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February 7, 2005 |
MAILBAG ARCHIVES | ||
| The BuzzFlash Mailbag The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Read the BuzzFlash FAQ for info on submitting to the Mailbag. Subject: Social Security The left blows it again. No one is telling the American voter how social security works, whether there is a problem, why, and what the alternatives are to what the fascists propose. This thing should be DOA, but there is no message being given by our side - again. If we cut to the heart of what led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has much to do with the workers in that economy having no stake in their productivity gains. The reduction of the social safety net proposed by the Ruling Class is bad for everyone long term because it undermines the social contract between owners and workers. The progressive tax system is necessary to ensure that workers benefit from their productivity. Undercutting that jeopardizes the future of America by exposing it to the same kind of systemic breakdown that occurred in the Soviet Union. Cutting taxes in time of war is unpatriotic. Depriving workers of a stake in their productivity gains is economic suicide. Government must act as an agent in the redistribution of wealth to assure the future viability of the US economy. One way of doing this is by increasing investment in education and in the social safety net as a way of rewarding the most productive workers in the world. Working people should not have to worry about taking care of their parents, should not have to pay money to send their children to a decent school, and should know that, should the worst occur and they be victimized by an Enron or a Worldcom, they will have a baseline standard of living. It's the least the ownership class in our society should do as a matter of simple decency, not to mention enlightened self-interest. Our social safety net should be the envy of the world, and instead we are laughing stocks. By electing the ilk of George Bush, we deserve to be. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: where is this headline? Transcript for Jan. 30 (Meet the Press/NBC) karin dicker Subject: holding the dems accountable On the popular, syndicated left-leaning Ed Schultz show today, Nebraska senator, Chuck Hegel said that he was essentially in favor of reforming Social Security by creating private accounts. He even went to so far as to say that he was with the President. That is not to say that he would support whatever legislation was proposed, but he made it clear that he agReid with the spirit of the legislation (that we need private accounts). Though Chuck has been on the correct side
of many issues, he is clearly on the wrong
side of this issue. As far as I'm concerned,
BuzzFlash will lose all credibility if it
goes easy on such Democrats. We need to hold
the line on this one, and hold dem defectors
accountable. I know this isn't the right forum
to place this comment, but like so much of
the corporate media, you folks make it difficult
to give feedback. Subject: social security The reason the crook who has control of the white house wants to "reform" social security, is because there is a cache of money there. He needs that money to cover his ass on other programs he has bankrupted. Seems as where the seniors have their money, the bush mobsters devise some kind of scheme to take it. Remember the silverado scandal back in the 80's when big daddy was in charge of the white house? The taxpayers had to cough up money to cover that for them. Were they punished? I don't think so. They stole the money and kept it. There are hundreds of scandals involving this family, but, like the mob, whom they are associated with, they can do whatever they want and, there is nothing the good American people can do. Oh well, they have a hold on America right now that cannot be broken. I know God will punish them. I don't think I will be around when it occurs, but, I can dream. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: We Should All Be Screaming about the Bush's Takeover of Our country. If Howard Dean is elected as the new DNC chair, the first thing the media will do is to start playing his Iowa scream another 633 times. How can anyone get to the media and tell them (both print and tv) that we all should be screaming! We should be outraged and screaming our lungs out against the appointment of Dr. Rice as SOS, who clearly lied about the mushroom cloud, not to mention all her other lies about the Iraq war build-up, and who is now busy reminding the Europeans why they hate America. We should be opening our windows and yelling, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" because Alberto Gonzales became the new Attorney General. How on earth did the Congress consent to a lawyer who said that the Geneva Conventions were quaint? I couldn't believe that the Democratic senators praising Gonzales saying he was a nice man and a friend, and then, in the next breath accuse him of writing (and/or approving) the torture memos. Why do the senators talk out of both sides of their mouths? Dean is a welcomed change from the mealy-mouth, Republican-lite responses of the SOTU speech by Pelosi and Reid. Does Reid honestly think that anyone was impressed by his friend, Devin, wanting to grow up to be like Sen. Reid? Please. Spare me the ego trips. And we should be screaming from the streets because Bush is again campaigning: (Does he ever quit campaigning?) He is spinning the lie about a Social Security crisis that should tell all Americans that he intends to smash the American framework of protecting the general welfare of its citizens. And how do average citizens tell the media they should have exposed Bush's bulge during the presidential debates? Why wasn't the picture of his back (with the bulge clearly in sight) put on our tv screens 633 times? Am I the only person who is tired of a controlled-old-Soviet style media camouflaged as the American free press? I personally think that all intelligent Americans (if Howard Dean is elected DNC chair) should open their windows and their doors and yell and scream for happiness that perhaps America is waking up in time to thwart Bush's wrongful takeover of our county. Ruth from Decatur, GA Subject: Lieberman's vote You recently received a scathing letter about Joe Lieberman
from Tom Wieliczka of Windsor Locks Ct. condemning the fact
that Lieberman voted not only for Condoleezza Rice, but for
Alberto Gonzales as well. Tom, I didn't exactly like what Lieberman
did either. Voting for both Rice and Gonzales, in my opinion
was wrong and if I had been a Senator from Ct, I would not have
voted for either of them myself. I used to live in Ct before
I moved to New Hampshire, and know the political landscape pretty
well. Can you honestly think of anyone right now who can beat
Lieberman? I highly doubt it. Joe Lieberman, love him or hate
him, is a political icon in Connecticut, and it's going to take
someone with guts and determination to get rid of him, and right
now, nobody is in a position to do it. Joe is up for reelection
in 2006, and while their have been rumblings about someone challenging
him, he knows he is in a safe state, so he can get away with
voting like he does. Tom, I know you're mad, and the last several
votes Joe has cast hasn't made my day either, but it looks like
you're stuck with Joe until he decides to retire. Maybe some
day, there might be someone who can beat Lieberman, but right
now, forget about it!!! Subject: To the United Nations I am curious, what does the rest of the world think of our American four star general saying it is fun to kill people? I know a survey showed that 70% of the world thinks Bush is the greatest threat to world peace. Diane A. Subject: Re: "Of all the lies and BS Bush hurled at us, the most sickening was his comment about "frivolous asbestos claims." Anyone who has seen someone struggle for air suffering from mesothelioma, the lung cancer caused by asbestos, would never refer to it as frivolous." ... and weren't there dangerous levels of asbestos around manhattan post-911? man, insulting them right to their faces! the neocons are the real anarchists now. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: JESUS GOD! On that Joe Scarborough show, while talking about that moron
general, Republican strategist Jack Burkman said our military
should enjoy killing those people! Can you imagine if a Democrat
had said that! The media and the Republicans would have him
burned at the stake. Subject: the battle of bush's bulge Yours truly, Bob Mills Subject: Back to the 30's and 40's Reading of the recent Marine Corps General suggesting "killing
is fun" took me back to the forties. I believe our General
would have made a fine commander of an SS Division. The Waffen
SS killed 100 captured GIs at Malmedy France in WW2. That must
have been fun! A. Leslie Palmer Subject: Bush's Bulge during debate Let's keep this alive - the idiot deserves to go down big-time
for this - why should he get away with it - he's a liar and
a cheater in the 1st degree! Subject: Ward Churchill You guys (or girls) should be writing about this issue (ward churchill) the man tells it like it is and is being attacked. I have not seen anything on your site about this and it seems it is up your alley to do so. He is being attacked for simply stating the truth. Thank You. "Some People Push Back": On the Justice of Roosting Chickens By Ward Churchill A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: little brother privatizing too Investigation: Rotten Teeth, Rotten Politics? (local10.com) A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Not so far-fetched Subject: "Heck no's" on both sides. Subject: New Journalism 101: If It Incriminates Bush, It's
Not News Subject: The Smooch of Death . . . Political That Is . . .
Wonder why we never hear about cutting back on pensions of
Federal Employees, i.e., Presidents, Senators, Congressmen,
Judges. They get huge pensions with cost of living increases.
I worked for a retired Judge years ago who told me he made more
money collecting his pension than he ever made sitting on the
Bench. Subject: 40 Years The good news is that young people can stop worrying about Social Security. The bad news is, that's because in 40 years they will be dead from all the pollutants Bush is allowing corporations to unleash. Larry, Subject: What Freedom? I really should stop reading BuzzFlash. It just makes me angry/sad/outraged/tearful/wrathful and just so furious every time I read about an injustice such as that perpetrated on Elena Sassower. Where are her elected Government representatives or the freedom loving civil rights organizations? That anyone should spend time in prison for nothing more than (at most) a misdemeanor is bad enough, that she received no assistance is another form of assault by a bullying "Establishment" that has always twisted law to enrich and protect themselves. Do you think that, when you decide something in your area is not quite right, you might decide to write phone or fax your representative you may not finish up in the same predicament as Elena Sassower. No? Think again. Nobody wants to help. To put their head "above the parapet" just in case they are accused of being a troublemaker. Sad or what? But that's what you get and deserve if the only action taken to rectify this abomination is to shake your head and say it's a shame. If the opposition parties cannot see a problem here then make them see it. Bombard them all with the outrage this deserves or next time it could be you. The Scourge of Her Conviction (Village Voice) JR Subject: Rage on this & that BuzzFlash, long ago, you printed a letter from the mother of a young girl who wrote a beautiful meaning of being Liberal (I made and have that copy)...why not run it every once in awhile - let everyone copy it and send it to the Democrats in their states. I leave you with the words of Marine General Smedley D. Butler who, in 1933, said: "War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people...It is conducted for the benefits of the very few at the expense of the masses." This is a war for Bush-Cheney interests. RioRita Subject: Social Security Hi, Nobody seems to be pointing out that the SS trust fund earned interest amounting to $84.9 billion for an annual rate of 6% in 2003. Scroll to: Interest earned on the invested assets of the combined Trust Funds was $85 billion in 2003. The combined Trust Fund assets earned interest at an effective annual rate of 6.0 percent. http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/trustee04-pr.htm A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Howard Dean Okay - clear the air on this one - been seeing too many columns/editorials
that state making Dean head of the DNC proves the Democrats
are suicidal - PLEASE, say this isn't so!!! Subject: Historical model for Bush's "Ownership Society"
A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Senate Votes My Senators, Schumer and Clinton, just voted to confirm Rice, forgetting that they represent New York where most of the people died on 9/11. Rice's incompetence, (not to mention that of her "husband," whoops! I mean "boss,") was a direct factor in the tragedies of 9/11. While I certainly don't blame her more than Bin Laden or the terrorists themselves, her refusal, despite numerous warnings, to do anything about terrorism, make her, in my opinion, an unindicted co-conspirator on 9/11. Furthermore, Senator Clinton has just voted pro-torture, voting to confirm Gonzales. I wonder if these people ever hear the screams of the dying in their sleep. Well, we're stuck with these poor excuses for Democrats. But I will certainly never vote for Senator Clinton for President. You have to draw the line somewhere. A BuzzFlash Reader Subject: Mark C. Miller and David Corn After having read your site almost daily for 5 years, I've
finally been stirred to write. Thank you so much for your editorial
comment within a headline regarding the conflict between Miller
and Corn. As someone on Miller's mailing list, I stand firmly
behind him and his work, but after reading David Corn for all
these years as well, I find his work compelling. Hopefully,
this will resolve as quickly as it arose. They are both too
valuable to our ideals to be taking each other on, there's too
much work to do on what is vital to our goals. Subject: He'll Never Be Called Safe Hi BuzzFlash, I noticed the link to Jeff's Sports column that I sent you a few days ago, was not working after The Courant changed their website. This is the article, by Jeff Jacobs of The Hartford Courant, about a former Minor League Baseball Player who has seen MORE than enough action in Iraq. It's a real eye opener. Now if only Bush could learn how to READ, especially his "Presidential Daily Briefings"!! He'll Never Be Called Safe By Jeff Jacobs (Hartford Courant) Tom Wieliczka Subject: Tom Lehrer Hey, I was pondering our senseless involvement in Iraq, especially the Marine general that said "It's fun to shoot some people," and remembered a song from Tom Lehrer written about 40 years ago that still rings true today. Here it is: Send the Marines When someone makes a move Of which we don't approve, Who is it that always intervenes? UN and OAS, They have their place, I guess, But first send the Marines! We'll send them all we've got, John Wayne and Randolph Scott, Remember those exciting fighting scenes? To the shores of Tripoli, But not to Mississippoli, What do we do? We send the Marines! For might makes right, And till they've seen the light, They've got to be protected, All their rights respected, Till somebody we like can be elected. Members of the corps All hate the thought of war, They'd rather kill them off by peaceful means. Stop calling it aggression, We hate that expression. We only want the world to know That we support the status quo, They love us ev'rywhere we go, So when in doubt, Send the Marines! (end) I sure wish Tom, now in his 70's, I believe, would find it in him to compose a few current songs to memorialize the Bush legacy. We need his brilliant humor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wi ki/Tom _Lehrer Gail Dressler Subject: Recall recipe please? Is there a way to recall freshly elected senator? (Like, say,
fire freshly hired employee.) We in Colorado elected us a Ken
Salazar, who purported to be Democrat. Now he is voting with
the bushistas – WTF?! CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 OF THE FEBRUARY 7, 2005 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. |
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