Letters for September 16, 2004
The movie Predator has provided America with strong government leaders. Both Arnold Schwarzenegger (the current governor of California) and Jesse Ventura (the previous governor of Minnesota) appeared in this movie, and I am proud of America for recognizing in them the leadership qualities that President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry lack. For that reason, I am urging people to contact the party that they affiliate themselves with and persuade them to nominate other Predator stars for high government office.
Bush and Kerry are paper tigers, and right now the whole world is probably asking why, from the millions of people eligible for the presidency, did we narrow our choice down to these two men. If our presidential hopefuls were chosen based on their affiliation with the movie Predator, would America be any worse off? I honestly don’t think so. Carl Weathers for President in 2008!
Scott Huntsman
Reno
Still liberal after all
Re “Left left,” (RN&R, Letters, Sept. 9):
Reading the RN&R, I fail to observe the rightward tilt that Kathleen Hirsch worries so strongly about. Also, Kathleen, though I would be happy to read of Deidre Pike’s sudden conversion to Libertarianism; I believe you have incorrectly labeled her as a Libertarian. I’m sure her columns adequately reveal her true political beliefs.
Speaking of labels, Libertarians are neither a part of the right nor left movements in the United States. Libertarians defy the conventional political paradigm that categorizes political parties as either left or right. If you’d like to learn more about why Libertarians are far from being conservative (or liberal) feel free to visit www.libertarianism.com.
Your other comments about Libertarians were generally correct. Yes, Libertarians believe individuals should act voluntarily to aid each other rather than relying on removed and often inefficient government bureaucracies to aid communities in their stead.
Howard Knudsen
President,
Campus Libertarians
No protection for anyone
Re “Let everyone speak,” (RN&R, Right hook, Sept. 9):
Mike Lafferty mentions Clinton and his lack of service versus Bush Sr. and Dole’s “heroism” and tries to relate it to the swift boat veterans bullshit. The difference is, President Clinton always acknowledged their patriotism, while the draft-dodging Jr. hires some disgruntled or money-seeking sailors to try to discredit Kerry. Being a recovering attorney, I can see where he is partial to discrediting the victim.
I give Lafferty credit for not being born with a silver spoon in his mouth and apparently making a nest egg. Does that mean that the majority of Americans who didn’t should run off and die because drugs and healthcare are beyond their means? Go down to the Mexico border sometime and listen to some of the stories of people who thought they had enough to retire comfortably and had drug and health-care costs force them to buy medicine in Mexico. Now Lafferty’s fellow right wingers want to deny them that little bit of relief.
Sounds like he is pretty naive to me. He could easily be living down by the river with some chronic mental or physical disease.
Instead of trying to justify his column in the RN&R, why doesn’t he expound on what Bush has done or is contemplating to raise all boats, instead of just the rich.
name withheld
via e-mail
Corporate thinking
Re “Too much thought,” (RN&R, Letters, Aug. 19):
I agree with Troy Elizares. Michael Lafferty’s defense of Wal-Mart got me to thinking, too.
Wal-Mart spends a lot of money trying to convince us that they have a social conscience, but they are as unbelievable as George W. Bush, the presidential candidate they’re supporting.
A recent study by the University of California concluded that the working poor of Wal-Mart are costing the tax payers of California $86 million a year in social services. Apparently, Wal-Mart would rather spend millions on public relations propaganda than give their employees a living wage.
The lowest wage at Costco, another successful discount store, is higher than the average wage at Wal-Mart, and Costco provides their employees with good benefits, keeping them off the public dole. Not surprisingly, Costco’s employee “turnover” rate is half that of Wal-Mart’s.
Costco is supporting John Kerry in this election, and I’m shopping at Costco.
Joe Beverly
Reno