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Letters to the Editor September 18, 2003 Just keeping track of the various Democratic runners for the next election. In the past few days two very important votes have taken place in the Senate. First, an amendment which would have prevented funding for the new research planned by Bush into "smaller" nuclear bombs—nuclear bunker busters. Funding went through by a 53 to 41 vote. All four senators running for presidency MISSED this vote: Kerry, Graham, Edwards, and Lieberman. Second, a resolution of disapproval of the new FCC rules which would allow a few companies to essentially control the media. Opposition to the FCC rules was passed at 55 to 40. The opposition to the FCC rules has had huge popular and bipartisan support even though the White House threatens to veto it and still, three of the Democratic contenders MISSED this vote: Kerry, Graham, and Edwards. Maybe they’re out on the campaign trail? Maybe they thought their votes wouldn’t count? Maybe they didn’t want us to know where they stand? Maybe they didn’t want to alienate corporate contributors? Kathleen Ragan September 26, 2003 After reading your most recent Republic I got on line and followed all your links, and had a wonderful time, and made some great connections. Thanks so much for all that work, whoever did it! It's taken me a few years to find y'all but it's very gratifying. Jeff Merkel September 26, 2003 I hate to be picky about Dave James’ review of Hellfire Nation—especially when I agree with most of his points. So I’ll just bitch a bit about his paragraph about "the greatest moral victory of those on the right: the defeat of communism." He must be thinking of World War Two when he says "Liberals...were happy...to live with...the Soviet Union." Really—I don’t remember much approval of the Stalin-Hitler pact or the Moscow Trials. What "conservatives" feared about the Soviet Union in the ‘20s and later was not that they "understood it was an intolerable slave state." Hell, the conservatives rather admired that aspect and built auto and truck factories (Ford), bought wheat cheap while the Ukraine starved, and cut deals. What they originally feared was that the Revolution was for real and Workers Democracy would develop and spread. But by 1920 or so the American anarchist Emma Goldman—in exile in Saint Petersburg—denounced the Red Dictatorship (leading the Wobblies, who had joined the C.P., to quit en masse), and the democratic Socialists in America and elsewhere criticized the Communist Party’s betrayal of and splitting of the workers’ movement. But, of course, these folks weren’t "liberals" so maybe Dave has a point. They were "left conservatives" sticking with the cause of Liberty? Grumpily— P.S.: does anyone remember that the communists endorsed both McCarthy and Nixon in their first election? September 29, 2003 This is a fan letter. The piece you published by J.D. Ragan, "A Call for Action," is one of the most complete and well-written articles I have seen. I spend quite a bit of time on the net researching the issues that Ragan writes about. Thank you so much. You've scooped the big guys! We are ex-Esterites and friends of a number of people there. (Ray Hadley and Suzann, Jennifer and Dan, your next-door neighbors, Judy and Dick Gumm, et al.). We built the house across the street from you that Judy Stauffer lives in. It's great to get news from Ester and see that community life is thriving. Obviously, you guys are a great addition to Ester. We also are friends of Merritt and April's and live in Gila, where they've built their new home. We love them and are so glad they spend some time here. They're great additions to our community here. Keep up the great work. I'm sure you probably lose money keeping the paper going. So we thank you for the gift of your time, heart, and resources. Nena MacDonald October 8, 2003 I felt compelled to respond to Mark Simpson's article regarding the Ester Community Association's 'poll' regarding an anti-USA PATRIOT Act resolution. Mr. Simpson concedes, "the USA PATRIOT Act is bad law...[but] it is sunsetted." In stating this Simpson comments in a factual tone on things of which he's clearly misinformed. The fact is that some of the worst aspects of the USA PATRIOT Act have NO sunset provisions; section 213, for example. Section 213 allows investigations, including surveillance and obtaining of personal records, without even having 'reasonable suspicion', let alone 'probable cause', as is required by the 4th Amendment. And without a repeal of this law, or a better defining of to whom this law pertains (i.e., 'terrorists'), these provisions can be used against anyone, in any investigation, even if they are not the target of the ongoing investigation. 'Pertinent to an ongoing investigation' is the threshold that any law enforcement officer can now reference to gain access to records or authorize surveillance. Administrative subpoenas, lacking in judicial review, have frequently taken the place of actual court-reviewed warrants. Mr. Ashcroft has lied in saying that records haven't been requested; they have been requested in droves. Ask the American Library Association. Don't listen to apologists for fascism; do the research. As to the issue of risking losing neighbors over politics; anyone who would stand by and allow totalitarianism and the 'police state' to move forward, even one inch, is no neighbor of mine in the first place. The last thing this place needs is another bureaucrat or fascist. Dirk R. Nelson 25-year Alaska resident
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