Sufficiently outraged

RE: “Alternative Election 2000 Coverage

12/22/00

I have already written my senators and congressman. I think Bush is illegitimate. I think he was given power by a politicized Supreme Court and I am mad as hell. I am mad and scared because we have witnessed a coup and the media is telling us to forget about it (“Forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown”), the Democrats are talking reconciliation (Do you think the Republicans would?) and Bush is already acting like he has a mandate from God himself (which he may indeed believe). This is an ugly mess, but it is only the ‘winners’ and the sycophants who want to put it behind us.

Garey Mills

 


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You Scrooge, You Lose

RE: “Major Bummer’s Totally Depressing Guide to the Holidays

12/22/00

Thanks a lot, but it’s not working.

I refuse to be cowed into having a shitty holiday.

What next? We shouldn’t go outdoors because we might step on some grass?

Give me a freakin’ break.

Carla Holley

 


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Kick it up

RE: “How Bad is Bush for Blacks?

12/22/00

I, as a woman, would hope that blacks and other disenfranchised groups would mobilize together in the next two elections, 2002 and 2004, to take back the House, the Senate, and eventually the Presidency for the Democratic party. Otherwise, I, too, fear we will lose many of the rights we all have come to take for granted, including the simple right to be treated as an equal.

Women are on the verge of losing their basic right to choose. Blacks and other minorities are on the verge of losing their basic right to be treated with the equality they deserve. We should all be frightened, but not immobilized in our fear. This is a time to “kick it up a notch,” as one adorable TV chef says! Perhaps we can use the Bush presidency as a blessing in disguise, a chance to finally awaken the sleeping giant that has been so complacent during the nice and easy Clinton/Gore years.

Marie Jones
San Marcos, Calif.

 


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Let a smile be your umbrella

RE: “Major Bummer’s Totally Depressing Guide to the Holidays

12/21/00

While I understand the importance of pointing out all this nasty stuff, it sure would be nice if alternatives were offered. I would be more than happy to ditch the worm-infested turkey, the genetically engineered tofurkey, etc. But what is acceptable to serve instead? It is so often that I hear about everything that is wrong with this world, but it is oh so rare that I hear coming from those same people ways to make things better. Lets be proactive people! S*** or get off the pot — spend your belly-aching energies trying to make a difference.

Gretchen Bickert
Phoenix, Ariz.

 


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Glad to be of service

12/21/00

Thanks for the article! It was hilarious. I never thought populist drivel could be so entertaining.

Adam J. Hall

 


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Powell isn’t my advocate

RE: “How Bad is Bush for Blacks?

12/21/00

I think Bush, like his father, is a racist. It does not matter that he nominated Powell, who I actually think will be the first casualty for the Bush administration. Powell appears to be his own man. In any event, Bush can push Black folks “back” 40 yrs in the 4 years he will be illegitimately in office. If you take a poll in New York City of 20 blacks, I bet you won’t find 5 that will know who [Condoleeza] Rice is.

The US now has the stupidest person ever “running” the country. Just because a person in black doesn’t mean they are for black people or that they understand unique black problems. Even Powell said himself when he stated his “volunteer” program, he didn’t have a clue what blacks needed, until he went out and talked to the man on the street. What Powell is good at is military strategies, which really doesn’t help people like me.

Gloria Knighton

 


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Bush bad for blacks? Balderdash!

RE: “How Bad is Bush for Blacks?

12/20/00

I disagree with your claim that Bush is bad for African Americans. The so-called social programs given to African Americans that you refer to are responsible for why blacks are where they are today. The government shouldn’t act as babysitters; the government is there to provide tools to empower the minorities. Social programs set up an unproductive incentive structure for black people.

If you are truly supporting the black population, please inform them that they only way out of poverty is through education and hard work. It’s up to the parents to take responsibility and show their kids how to take responsibility for their behaviors and choices they make in life.

Cindy Fraher

 


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12/20/00

I think it is presumptive and irresponsible for your publication to assume that a Bush administration will be bad for blacks. Why don’t we promote what we all agree is fair and just: equal treatment. While there is unlimited room for improvement in race relations in our country, setting agendas and programs to promote one race over others is racist.

I think what black people want is equal opportunity. The blacks who scream for something for nothing are not representative of successful citizens. The blacks — and others, for that matter — who follow the “bootstrap” philosophy are the achievers in our society. Do you think Colin Powell sat on his ass waiting around for government handouts? He is just one public example of millions of success stories.

Keith Gibbons

 



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It’s about Thomas

RE: “How Bad is Bush for Blacks?

12/20/00

Hutchinson could have saved a great deal of time and energy writing his article by reducing it to Q & A format:

Q. How bad will Bush be for Blacks?
A. Clarence Thomas

There’s no need for speculation; we already have the answer from the lawless Bush v. Gore decision, which was heartily supported, of course, by Justice Thomas.

Joseph Nagarya
Boston, Mass.

 




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Classical capitalism run amok

RE: “The Trouble With Percy

12/20/00

Even those Monsanto supporters who profess to follow Adam Smith’s philosophy may not understand his writings; according to Smith’s own definitions, this is monopolistic terrorism.

Monsanto recently bought out (oh, sorry — “peacefully merged with”) Upjohn Pharmacia in Kalamazoo. After years of taking millions of dollars in tax breaks to “keep jobs in Kalamazoo,” they are now dismantling thousands of jobs and moving them to New Jersey, where the polluting laws are not as strict.

Kalamazoo and its river are among the most polluted areas in the country. The local lakes are being drained (mysteriously) to dangerous levels. No one knows why for sure, but many are pointing to Monsanto’s crop tests.

Tom Brignall

 




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Major Bummer’s unsettling wake-up call

RE: “Major Bummer’s Totally Depressing Guide to the Holidays

12/19/00

I was completely shocked by the information contained in this article! Although I tend to be skeptical about the validity of much of the information I obtain through the Internet, it is clear that there people are generally becoming more concerned about the problems discussed in this article. I would hope that more and more people become aware of these problems and respond by taking action. I certainly am planning to do just that.

David Backus

 




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12/20/00

I consider myself a formidable ruiner of great occassions. For the past week, I’ve been heckling Christians about their Winter Solstice holiday and the corny propaganda behind the popular Christmas songs we hear in every retail shop.

Your article, however, helped hammer home the degree of relativity behind my ability to help point out the inconsistencies and problems disguised in all our little holidays. You did some great work, but on the other hand, you’ve put me deeper into the mire.

I thought George Carlin went a little overboard when he said “Fuck Hope”. After reading your article, I’m beginning to come around to his philosophy. That is, unless you can direct me to an honest hunter-for-hire so I won’t be eating test-tube turkey or tofu.

Terry K.

 




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Frankendude

RE: “The Trouble With Percy

12/19/00

I am a bioengineer who feels frankenfoods are a wacky idea. I think, sadly, they’ll only become more common.

Animals will eventually be raised in boxes, engineered to grow only the select meats, their muscles stimulated with electricity and nervous systems surgically removed by an automated process. Multistory hog farms are the precursor to this.

Bioengineered foods will kill several scores of people in the next ten years, resulting in regulations that require their approval as drugs. The net effect of this will be more corporate sponsorship of the electoral process and absolutely no increase in public safety.

Meanwhile, all those fabulous biofuel and biofabric crops that will save us from the evils of hemp farming will also decimate huge swaths of plant and animal life for reasons that scientists will find “fascinating.”

Beware scientific solutions to political problems.

Krit Hatton

 




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Blissful, destructive ignorance

RE: “Major Bummer’s Totally Depressing Guide to the Holidays

12/19/00

I agree completely with everything in this article. “Don’t think, be happy,” seems to be the motto of our times. America is a deeply dysfunctional society.

Joseph Lankford

 




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Dreidel, anyone?

RE: “Major Bummer’s Totally Depressing Guide to the Holidays

12/19/00

Just one more reason I’m glad I’m a Jew.

Ben Spigel

 




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Affirmative action for everybody

RE: “How Bad is Bush for Blacks?

12/18/00

Is there any doubt that Bush and the Republicans seek to throw out any and all affirmative action programs? These programs also help white workers maintain their wage levels as they ensure black workers equal pay. Unions and decent wages are anti-Republican, as Bush has already demonstrated that he would like to keep the minimum wage at $3.35 per hour.

John Loughran


Poor Schmeiser

RE: “The Trouble With Percy

12/18/00

I think that Schmeiser deserves to be left alone by the corporate hounds at Monsanto. The nerve of this company never ceases to amaze me. How can we not only permit, but openly tolerate a technology that supports and encourages the mass introduction of genetically altered seeds which go hand-in-hand with massive applications of chemical herbicides and pesticides.

Poor Schmeiser: Here’s a guy who has patiently developed and nurtured his canola crop through a time-tested method of natural genetic modification, and Monsanto’s monstrosity, a million-dollar laboratory product, which it is making billions of dollars over, has compromised his unique seed variety.

Now Monsanto’s greed is more evident than ever. One field accidentally cross-pollinated by the invading weed and Monsanto’s gestapo are crawling like pigs through the dirt trying to nail down a resistant farmer. I wish Schmeiser the best of luck in winning against this heartless and cruel monster called Monsanto. Maybe then the world will take notice of how this company and others like it are jeopardizing the environment. We need genetic diversity as a safeguard to natural variations in temperature, rainfall, pests etc. Even rapeseed deserves a natural biological progression in life. It doesn’t deserve to be raped by evil scientists and businessmen.

Nick Forster