 100?") in Reader Mail's Long Arm of the Law School:

We were discussing driver's licensees for teenagers and the question of raising the minimum age. I threw in my two cents by referencing the cognitive abilities of adolescents. I pointed out three characteristics: 1.) Adolescent judgment is not of adult caliber (they often don't know when to back off when the red flags go up), .2.) They display an inability to link future consequences to their present actions. And 3.) They display an avoidance of personal accountability for their mistakes.

In reply, Ira M. Kessel compliments my "thoughtfulness" and then states: "Yet the same thinking does not apply to having schools throw condoms to students? Just asking, Mike." Being that I hadn't mentioned anything about handing out condoms to teenagers either way, I'm puzzled why this challenge was thrown my way.

Be that as it may, for my part I think handing out condoms is a horrible idea. However, I also generally find that one's answer depends on what you think is the real problem. Is the problem that teenagers are having sex and having babies or is the problem that teenagers are having sex? One perspective is aghast at all those unwanted infants plus the contaminant diseases. The other perspective is concerned at the widespread infraction of divine/natural law and the emotional damage adolescents suffer when they are confronted with adult issues they are not prepared for.

I am far more concerned for the potential emotional damage teenagers expose themselves to in "premature" sexual activity than the prospect of surplus infants. For this apprehension condoms offer no defense. Yes, poor judgment, insufficient capacity to link present action and future consequences, and avoidance of personal accountability do come into play with teenage sex.

Letter to the Editor

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