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Far From the Tree
Apostates of the right. Health careless. Not buying what the media’s selling. Plus more.
MORE ACORN TROUBLE
Re: Jeffrey Lord’s What Do You Do With a General?
Regarding Christopher Buckley, we must remember that when the acorn falls from the Mighty Oak, it can roll…evidently quite some distance.
— Reid Bogie
Waterbury, Connecticut
Mr. Lord’s remarks on ex-General Powell are timely and accurate. This is the general who said, in the midst of the first Iraqi war, “we are not in the killing business” while letting escape Saddam’s army from the encirclement by the allies. This remarkably idiotic spirit permitted another 10 years of Saddam’s mass murders and terrorist training and financing, leading to the present second war in Iraq. What statemanship!
By the way — there is also “fear” of the so-called “Bradley effect” where the hidden white racism may well defeat Obama. On the other hand there is no discussion of the black racism in the fact that 100% of blacks will vote for Obama just because he is half black — well, with the possible exception of Walter Williams, Thomas Sowell, and Alan Keyes.
— Marc Jeric
Las Vegas, Nevada
A HEALTHY FEAR
Re: David Catron’s The Fear We Need:
David Catron writes: “Arguably, the most consistently successful stratagem ever devised by the Democrats is their perennial campaign to frighten the elderly into voting for them by loudly accusing the GOP of plotting the demise of Social Security.” I guess Mr. Catron believes everyone has forgotten W’s and the Republicans attempt to “privatize” Social Security. I doubt there are too many people who are sorry this never came to fruition.
Continuing, Mr. Catron treats us to a painful dissertation about all of the supposed chicanery being perpetrated by the Obama campaign concerning Medicare. But, instead of arguing this point by point, let’s cut to the chase. The far right hates the government programs that the vast majority of Americans view as part of our social safety net. To the right these programs are nothing more than socialism and their agenda is to abolish them. The problem for the right is too many Americans support these programs.
For whatever dishonesty there is from the left on Social Security, Medicare, et al., it pales in comparison to that of the right which must hide it true agenda in the pursuit thereof.
— Mike Roush
This, after all, has consistently been the socialists’ methodology over the decades I have watched their insidious rise to prominence. Step one is always to proclaim that certain unique, individual human beings in fact comprise a group suffering victimization by others. Step two always involves inflammatory rhetoric designed to supplant the clarity of rational thought amongst these individuals with the more-easily manipulated mind-set of emotional thinking. Step three is, of course, the most important one — the podium-pounding offer of salvation from victimization: “vote for me and I will end this outrageous violation of your human rights.” Step four =- wealth distribution =- used to involve handing them someone else’s money. Now-a-days, it’s more likely money borrowed from the Chinese government.
What remains unsaid regarding the real success of this stratagem as it pertains to health-care is that the socialists have already won the argument. Completely absent from our national discourse is any mention of principle pursuant to the constitutionality of governmental involvement in health care in the first place. Even at a time of economic crisis seemingly no one even questions the fiscal insanity of increasing this debt by deficit-spending our way further down the road of socialized medicine. They don’t, of course, because the creation of Social Security long ago conditioned us to improperly view government as our nanny. Amazingly, the irrationality of sending a government money, which then extracts administrative costs before returning what remains as a ”benefit,” seems preferable to just saving the entire amount for ourselves as we once used to do. How any rational, thinking human being considers this, or socialized medicine, as a “benefit” or form of “security” is beyond me, but it brings to mind the saying “that there are none so blind as those who will not see.” Fortunately, for the political elite the blindness of the average American voter of today is reliably steadfast..
Letter to the Editor View all comments (8) | Leave a comment
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Thomas Donley| 10.22.08 @ 8:51AM
Ms. Smith, you once wrote a letter to the editor in this publication responding to a letter that I, in turn, had written regarding the Virginia Tech shootings. Therein, you very graciously credited me by saying that it had taken "some courage" to express my particular opinion. I now return the favor.
Your defense of George Bush also shows some courage, especially considering his unpopularity and the vehemence with which he is hated by the political left. You are quite right, of course, that he has done an admirable job of preventing another terrorist attack on American soil. With regard to his economic performance, many blame him for the current economic crisis. Those who do neglect the fact Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were largely created through liberal legislative initiative and were managed by those of liberal pursuasion. They also neglect the fact that many liberals, including Al Gore and Bill Clinton, grew rich during George Bush's administration. Further neglected is the fact that the downturn we now experience began after the Democratic Party took control of Congress, the only branch of government which can approve expenditures. Also left unsaid by our national media, which so bitterly criticizes his economic performance, is the fact that his administration, during a time of war, was also forced to cope with two natural disasters of epic proportions - events which cost staggeringly large sums of money to cope with.
It is to his credit that the nation was not brought to it's knees.
Like you, I have a grandson whom I would never desert for any reason, much less for something as trivial as the outcome of an election. Your grandchildren are fortunate to have so noble a grandmother as yourself, and I hope that they one day find pride in the fact that your courageous voice brings both truth and clarity to this epic battle to preserve traditional American culture.
Kate Shaw| 10.22.08 @ 9:56AM
Ms. Smith, I have travelled extensively in my youth and am glad for the chance as many of the places I have been are either too dangerous or too dilapidated to revisit now. Only Singapore remains on my list of To Go ... except, of course, for the one place I have longed to visit since I was a girl of 10: outer space.
I am living in Canada (Kanukistan) now and recommend that for anyone in the USA whose eyes see "Here Be Dragons" outside their own borders, a stint in a really socialist and collapsing country run by ants for the benefit of a growing horde of locusts, to step across the border and live in Toronto for five years as One Of Us and understand thoroughly and completely what Obama stands for and how Not Fun it will be.
James M. Farrell| 10.22.08 @ 11:50AM
Ms. Smith: May God always bless you. I am a temporary ex-pat living in far southern Mexico in the beautiful town of San Cristobal de Las Casas. I've been here not quite one year and there are quite a few retired American ex-pats here, the preponderance of whom are Old School Liberals who, if I take them at their word, have considerable contempt for the nation of their birth. I had the unfortunate pleasure of viewing the debates with many of them as a group. Not only was I shocked by the level of their animosity towards President Bush and Senator Mc Cain but a few drinks opened many of them up to the degree that they averred their hope that President Obama and a radical Left Congress would "bring America to its knees!"
Many of these otherwise decent folks have children and grandchildren in the States! When asked about how their political fantasies would affect their offspring they openly confess that they really don't care; an America with a diminished role in the world would be worth the price! I guess we're all lucky they are here in Mexico and not marauding around in the lower 48!
Thank you for being there and taking care of our future!
David Govett| 10.22.08 @ 1:21PM
Reasonable or not, if elected Obama will determine the competence of future black presidential candidates in the minds of white Americans. Should he fail to defend the U.S. against enemies foreign and domestic, should he damage the economy, it is unlikely another black would be elected for many, many years.
Diane Smith| 10.22.08 @ 11:08PM
Thank you, Thomas Donley, Kate Shaw and James Farrell for your kind words. Aging grandmas sometimes speak at their own peril, so enthralled as they are in their roles - a kind of combination Mary Poppins and Glenda the Good Witch. I took a vow when I was 59 that not a grandchild of mine would ever see the inside of a day care center and furthermore would never be entrusted to a 17 year old Nicaraguan "nanny" - so my first grandson is a senior at UC Davis and is on the campus fire department. My middle one has followed his brother to becoming an Eagle Scout and a member of the high school water polo team. The six year old is with me 10 hours a day, 5 days a week and doesn't understand how 81 one year old Diane is not delighted to lay miles of Thomas the Train track all over my house. When I started on this last one, an acquaintance asked me if I hadn't learned my lesson with the first two..."When you could be traveling - you could be anywhere you want to be - -" I interrupted with "I am anywhere I want to be - in a nursery rocking chair with a baby in my lap."
Kate - when I was a little girl, I had an aunt who loved to drive my bothers and me on long vacations. When we got older, we teased her a little that our entire trips were in second gear - but one of the places we went was Lake Louise - but that was maybe 1938, But I have been to Canada. My problem with traveling the world is every urchin you see on your way to marvel at the Taj Mahal - - well, I want to take them back to the hotel, give them a bath and order room service. If you are ever in SF - I am 15 minutes from the airport - I'll buy you lunch.
And, Mr. Farrell, thank you for confirming my dark thoughts about folks who cut and run to wherever their money will go the farthest in retirement. We used to go fishing in Mazatlan when I was young, and I met a few of them then. How do these folks bear not being around to teach their grandchildren to read? My six year old reads - with expresssion and full comprehensison - at 5th grade level and I take credit for some of it.
Diane Smith
ruth| 10.23.08 @ 1:05AM
Diane, I've been reading your AmSpec Letters to the Editor for years and i have enjoyed every one! I must say though-- a Texas girl in San Francisco, i think i feel sorry for you. Lovely town but so liberal! (and I'm a SoCal native) I lived at Stanford for five years and loved it but was glad to return to my Red County roots. Your grandsons are so blessed to have you. Ruth
Thomas Donley| 10.23.08 @ 1:43AM
Ms. Smith:
No thanks are necessary because, to the contrary, it is I who owe you gratitude. Your many letters I've read on this site have provided me with much insight and, more importantly, your admirable and steadfast devotion to your family enriches my heart beyond measure.
My - 81 years old! How I would love to spend an afternoon gleaning the wisdom of your perspective! Alas, while I do love to travel, I'm afraid I prefer the beauty and tranquility of my historic Michigan farm to that of urban California. Be that as it may, should you ever foresee a trip to my state, please know that my family and I would be truely honored to offer you and yours warm, clean beds and home-cooked meals fresh from our bountiful garden.
Take good care, Ms. Smith, and thank you sincerely for the inspiration your letters unfailingly provide to us all.
Thomas Donley
Ms. Know| 10.30.08 @ 12:41AM
All those buying into the socialist illuminati promises will soon be hurt when they find out it was a scam. From the no tax increase, to the healthcare.