May 22, 2006

The BuzzFlash Mailbag

The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. More reader opinion is at "Contributors." You can write to Mailbag at http://www.BuzzFlash.com/contact/mail.html. Guidelines for submissions are at BuzzFlash FAQ #18.

Subject: Net Neutrality

Dear BuzzFlash,

I lived in California in the late eighties and I remember an initiative known as (Big Green). It was a sweeping environmental proposition that was quite progressive and would have been great for Californians, so naturally corporate America was against it. Anyway, they spent millions to defeat this thing by placing ads that made their side look like the green guys. People were so confused they often voted the wrong way. It went down in flames even though early polling indicated that people were for it.

Looks like the Net Neutrality situation is shaping up the exact way. When will we as Americans learn how nefarious public relations firms are and how anti-democratic corporations are?

Gene Harris
Mt. Pleasant SC

Subject: Trying to keep up with politics and its strange bedfellows

It isn't easy to keep track of things these days. Some issues hit the headlines and get covered by the media for a nanosecond and then are gone in a puff of the latest hot air to blow through Washington. For example, we know "Duke" Cunningham is in prison, and Tom DeLay is about to resign his office. Suddenly The House Ethics Committee has decided to investigate one Democrat and one Republican (curiously Cunningham) to suggest perhaps that Congress is malfunctioning in a bi-partisan manner.

While there may be some truth to that charge, the majority party has definitely mastered the art of subtle corruption. When queried as to why it chose not to target DeLay, the "ethics" folks said that, since he was already under indictment in Texas there was no need to delve further into his activities. Never mind, that someone in prison has pretty much passed the investigation phase and that there's a ton of 'stuff' about DeLay's conduct during his tenure as House Majority Leader. One can only imagine that connections and deals among DeLay and colleagues could cause discomfort for some and thus, are better left hidden under the rocks so carefully rolled into place by The Hammer and his friends.

And in the flurry already under way over candidates for state and federal office, the most bizarre relationships and backgrounds are emerging. If voters needed any further cause for disillusionment the current scramble must engender something close to despair. It would seem we are about to be treated to another round of campaigns in which sex, marriage and phony heroics become focal points while the world around us is in flames and our leaders are not "values"-oriented as they would have us believe but more closely resemble war-mongering ideologues.

Senator McCain, who many had regarded as an honest, unflappable voice of reason has seen fit to 'mend fences' with the likes of Jerry Falwell and the Christian right. Apparently, he has always been further right than was thought by moderates of both parties. In any case, the last thing the country needs is another war president wrapped in the mantle of Christian zealotry. Hopefully, McCain will continue to age ungracefully and as rapidly as possible.

And there's Rudy Giuliani, revered for his leadership qualities on 9/11, who is considering a run for president in 2008. Karen Breitweiser, whose husband piloted one of the doomed planes at the Trade Center, is not a Giuliani admirer, and says that "Giuliani is the person responsible for deciding to locate NYC's emergency command center in the WTC, along with a diesel fuel tank (against the advice of certain FDNY officials)." When the buildings went down "NYC had no clear chain of command--no command structure" because the command post Giuliani had "designed and located was paralyzed during the attacks."

Currently, Giuliani, despite his more liberal views about abortion and gay rights, is supporting former leader of the Christian Coalition, Ralph Reed, in his run for Lieutenant Governor in Georgia, despite Reed being knee-deep in the Abramoff lobbying scandals. As always, with everyone whose behavior brings court action or just raises ethical concerns, Reed claims ignorance about the source of monies associated with his efforts on behalf of Abramoff clients.

It is said that politics makes strange bedfellows. Perhaps, but these people seem to have had a pretty strange set of values from the get go. Politics has just made them and their choice of compatriots stranger than usual.

Subject: Ken Follett's Abolish Legal Marriage

Ken needs to be corrected on something that too many people don't get regarding the legality of marriage. It is the State not the Church that issues the Marriage License. The Church can not perform their religious blessing without that license. It is not necessary to go to a church for marriage...it is necessary to go to the state for marriage which can then be performed by many non-clerical persons such as a Justice of the Peace or a Mayor. To say all legal marriage should be abolished is to throw the baby out with the bath water. What we need to do is PROTECT the Constitutions and the States that are required NOT TO DISCRIMINATE under their Constitutions, and to challenge and overturn those states who have unconstitutionally made gays second class citizens. Separate is not equal, and equal taxes means equal rights, including the freedom to marry who we choose. Just because some don't approve doesn't give them the right to overthrow the Constitution to take marriage away from some others, and it shouldn't mean abolishing legal marriage either.

Dr. Bob
Merritt Isl., Fl.

Subject: put their feet to the fire

Okay, so the repugs are on their way to once again introducing a ban against gay marriage. What is their tag line: one man, one woman? Fine. Then the Democrats should call them on it and attach an amendment that truly limits and calls for enforcement of the law of the land: monogamy! There are polygamists Mormons living openly in several communities around the country (Utah, for certain, and I believe there are also some in Texas). The authorities know where they are, and yet, nothing is done about these sickos not only having serial nuptials but also the many who marry underage girls. As this ridiculous ban goes forward, the Democrats should fight back (if they can form a collective spine) and force the repugs to call for true and equal enforcement of the 'law of the land.' They believe in marriage between one man, one woman? Prove it! 

Liz
Houston

Subject: Gripes - Questions

While outrage after outrage is being committed by the "leadership" in Washington, here and abroad, and everyone is complaining, how does it happen that the electorate sits back and watches all these things happen? Where are the protesters? Where is the spirit of the '60s?

I take exception to the Iraqis being called "insurgents." If the situation were reversed and we were being invaded, we would be"patriots." How do we square this?

Every day a new outrage emanates from Washington on policies here and abroad. And the electorate sits by and watches ... What does it take to change the game plan?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Now is the summer of our discontent made Orwellian nightmare by this son of Bush.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject:  Immigration; Steven Jonas

Spot on Steven!! You nailed it for sure, although #5 is unnecessary. Once employers have to toe the line, workers will return home without any pressure. But we really don't need new regulations. Only compliance with those already on the books.

Selma Goldberg
Crofton, MD

Subject: Organize for Change

Buzz:

It is apparent that we have no oppositional leadership (the Democratic Party is Dead). Also, without ORGANIZATION of the people there will be no change-------OUTRAGE without Action is Dead. There have been calls in this BLOG for organized chats, for storming government offices and demanding change, and for 'someone' to step up to the plate to stop the atrocities and horrors we witness daily. We can see the Awakening brought about by MoveOn; by Cindy Sheehan, by Michael Moore. Each of these has helped awaken the People to the Truth (the dead media weren't there to do it). We need a massive OUTPOURING and I believe you have the readership to do it if you will provide the forum for a BuzzFlash 'tea party' organization. Let's Roll before free internet is zapped !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jean
Little Rock, AR

[BuzzFlash Note: We have our hands full already. We can provide knowledge, but we expect our readers to take it and run. Here's our take on What You Can Do.]

Subject: Columbus, Ohio Teacher Suspension

I figure most of you have read the article. I do not have the link at hand.

A male substitute teacher at a high school in Columbus was conversing with a female teacher over lunch a couple of days ago. At some point during the discussion, the man said something to the effect that he was inclined to think 911 was an inside job.

The female teacher went to the high school administration and told them of the man's comments. The man was immediately suspended even though he had made no remarks on the subject to students in his classes. The administration said "there was the potential for him to influence the students".

Here we are engaged in an unnecessary war based on falsehoods and deliberate misinformation relentlessly drilled into the populace, and the idiots of the country are blissfully unconcerned. Yet a man loses his job for expressing a personal viewpoint to one person over lunch.

It is becoming one hell of a free country!

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: In Response to Headline 

Regarding your headline titled: Senate supports English as U.S. national language. Don't they have anything more important to do? 5/20

I for one think this is very important. Our language is one the most important things that unifies us as a Nation. Having a law that states English as the national language would help bring us together.

And as far as the numbers, the US is a minority. Of all the nations in the World only eight percent DO NOT have a national language the US being one of them.

And personally speaking I am sick and tired of having to press one for English!

Steven
Huntsville Texas

[BuzzFlash Note: The "press one" syndrome won't go away if we have a national language ... that is all about communicating with customers.]

Subject: Iraq Is Not Viet Nam

Think of "Good Morning Viet Nam" with Robin Williams. Think of many other Viet Nam movies. Remember what it was like.

No American can walk alone outside the green zone in Baghdad. They cannot go to a restaurant alone.

We lost that war.

Iraq is out of control.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Boycotting the USA

Dear BuzzFlash Readers:

I have, since your last election, been boycotting visiting the United States on principle. I will not even take a plane that has a stopover in the States. I will not ever return to the States until the Bush administration is gone and all vestiges (stench) of his years and days are obliterated and the United States returns to its normal state of paranoia. Even then, I believe that I will be hard pressed to return to visit because of your current idiot in residence and his minions. I am not alone in my boycott. After speaking to many of my compatriots, peers, and professors, I find that most feel the same way. I must admit that I was surprised, thinking that my personal boycott was singular.

The biggest problem that I see at present is that your country is exporting its paranoia and hate to others so that we are ending up with idiots in our own parliamentary system. If I had the choice and the ability, I would send our mini-Bush, Prime Minister Harper, to you, since we do not need any Bush lovers here and one more wouldn't really hurt you much since you still have so many. The worst is that apparently, many Canadians are feeling that the cold, frigid, and dictatorial Harper is doing okay. It makes me sick because I am hearing some pretty disturbing sucking sounds coming out of our present incumbent party. It would appear that Harper believes he is a 'War-Time' prime minister and so can do as Bush does. Monkey see behaviour that is so typical of the political species. The problem is that we don't like it and don't support it, but we have a newly cowed "liberal" opposition (does this sound familiar yet?) who will not oppose the current power fiend who is in charge as a minority (and I mean minority!) government.

So don't look for a great tourist season regardless that our dollar is up thanks to Bush's policies and spending spree (hasn't he ever taken economics?) because many of us, it appears, are boycotting the United States. Have a good summer! And, by the way, where is the wall/fence that you promised us? If Mexico gets to have one, we want one too!

Marie-France
Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Subject: Re: 'Why Americans Can Be Looked Upon as Idiots Sometimes

Americans (in this case people from Michigan) let Canadians have their trash hauled here to be dumped. Now that is idiotic.

Canada's Biggest Export to America: Trash (madcanuck.blogspot)

It's their garbage, let them deal with it.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Battlecry

Hi, Buzz!!

Thanks to Debra Schaffer Hubert for her piece on BattleCry. She has her theology straight: Jesus is about love, not hate. If you're preaching hate (which it sounds like BattleCry is), then you're not preaching Jesus. Jesus is also not about militarism (although war can be a useful metaphor for our struggle against evil in the world); he is about peace. If you're preaching militarism (which it sounds like BattleCry is), then you're not preaching Jesus. Jesus is also not about theocracy (or any political ideology, for that matter); he said, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." He also said, "My kingdom is not of this world." Sounds to me like we have Biblical authority for the separation of church and state.

I've said this before, and I say it again: The Religious Reich is hijacking Christianity for political purposes. This is blasphemy. As a believer, I am sick of it. If you wonder what Christianity is really about, read the Bible; don't listen to these hate mongers.

Debra Schaffer Hubert: G.I. Jesus? Denouncement of Right-Wing Christian BattleCry

Jane Hawes
Emporia, KS (red-state Democrat)

Subject: Re: Betraying the Internet. Let's Hope It's Just a Momentary Lapse

I love you guys and read you every day but you are waaaaaaaay out of line on this one. The Agonist was blogging against net neutrality before anyone knew what the hell it was. The Agonist was instrumental in forming the coalition Fighting for net neutrality. Just look at our archives.

http://agonist.org/sean_paul_kelley/20060519/to_buzzflash

Sean-Paul Kelley

Subject: Divide, Conquer and Fear Tactics

Has anyone noticed how everything leading up to the 2004 elections had the threat of a looming attack dangling over our heads? The government used the Color-coded Threat Level System anytime they were in a jam. After Bush got his scam of a Presidency renewed, that system had disappeared from the media. When was the last time they used it on the news? It apparently served its purpose as a tool to ensure his reelection. Now with the 2006 elections they're not using a Color-coded system, instead they are playing to their base with this whole border protection plan. Wow. Just months before another election Bush just happened to start sending tons of troops to the border. Wake up, America, history has showed us that those in power will do ANYTHING to stay in it.

Cris Torres
Ponce, Puerto Rico

[BuzzFlash Note: It looks like the last time the level was raised was July, 2005, in response to the London bombing: Chronology of Changes to the Homeland Security Advisory System (dhs.gov) ]

Subject: Thank You on Exposing Lincoln Chafee

For years I've been telling anyone who would listen that there are no Republican moderates in Congress. Your article on Lincoln Chafee clearly demonstrated that point.

Republicans play a shell game. They gather the votes they need to pass legislation and then have a small group of people vote with the Democrats only if the particular issue is a political liability in that person's home state. However, these Republicans only vote against the Republican party IF their vote doesn't matter. Not once have these few phony moderates all joined on the same bill to actually stop a piece of GOP legislation.

So these GOP senators play a game of musical chairs in which a couple of phony moderates vote no on one piece of legislation while a different group of phony moderates votes yes on that same piece of legislation only to flip flop roles on a subsequent vote. Yet the bottom line is always the same: Karl Rove gets his way.

The only way to stop the Far Right in the Republican Party is to remove the enablers like Lincoln Chafee and Olympia Snowe at the polls. Unfortunately, many people out there will fall for the "liberal Republican" or "reasonable moderate" scam and actually vote for a Senator who ensures that their values and beliefs in the Senate never see the light of day.

Big Dave from Queens

Subject: Misleading Internet Ad

BuzzFlash,

My comment is brief. Your scruples are flawless and deserve personal congratulations. Atrios and TPMuckraker share a blatant conflict of interest. The Nation does an even better job of getting themselves off the hook. Thank you for not accepting ANY advertising. I've been hooked on Buzz since July and I am sending in a long overdue gift in appreciation and gratitude. I love Buzz. Keep up the integrity, scathing wit, and good work! Thanks,

JV

Subject: Whitney's Article

Mr. Whitney sounds so caring and his "open the borders and let everyone come in" sounds so compassionate. I am sorry but I do not have someone who cleans my house, or runs my errands, or keeps my children, or drives my car, or fixes my meals. Neither do I have someone who picks MY crops. We rarely buy fruit, sir. Some of us pay at least 1/3 of what we make for childcare. Some of us have no yard. Some of us have no HOME, can one believe that?!

I am a Christian and a Democrat and I DO believe in legal immigration. I think the problem Mr. Whitney doesn't understand is that some people wait for YEARS to become LEGAL citizens and do it legally. In fact, my grandson's other grandmother is German. Ask her what she thinks of the immigration reform. This so-called reform has nothing to do with poor people wanting a better life. It is for a country who encourage their poor to come here to work and send home their $$$$ home to build their economy. It's to provide them an education they will NOT provide or health care they need. It has to do with big business who wants cheap labor. It has to do with gangs and drugs and human trafficking...all for the almighty $.

If we were so concerned with our "poor"... then let's look at the homeless in our own country (immigrant or not) veterans, children, seniors, the mentally ill. We cannot solve all society's problems but we can certainly turn our own into a third world country if we continue down this road. Mexico needs to work for the betterment of their country so all citizens of their country will have access to a MEXICAN dream. Vicente Fox lives well. So do many parts of Mexico. Go for a visit some time. Just don't walk across the border and most certainly don't be caught as an illegal...unless you are passing through from some other country to the US. Look at Mexico's policies. They can use local police as well as the military to control THEIR border.

You make us, Mr. Whitney, to be the "bad guys." I would say put blame where it should be ... those who try to change illegal to legal when it suits their purposes. God help us all.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Americans Have Been Suckered

... into arguing about immigration. Although that is an issue, it’s not the most important issue facing this country. The ill-fated war in Iraq, corruption running rampant within the GOP, Iran, gas prices, and domestic spying are far more important.

Meanwhile, Bush has picked the creator of the domestic spy program to head the CIA. America are you listening? The guy who thinks it’s okay to keep track of every call that you’ve ever made is going to be head of the CIA. Yet, people are angrier that some guy was booted off of American Idol, than they are about this corrupt administration’s disregard for the Bill of Rights.

John Dean, who was once counsel for Nixon (not a lib by any means) thinks that we're headed for “A Constitutional Dictatorship.” Mr. Dean said, “Congress has the power to determine whether it wants the American equivalent of a constitutional dictator in the White House. The only way to be certain that we don't make that decision during a crisis, is to revise and codify our emergency laws now - before fear and anger in the aftermath of a possible attack might cause us to make bad decisions, and too easily trade liberty for security in numerous areas.”

People who support Bush need to remember that he is not always going to be in office, one day there will be someone in office who has a different political affiliation. Will you be okay with them wiretapping and spying without warrants? Bush and his corrupt administration are opening the door for the next President to go even further than he has gone in regard to stepping on the Constitution.

You're a damn fool if you believe that this administration didn't spy on their political opponents and people who are anti-Bush. Just look at their history ... they attack anyone who doesn't agree with Bush ... and if they can't get to them, they'll go after their family.

It's time for people in this country to behave like adults and stop running around like scared little bunnies ... willing to give up anything in order to feel as though they're protected.

Kimberly D.
New York

Subject: Dr. Kelly "Suicide"

Buzz-

Re the article that a Brit politician is 'looking into' the suspicious details around Dr. Kelly's 'suicide.' Duh. The man wrote to a friend in an email that if there were no WMD discovered (he'd said there weren't any) and that "if we go to war my body will be found dead in the woods."

Then voila, we invade Iraq, and he goes for a walk in the woods, and his 'suicide' is discovered.

I believe it. And please have Jesus send me a new MBZ ... I'm a Demo so nothing fancy ... a good condition used 300E will do.

Thanks,

MP investigates Dr Kelly's death (BBC)

Suzanne
San Francisco

Subject: Americans Souring on Bush's Personality

What's the matter? Is he no longer the person who 90% or so of us claim we'd most like to chug-a-lug a pint with at the local pub? And don't his C grade point average and grammar- and diction-challenged speeches still win our hearts, because if it's good enough for us, why not for our president?

Presumably the news that the public is less enthralled with the president's personality is supposed to cheer up his opponents and, to the extent that this is true, our representative form of government is that much less a democracy. After all, what does personality, looks, athleticism, anything other than a politician's legislative agenda have to do with democracy? And if a politician's personality somehow can get him/her off the hook for, say, having lied the public into a war or two, maybe it's time for us to rethink our so-called representative form of democracy.

Is it to be a popularity contest or is it something more serious, such as a conveyor belt for turning the wishes of the people into the law of the land? Anything other than that is not a democracy. It's more akin to the TV program, "American Idol" in that, while people vote, it's strictly for entertainment.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear BuzzFlash,

Quote: Gonzales - "There are some statutes on the book which, if you read the language carefully, would seem to indicate that that is a possibility," Gonzales said, referring to prosecutions. "We have an obligation to enforce those laws. We have an obligation to ensure that our national security is protected."

Well if EVERYONE is equal under the law, including President Clinton..... "WE" have an obligation to enforce those laws IN THE WHITE HOUSE TOO... After all, a reporter can NOT GAIN ACCESS to a classified secret unless someone with clearance divulges it in the first place!!!! Like Karl Rove!!! Get to work Mr. G man!!! Remember the law applies to YOU, too!!!

A Buzzflash Reader

Subject: Political Music

neil young is getting much attention (well deserved) and other bands are being hailed for their political songs e.g. dixie chicks - but have you heard of NOFX

they have a bunch of insightful political songs they have been doing for years yet don't get the attention they deserve. "the war on errorism" which came out before the 2004 election was ignored by BuzzFlash even though it contained the songs "the irrationality of rationality", "franco un-american", "idiots are taking over", "american errorist" and "re-gaining unconsciousness"

they then started punk-voter.com which you probably featured, but still have not embraced the intensity of their commitment to unseating bush

a week before neil's album came out they put out "wolves in wolves clothing" which has the songs "usa-holes", we march to the beat of an indifferent drum", "marxist brothers", "benny got blowed up", "wolves in wolves clothing" and "100 times fuckeder"

and their best song "the decline" was a pre-cursor to all of this - an orwell style prediction of the things to come - an 18 minute 21 second piece of political art

please take the time to check out this very talented and very conscientious band -

Peter Anderson
Dana Point, California

Subject: Straw Man

I saw Rumsfeld ranting on the O'Reilly show while I was surfing a couple nights ago. It was distressing to hear this man raving, while O'Reilly did a poor imitation of Larry King. Rumsfeld justified the war by condemning fools who believe the "world would be better off with Saddam." This is a classic straw man argument. No one favors Saddam, but then how about a destroyed Iraq with thousands dead and maimed and a near trillion dollar deficit? Rumsfeld also repeated the lie that congress looked at "the same intelligence" as the president. Anyone who remembered Scott Ritter or Hans Blix from 2002 (even on Fox!) realized there was never any threat from Iraq.

Ron Carpenter
Lynn Haven, Florida

Subject: The Worst President of Our Lifetime

Is it really even going out on a limb to say, as John Edwards did, that Bush is the worst president “of our lifetime?“ Who other than a bonehead like George Stephanopoulos needs to ask: “What did he do that was worse than Nixon?” The scope of Bush’s dereliction and of its consequences make him a shoo-in for worst president, bar none. The impact of his domestic, economic, environmental and foreign policies have wreaked a level of havoc that must be the envy of our enemies for decades to come.

Edwards: "Worst president of our lifetime" -- and that includes Nixon 5/22

Albert Clark
New York

Subject: Power Gone Mad 

America, wake up, snap out of it, are you going to sit by and let your unitary executive prosecute journalists for telling American citizens that their government is spying on them?....Is this what happened in Germany in the 30's when a populace was too scared to speak out while their rights and liberties were erased? The Nepalese recently took to the streets to depose of their king/dictator.

Better start learning how to spell totalitarianism.

Tom Coombs
BC, Canada

Subject: If Al Qaeda Or Their Associates Are Making Calls Into The
United States, Or Out Of The United States, We Want To Know What They
are Saying.”

Here is a new one for you, we have all been lied to about the illegal spying, and told that it is only about calls going abroad, then after being caught in a LIE, the so-called administration says that they are not listening into calls domestically, and even deny violations of the FISA laws. The commander-in-thief says he is only checking calling patterns, then denies even getting all the information from the phone companies and internet providers.

But it is interesting to see a quote from him in response to the data mining in the recent events and in spite of denials of not listening to innocent Americans:

On May 11th, President Bush, responding to the USA Today story, said, “If Al Qaeda or their associates are making calls into the United States, or out of the United States, we want to know what they are saying.”

So in order to know what people are saying, I would say you need to be listening. Also, I would have to say that the official cover story of not listening in to innocent Americans' phone and e-mails is inaccurate. To be more blunt, A LIE.

Still think Nixon was so bad? Still think oral sex in the oval office was worse? If so, you need a government sponsored nanny.

KJ Lovell
DUNCAN, OK

Subject: America’s Top Cop?

If you can bear to listen to the sound of Alberto Gonzales’s strange little voice you should be feeling a chill up your spine. He sashayed around the morning talk shows on Sunday to threaten reporters who break stories that show how lawless the government has become. (Yeah, Yeah, he phrased it different but that’s the message he was sending.)

We should not be too surprised by anything Alberto “the torture guy” Gonzales says at this point. Once again a Bush lackey shows that they have no shame, no integrity, and no depths to which they will not sink. Another Bush loyalist who cares nothing for his country.

Attorney General Gonzales evidently doesn’t realize that America’s Top Cop is supposed to represent the people of the United States. His loyalty is supposed to be to the people not the out of control pinhead in the White House.

We can be enraged that this despicable person is now the Top Cop in the United States. We can be enraged at the Republicans who find this behavior acceptable.

We should be outraged at the Democrats who once again laid down and played dead when this contemptible man was nominated by Bush. Being the minority party they might not have been able to stop this man from being Attorney General of the United States. The disgrace is that knowing what a loathsome little worm he is, they didn’t even try.

Attorney Gen.: Reporters Can Be Prosecuted (AP/Yahoo)

Marjorie L. Swanson
Kenosha, Wisconsin

Subject: Telephone Call Monitoring

Has anyone ever placed a telephone call to a business or a public utility and heard this message? "Hello. Your call may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance." Now, here is what truly bothers me. Is this not a form of wire tapping? Do we have the choice of requesting our telephone call to be not recorded? Also, why cannot we as consumers, do similar and place a message on our phone that states:"We may be monitoring or recording for accuracy."

I would like to know just who is monitoring my phone message or why they are recording my private phone call and just what are they doing with this information.

I do not think it fair that someone has all my personal information in front of them and I have no idea as to who is invading my privacy.

I would like to hear this on phone next time. "Hello. We may be monitoring or recording your phone call for quality assurance purposes. Press 1 if you wish to have your call monitored or recorded or Press 2 if you wish not to have your call monitored or recorded." Why are we not given choice?

We do NOT have a choice and this really bothers me because when I call up a public utility requesting service or tech support I either have to accept this or hang up leaving me without a means of getting my problem resolved.

Is this practice unfair to the consumer? Most importantly, is this practice legal?

Robert Carl
Chicago, IL

Subject:  "Dangerous People"

If we are to believe Condi's line of BS about not being able to close Gitmo because there are so many "dangerous" people there then why haven't these people been charged with crimes, brought to trial, and judged by a jury?

I suspect the reason is that there is no evidence to corroborate any of the administration's claims that these are "dangerous" people.

The most dangerous people I currently know about are those at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue who are part and parcel of Bush's administration.

Spare us the lies from the den of pit vipers.

Lisa Johnson
Milwaukee, WI

Subject: Migra-dollars and Free Trade

OK, 1 in 7 Mexican workers migrates and most then send money home (San Francisco Chronicle article).

As in general, the money moves around more easily than the people.

Now why does public policy encourage Capital to flow freely across borders, while seeking to restrict the free movement of a different economic input, Labor?

Capital is allowed to move jobs around in order to find a better deal with Labor, but Labor is not allowed to move itself around in order to get a better deal from Capital.

Why is this?

Is it because Labor tends to look different, sound different, behave differently and generally unsettle complacent communities?

Or it is because the present unequal state of affairs works to the overall advantage of highly mobile Big Capital?

Who knows? But it ain't free market economics.

It might be worth thinking about taking the leash off Labor.

If all the Mexican workers who wanted to were allowed to go where the best opportunities were, there would be less of a pool of desperate workers in Mexico attracting Capital to flood in.

If we don't care for that solution, what about defending ourselves against Capital drain? For instance, restrain cheap imports in order to maintain our farming and manufacturing base. Quit mortgaging the U.S Treasury to foreign investors, give federal contracts to U.S. firms, quit selling off natural resources to foreign interests (e.g, domestic or foreign mining companies can claim Federal land for almost nothing). Heck, a lot of countries restrict foreigners owning real estate. Get over the **shudder** "Protectionism" meme.

I don't really know what's right -- restrict Capital along similar lines as Labor? Or give working people the same privilege to move as Big Money?

All I know is what we have right now is unequal and puts working people -- of all countries -- at yet another disadvantage.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: The Immigration Smokescreen

Ethnic cleansing is "on the march" and an ever widening vortex of death and destruction threatens to consume Iraq. A resurgent Taliban are, once again, wreaking havoc in Afghanistan. Osama Bin Laden's still running free and the great American couch potato is getting tired of it all.

Public disenchantment with the self-evident failures of George Bush and the impending 2006 elections have right-wing Republicans shaking in their Jack boots. So, it's not surprising that Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and a legion of Clear Channel propagandists are focusing on illegal immigration in a desperate effort to talk about anything but their boys mis-handling of the war on "terrrrrrr."

And, when illegal immigration dulls the public attention span, they can bring up gay marriage or flag desecration or the perils of MySpace.com -- but the fact that they can't hide from is: they own the war in Iraq.

They supported it. They rallied for it. And they are morally accountable for it. They bear the responsibility for every bloodied body, blinded eye and flag-draped coffin. The "Chicken Hawks" have come home to roost. 

Inside Iraq's hidden war (The Guardian)

Scores killed as Taliban launches a big attack (Reuters, The New York Times)

Walter F. Wouk
Summit, NY