Letters to the editor
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The new 'Southern strategy' has hurt America
I hesitate to start this critique of the American political scene this election season. Doing so, I know from experience, is bound to ruin this day for me and plunge me into a blue funk for the rest of the week.
Observing the obvious fraud that passes itself off as conservative thought, and at the media's refusal to critically examine its genesis and societal effect, along with long-standing white prejudice, producing the present political climate where truth, civility and fairness are the first casualties: Hasn't anyone noted the absence of black thought and opinion in the media, since the election of our first black president?
How did it happen that our poll-obsessed press ignored the Pew Center's criticism of its frequent, biased reporting on this president and how it has found a way to cast even positive events and stories in a negative light?
It is a matter of record -- this Republican strategy against the president and the agenda we thought he was elected to put in place, to ensure he is a one-term president by pro forma opposing every piece of legislation he suggests, and holding hostage the economic and social well-being of our nation.
In many ways the country deserves the prolongation of the Bush recession caused by the new "Southern strategy" and the influence of the retro, regressive tea party and the midterm election of the very Republican ideology that gave us Depression II. Anyone for III?
LANCE DUGGER
Hill District
To China's benefit
Your Jan. 21 editorial "In the Pipeline? Obama Has It Both Ways on a Controversial Plan" was thought-provoking: China will, indeed, be the big winner as President Barack Obama fritters away a sweet opportunity to back the Keystone XL Pipeline.
The consequence of Mr. Obama's decision, besides destroying thousands of could-be jobs, is that Canada will ship that oil to China. In the interim, we're importing oil from countries that are hostile toward us. In so doing, we're funding that aggression however those governments choose to convey it.
Mr. Obama's rejection of Keystone won't halt development of the tar sands in Canada; the Canadian government has already committed to it. It won't even necessarily halt construction of a pipeline; it will just be a pipeline to the Pacific for export via tanker to Asia, creating environmental impact in the form of additional emissions and the risk of oil spills.
First Published February 13, 2012 12:00 am
