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Dear Paul Rosenburg:
I really appreciated what you wrote about LBJ. Too many people on the amoral left want to forget what that Congress achieved in only two years. They always use some vague campaign slogan like "Yes We Can" while telling us on the moral left what we can't do. That level of hypocritical cynicism is not only sickening, but it will destroy what's left of the democratic party. Those DLC sympathizers might be fine with the corrupt, political status quo, but a lot of people thought that they were getting change. Your documentation of LBJ's record is right on time, because it keeps the DLC sympathizers from redifining what change really is.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
I really appreciated what you wrote about LBJ. Too many people on the amoral left want to forget what that Congress achieved in only two years. They always use some vague campaign slogan like "Yes We Can" while telling us on the moral left what we can't do. That level of hypocritical cynicism is not only sickening, but it will destroy what's left of the democratic party. Those DLC sympathizers might be fine with the corrupt, political status quo, but a lot of people thought that they were getting change. Your documentation of LBJ's record is right on time, because it keeps the DLC sympathizers from redifining what change really is.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Tom Harkin:
Yes, Harvey Dent is appeasing the regressive right with his revamped trickle-down stimulus. It was only about three weeks ago when some in the fantasy-based community were hailing the stimulus as the lone, "progressive" beacon of light in the parade of Clintonian cabinet appointments. I wonder what their fallback position will be this time. Surely, it can't be Harvey's trickle-down health scheme which does more for those who already have insurance than for those who don't. We'll see how this developes. Keep showing the young bucks what a Democrat is supposed to be. America needs a little bit of old school right about now.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Yes, Harvey Dent is appeasing the regressive right with his revamped trickle-down stimulus. It was only about three weeks ago when some in the fantasy-based community were hailing the stimulus as the lone, "progressive" beacon of light in the parade of Clintonian cabinet appointments. I wonder what their fallback position will be this time. Surely, it can't be Harvey's trickle-down health scheme which does more for those who already have insurance than for those who don't. We'll see how this developes. Keep showing the young bucks what a Democrat is supposed to be. America needs a little bit of old school right about now.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Bruce Dixon:
Your commentary was on point. Photo-op politicians like Mayor Richard Daley and President-elect Harvey Dent don't care about the commons. They are more interested in telling us what government can't do. If these photo-op politicians were really interested in an effective, competent government they would enact tarriffs (something that is in the Constitution by the way), sales taxes on things we like the least, and income taxes on wealthy investors. I didn't even mention the military budget which consumes over 50% of the national budget even before supplementals. Folks in the reality-based community are tired of photo-op politicians passing our debt on to our children. That is especially irresponsible if there is no working plan to pay the debt off. Don't they know that we are going to have to pay China back one way or another? Engaging in "public-private partnerships", as you have noted, is just another short term scam that will catch up with us in the long run. The quality of the air we breath or the water we drink shouldn't have to go into a recession, just because some photo-op politicians are too corporate to fix the causes of this current recession.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Your commentary was on point. Photo-op politicians like Mayor Richard Daley and President-elect Harvey Dent don't care about the commons. They are more interested in telling us what government can't do. If these photo-op politicians were really interested in an effective, competent government they would enact tarriffs (something that is in the Constitution by the way), sales taxes on things we like the least, and income taxes on wealthy investors. I didn't even mention the military budget which consumes over 50% of the national budget even before supplementals. Folks in the reality-based community are tired of photo-op politicians passing our debt on to our children. That is especially irresponsible if there is no working plan to pay the debt off. Don't they know that we are going to have to pay China back one way or another? Engaging in "public-private partnerships", as you have noted, is just another short term scam that will catch up with us in the long run. The quality of the air we breath or the water we drink shouldn't have to go into a recession, just because some photo-op politicians are too corporate to fix the causes of this current recession.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Ta-Nehisi Coates:
If you understood what was really going on, you wouldn't have lost interest. I am not going to get into the specifics of the what, because the what is not as important as the why. They (the moral left) are doing it to move the political center to the left. It looks like a discussion over cabinet appointments, but it is really a policy debate. Both sides (the moral left and the amoral left) know what those policies are and the wonks on both sides are the ones using the cabinet appointments to bolster their own position. Harvey Dent's hitmen (the amoral left) are trying to get their licks in so they don't lose control of the narrative when this private, policy debate goes public.
Details matter.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
If you understood what was really going on, you wouldn't have lost interest. I am not going to get into the specifics of the what, because the what is not as important as the why. They (the moral left) are doing it to move the political center to the left. It looks like a discussion over cabinet appointments, but it is really a policy debate. Both sides (the moral left and the amoral left) know what those policies are and the wonks on both sides are the ones using the cabinet appointments to bolster their own position. Harvey Dent's hitmen (the amoral left) are trying to get their licks in so they don't lose control of the narrative when this private, policy debate goes public.
Details matter.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Kos:
When I wrote to you the other day, I thought that I could spark your interest. Everyone had an opinion on hedge funds in last year's presidential primary. There's no reason why any desciple of Rubinomics should be spared the same fate as the others.
Oh, well.
Maybe this will get a rise out of you. I think it should be front page. Your headline could say this: "Why do we let insider traders run our economic policies?" You would get a million hits in one day. Of course the DLC sympathizers would huff and puff until their faces turned blue. So, what. A lot of folks in the fantasy-based community need to be exposed to some reality every now and then. They need to know that Robert Rubin is no hero. He has put America into decline from his positions in both government and business. Harvey Dent should quit associating himself with Rubin and Rubin's desciples; because they are bad news for anyone who claims to bring "change" to Washington D.C. The question you are going to have to deal with is: Are we a movement or a cheerleading squad? You have the power to decide which it will be. I hope you choose the former.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
When I wrote to you the other day, I thought that I could spark your interest. Everyone had an opinion on hedge funds in last year's presidential primary. There's no reason why any desciple of Rubinomics should be spared the same fate as the others.
Oh, well.
Maybe this will get a rise out of you. I think it should be front page. Your headline could say this: "Why do we let insider traders run our economic policies?" You would get a million hits in one day. Of course the DLC sympathizers would huff and puff until their faces turned blue. So, what. A lot of folks in the fantasy-based community need to be exposed to some reality every now and then. They need to know that Robert Rubin is no hero. He has put America into decline from his positions in both government and business. Harvey Dent should quit associating himself with Rubin and Rubin's desciples; because they are bad news for anyone who claims to bring "change" to Washington D.C. The question you are going to have to deal with is: Are we a movement or a cheerleading squad? You have the power to decide which it will be. I hope you choose the former.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Paul Krugman:
Do you see how powerfully destructive your logic is? I'm not talking about economics. I'm talking about politics. You said that "progressives" weren't qualified to lead Harvey Dent's economic team, because they didn't have the right kind of experience in this time of national decline. By your logic, Bill Richardson isn't qualified to be Commerce Secretary. That's not good for business or politics, because the democratic wing of the elitist party needs token latinos in the cabinet to market it's "post-racial" image. If Harvey Dent was thinking like you, Bill Richardson (or Susan Rice) would be Secretary of State. That would have essentially killed all of the momentum built up by these last two years of photo-op politics. Either your logic is wrong or David Sirota is correct: You are trying to move the goalposts.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Do you see how powerfully destructive your logic is? I'm not talking about economics. I'm talking about politics. You said that "progressives" weren't qualified to lead Harvey Dent's economic team, because they didn't have the right kind of experience in this time of national decline. By your logic, Bill Richardson isn't qualified to be Commerce Secretary. That's not good for business or politics, because the democratic wing of the elitist party needs token latinos in the cabinet to market it's "post-racial" image. If Harvey Dent was thinking like you, Bill Richardson (or Susan Rice) would be Secretary of State. That would have essentially killed all of the momentum built up by these last two years of photo-op politics. Either your logic is wrong or David Sirota is correct: You are trying to move the goalposts.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Bill Richardson:
You are not qualified to be Commerce Secretary. Yes, I know you used to be a republican who worked for a republican congressman and a republican White House. Yes, I know you switched to democrat and worked for a democratic congressman and a democratic White House. Yes, I know that you are a career politician and a career government jobber; but trust me on this: You are not qualified for this one position. You have never worked in the Department of Commerce, so that disqualifies you from any consideration. I got that from Paul Krugman.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
You are not qualified to be Commerce Secretary. Yes, I know you used to be a republican who worked for a republican congressman and a republican White House. Yes, I know you switched to democrat and worked for a democratic congressman and a democratic White House. Yes, I know that you are a career politician and a career government jobber; but trust me on this: You are not qualified for this one position. You have never worked in the Department of Commerce, so that disqualifies you from any consideration. I got that from Paul Krugman.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Kos:
I really don't trust any so-called "journalist" other than Bill Moyers. I was wondering if you could verify whether or not this story is true and/or worthy of consideration concerning Larry Summers' hedge fund. This may be another reason why Harvey Dent shouldn't put his trust into people who brung us to this point of national decline. I hope you bring some clarity to this story.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
I really don't trust any so-called "journalist" other than Bill Moyers. I was wondering if you could verify whether or not this story is true and/or worthy of consideration concerning Larry Summers' hedge fund. This may be another reason why Harvey Dent shouldn't put his trust into people who brung us to this point of national decline. I hope you bring some clarity to this story.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Glen Ford:
I really hope that our intelligence agencies are wrong. I am not saying that imperialism has to stay; but what I am saying is that the American way of life (the good things) shouldn't have to decrease while everybody else comes up to our level. I don't want to see one imperialist nation replaced with another. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am tired of the competition. Living standards should be high for every person on this planet.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
I really hope that our intelligence agencies are wrong. I am not saying that imperialism has to stay; but what I am saying is that the American way of life (the good things) shouldn't have to decrease while everybody else comes up to our level. I don't want to see one imperialist nation replaced with another. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am tired of the competition. Living standards should be high for every person on this planet.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Jonathan Stein:
If you didn't already know, you should have asked somebody. Black people don't need a symbol. Black people need good paying jobs!
Sincerely,
pee-wee
If you didn't already know, you should have asked somebody. Black people don't need a symbol. Black people need good paying jobs!
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Stephen Pimpare:
I am wondering whether or not your analysis is falling on deaf ears. While some try to inject some morality into the public debate, America is still largely an amoral society. The amoral majority is only interested in their own well being. Some writers on the amoral left promote the concept of folks in Kansas and/or Nebraska serving their own self interests. The writers' hearts might(?) be in the right place, but this is not the right way to change a situation as serious as poverty.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
I am wondering whether or not your analysis is falling on deaf ears. While some try to inject some morality into the public debate, America is still largely an amoral society. The amoral majority is only interested in their own well being. Some writers on the amoral left promote the concept of folks in Kansas and/or Nebraska serving their own self interests. The writers' hearts might(?) be in the right place, but this is not the right way to change a situation as serious as poverty.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Harvey Dent:
I just want to clarify something that I wrote to you the other day. When I said we needed a small business flat tax, I wasn't talking about what you or the other photo-op politicians currently call small businesses. Before we can have a small business flat tax (to go with the living wage) we must first redefine what a small business is. Any business that has offices in more than one state shall not be considered a small business. Any business that is part of a franchise shall not be considered a small business. Any business which is a subcontractor for a big business shall not be considered a small business. I know how you Washington types are. Any hint of something that might appease the regressive right is seen as a way to look post-partisan. You are not getting off that easy.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
I just want to clarify something that I wrote to you the other day. When I said we needed a small business flat tax, I wasn't talking about what you or the other photo-op politicians currently call small businesses. Before we can have a small business flat tax (to go with the living wage) we must first redefine what a small business is. Any business that has offices in more than one state shall not be considered a small business. Any business that is part of a franchise shall not be considered a small business. Any business which is a subcontractor for a big business shall not be considered a small business. I know how you Washington types are. Any hint of something that might appease the regressive right is seen as a way to look post-partisan. You are not getting off that easy.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear David Brancaccio:
I appreciate NOW's reporting on the current Wall Street letdown. It is hard finding any news shows with any reporting on any other cause of this current letdown other than "irresponsible" working people who only wanted to live the American dream in their own homes. The credit rating agencies have always had too much power. Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Pee-wee
I appreciate NOW's reporting on the current Wall Street letdown. It is hard finding any news shows with any reporting on any other cause of this current letdown other than "irresponsible" working people who only wanted to live the American dream in their own homes. The credit rating agencies have always had too much power. Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Pee-wee
Dear Harvey Dent:
I hope that this new development forces some folks to reevaluate their allegiance to the fantasy-based community. I'm not that bothered, because I always knew you were a photo-op politician who would triangulate your way out of a circle. Since you've bought into the regressive, trickle-down economic philosophy (at least for the next two years) why not use this as an opportunity to challenge inequity in other parts of the tax code. I have a few suggestions that deserve more that just your political hitmen's attention:
*Small Business Flat Tax
*3-year Startup Business Tax Holiday
*Move top capital gains tax rate to 40%
*Property Tax Cap
*Wall Street Securities Sales Tax
*1% sales tax on Chinese products
*2% sales tax increase on alcohol (since you care SO much about crime and unwanted pregnancies)
The main goal is to create a tax code that will make the living wage a reality while simultaneously encouraging innovation and new ideas from *NEW* economic players. I am even willing to cut or eliminate dividend taxes since they tend to be long-term investments. You have shown yourself to be an establishment appeaser, but I am giving you a chance to prove me wrong.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
p.s. I didn't even mention a marijuana tax, but you haven't shown yourself to be socially liberal either.
I hope that this new development forces some folks to reevaluate their allegiance to the fantasy-based community. I'm not that bothered, because I always knew you were a photo-op politician who would triangulate your way out of a circle. Since you've bought into the regressive, trickle-down economic philosophy (at least for the next two years) why not use this as an opportunity to challenge inequity in other parts of the tax code. I have a few suggestions that deserve more that just your political hitmen's attention:
*Small Business Flat Tax
*3-year Startup Business Tax Holiday
*Move top capital gains tax rate to 40%
*Property Tax Cap
*Wall Street Securities Sales Tax
*1% sales tax on Chinese products
*2% sales tax increase on alcohol (since you care SO much about crime and unwanted pregnancies)
The main goal is to create a tax code that will make the living wage a reality while simultaneously encouraging innovation and new ideas from *NEW* economic players. I am even willing to cut or eliminate dividend taxes since they tend to be long-term investments. You have shown yourself to be an establishment appeaser, but I am giving you a chance to prove me wrong.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
p.s. I didn't even mention a marijuana tax, but you haven't shown yourself to be socially liberal either.
Dear David Sirota:
Your last few posts have been very interesting. I completely understand your situation. You shouldn't have to preempt every one of your writings with a warning to readers, but they are so stuck on hero worship that it is almost a necessity. You might need a bigger mirror in the future, but the one you have now at least offers the readers a chance to get a small glance at themselves. Let me warn you that some folks like living in the fantasy-based community. You should be saving every penny from every paycheck for that jumbo sized mirror that lets everyone see their entire being.
And tell your readers that even though expanding trade to third world nations is NOT a need, we can expand trade with tarriffs. Yes We Can! LOL!
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Your last few posts have been very interesting. I completely understand your situation. You shouldn't have to preempt every one of your writings with a warning to readers, but they are so stuck on hero worship that it is almost a necessity. You might need a bigger mirror in the future, but the one you have now at least offers the readers a chance to get a small glance at themselves. Let me warn you that some folks like living in the fantasy-based community. You should be saving every penny from every paycheck for that jumbo sized mirror that lets everyone see their entire being.
And tell your readers that even though expanding trade to third world nations is NOT a need, we can expand trade with tarriffs. Yes We Can! LOL!
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear David Sirota:
Does this mean that you are part of the reality-based community? Yeah, Harvey Dent lied. Even the first lady knew that Harvey Dent was lying. Only those who live in the fantasy-based community thought that Harvey Dent and his DLC allies were going to do something about NAFTA. The elitists in D.C. only care about folks with masters degrees. Free trade (corporate rights') agreements put money into their stock portfolios. I could say keep up the good work, but your framing has been off for a while. It is no longer about "fair" trade. Now, we're talking tarriffs.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Does this mean that you are part of the reality-based community? Yeah, Harvey Dent lied. Even the first lady knew that Harvey Dent was lying. Only those who live in the fantasy-based community thought that Harvey Dent and his DLC allies were going to do something about NAFTA. The elitists in D.C. only care about folks with masters degrees. Free trade (corporate rights') agreements put money into their stock portfolios. I could say keep up the good work, but your framing has been off for a while. It is no longer about "fair" trade. Now, we're talking tarriffs.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
Dear Ralph Nader:
I heard about what you said the other day. It is really sad that some people are too stupid to figure out when someone is talking about a hypothetical, futuristic, either/or comparison. You could have used the phrase sell-out; but you would have had to find a word that starts with the letter S that could replace Uncle Sam. But even if you were purple-black like Wesley Snipes and used a different phrase, you would still be the focus of ongoing attacks. You have to understand (I know you already do) that a supermajority of the American press believes that Harvey Dent walks on water. More importantly: The forces that are trying to marginalize you come from both the democratic and republican wings of the corporate party. Those republicratics are going to do everything in their power to make sure that we never see a living wage. If you want to know where I stand...............I'm with you.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
I heard about what you said the other day. It is really sad that some people are too stupid to figure out when someone is talking about a hypothetical, futuristic, either/or comparison. You could have used the phrase sell-out; but you would have had to find a word that starts with the letter S that could replace Uncle Sam. But even if you were purple-black like Wesley Snipes and used a different phrase, you would still be the focus of ongoing attacks. You have to understand (I know you already do) that a supermajority of the American press believes that Harvey Dent walks on water. More importantly: The forces that are trying to marginalize you come from both the democratic and republican wings of the corporate party. Those republicratics are going to do everything in their power to make sure that we never see a living wage. If you want to know where I stand...............I'm with you.
Sincerely,
pee-wee
This summer, President George W. Bush will smile while jaunting up the stairs to Air Force One - his laughable presidency all but over - with not a care in the world.
For 13 hours, he'll lie on a couch in the airplane, drink pomegranate-flavored water and watch reruns of Texas Rangers games from the glory days of Nolan Ryan and Jose Canseco
Eventually, he'll land in Beijing, China, for the 2008 Summer Olympics. He'll pose and smile for photos with great Chinese leaders.
You'll definitely read about it in the newspaper, and so will people just like you all over the world; and you'll probably feel pretty good when you do. Like a bottle of cheap gin the whole globe can pass around, the Olympics somehow make it okay to forget for a little while.
This is helpful for most of us, but somewhat unfortunate for the Tibetan people, whose struggle against occupation has gone on for nearly 60 years
In 1951, the Chinese government annexed Tibet and declared it part of China. In 1959, an uprising resulted in the expulsion of the Dalai Lama; since that time he has run a "government in exile" based in India and become a martyr for global political rights.
On March 10, in honor of the 49th anniversary of China's great experiment in the abuse of state sovereignty, Tibetan monks began to protest en masse the continued demonization of the Dalai Lama and China's efforts to ethnically cleanse Tibetans.
China, for its part, pledged to "resolutely crush" those people. Within days, it launched a fresh military campaign in the region. It kicked out journalists and declared no quarter on religious figures.
Anyway, a generation later, as a reward for Chinese progress and a concession that China has established itself as a modern global player, it gets to host the Olympics!
Irony in such high doses should be fatal.
For 13 hours, he'll lie on a couch in the airplane, drink pomegranate-flavored water and watch reruns of Texas Rangers games from the glory days of Nolan Ryan and Jose Canseco
Eventually, he'll land in Beijing, China, for the 2008 Summer Olympics. He'll pose and smile for photos with great Chinese leaders.
You'll definitely read about it in the newspaper, and so will people just like you all over the world; and you'll probably feel pretty good when you do. Like a bottle of cheap gin the whole globe can pass around, the Olympics somehow make it okay to forget for a little while.
This is helpful for most of us, but somewhat unfortunate for the Tibetan people, whose struggle against occupation has gone on for nearly 60 years
In 1951, the Chinese government annexed Tibet and declared it part of China. In 1959, an uprising resulted in the expulsion of the Dalai Lama; since that time he has run a "government in exile" based in India and become a martyr for global political rights.
On March 10, in honor of the 49th anniversary of China's great experiment in the abuse of state sovereignty, Tibetan monks began to protest en masse the continued demonization of the Dalai Lama and China's efforts to ethnically cleanse Tibetans.
China, for its part, pledged to "resolutely crush" those people. Within days, it launched a fresh military campaign in the region. It kicked out journalists and declared no quarter on religious figures.
Anyway, a generation later, as a reward for Chinese progress and a concession that China has established itself as a modern global player, it gets to host the Olympics!
Irony in such high doses should be fatal.
The following is an analysis of the Bush Administration and its deficit spending as of June 2003. I am looking for more recent information. In the meantime, I have a question. How wold increased deficit spending under a Democratic administration be effective in dealing with a steepening recession and the problem of stagflation? http://www.ctj.org/html/debt0603.htm
The news is bias. Quit watching. The goal is to make money- not to inform. Do you know what COINTELPRO is? Here are two links that might help you out.
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