Puritanical Editor Attacks Rational Thought

Today, Ken Tingley ranted at Patrick Russell, a letter-writer who voiced an opinion running counter to Tingley’s own on the topic of underage drinking. Russell’s letter was about the Post-Star’s excessive coverage of the arrest of thirteen teens and the parents who had allowed them to “party” at their home. Russell stated, correctly, that kids will drink, so what’s wrong with allowing them to do so in a place where car keys and behavior can be monitored? Surely, home is safer than a bar or in the woods, right?Ken spoke sneeringly of the “culture of acceptance” (which, apparently, is to blame for the 10 area teens killed in the past two years). He says Russell’s thought process is not “acceptable reasoning”. While the inference that Tingley has the capacity to engage in “acceptable reasoning” is undeniably humorous, I must take exception with his rather strange viewpoint.Russell was applauding the well-intended behavior of two parents who “accepted” that kids drink alcohol. They decided it was better to know where their kids were than to try and stop them. Never once in his letter did Russell applaud teen vehicular deaths or condone underage alcohol consumption. He simply implied that these parents were trying to prevent deaths. Contrary to Tingley’s opinion, that’s quite a reasonable argument.How many alcohol-related deaths take place in Europe where alcohol isn’t a rite of passage, but just something you drink with dinner? Surely, that’s a healthier attitude, yielding a better result? I believe that all ten of the teens killed were in cars returning from unsupervised parties. If they’d been at home, they might still be alive. That is “acceptable reasoning”, Ken, whether you agree with it or not.A good example of “unacceptable reasoning” might be the press’ shameless cheerleading of our unconstitutional occupation of Iraq. This has already caused the deaths of tens of thousands of human beings, American and Iraqi. Where is your anger about this, Ken? Do you, like so many others in the mainstream press, not see the hypocrisy inherent to your own “culture of acceptance”? Like our so-called leaders, you editorialize about steroid use and horsemeat while, somehow ignoring the fact that, yesterday, 22 young Americans were killed and many more will never be the same. Get your priorities straight! Where is your righteous indignation and editorial grandstanding when it’s actually warranted?

Surprised, Are We?

Dear Editor,
Why are you surprised that Bush won? Because Republicans love big business, big government, big defense contractors and big oil? Because they destroy our Constitution with immoral war and their Patriot Act? Because they wilfully destroy the environment by refusing to enforce our laws or fund alternative energy research? Because they revel in globalization? Because they’ll put another Nazi on the Supreme Court?Oh, wait a minute, is it the Republicans I’m thinking of or is it the Democrats? It’s been difficult to tell them apart for some time, hasn’t it? Unilateral support for NAFTA and GATT. The completely illegal occupation of Iraq. The bi-partisan passing of the Patriot Act. A total lack of national health care, no federal living wage, Herr Scalia’s unanimous approval to sit on our highest court. I have no idea which one of these issues, fully supported by both major corporations (oops, I meant “parties”), might have allowed you, personally, to see the truth, but they’re all good examples.John Kerry lost because he didn’t run as a real Democrat, he ran as a fake Republican. His senate record shows him to be little more than a corporate puppet and not, as Bush would have us believe, “slightly left of Ted Kennedy”. Kerry has done almost nothing for working people in his entire life. Check his record. Truman once said, “Run a fake Republican against a real Republican. The real Republican wins every time!”Many people didn’t vote for Bush at the polls, they voted against Kerry; someone they did not trust. What drove this rich man from his mansion and what is he hiding from us, they asked? The “moral” agenda offered by Bush mattered because it was the only agenda offered at all. Kerry, the professional politician, didn’t really stand for anything. People sensed this and voted accordingly.Having worked closely with Greens and Nader-supporters of many stripes over the past two years, I can only say, when I left the voting booth, I was fully aware that my vote was cast for a deserving human being, one with intelligence, sincerity, grit, vision and a sense of humor. It felt great! I voted for all the things I actually believe in, not against some perceived or manufactured evil. Did you? It’s a uniquely American feeling. You should try it out next time around!

Why Vote For Ralph Nader?

It’s obvious to most that Bush is (at best) a fascist’s tool. But by what twisted logic does this also mean that Kerry deserves your vote? Through several decades in public office, he has been complicit in many activities that have done great harm to workers all over the world; the normalization of trade with Vietnam and China, NAFTA, the IMF and the WTO, the non-procurement of affordable health insurance, a federal minimum wage or a repeal of Taft-Hartley. He also supported the invasion of Iraq and the Patriot Act. Which of these behaviors warrants your support?For most of his adult life, Ralph Nader has worked tirelessly on your behalf, though many feel that he “cost Gore the election” in 2000. (Reality check; almost 8 Million Democrats voted for Bush – only 700,000 Democrats voted for Nader. You can do the math.) Only through the magic of propaganda could this be Ralph’s fault. The Democrats have challenged his right to run in every state but then didn’t challenge Bush when he filed late in Florida (which would have disqualified him). Florida, for God’s sakes!Being a true progressive, I recognize the evils inherent to the two-party system. I would never support its puppets. I’ve seen the “wizard” and I will not be scared into wasting my vote on “lesser evils”. I just don’t see the margin in it. It is this failed strategy that has put us right where we are today. Think about that.Nader will alter our trade deals to elevate the global worker to a decent living standard. He will implement a federal minimum wage and enact universal health care. He’ll reduce insane Pentagon spending and give federal regulatory agencies back their teeth. He’ll castrate corporate lobby groups and introduce Instant Runoff Voting and campaign finance reform. Nader will pull our troops out of Iraq and will fully fund alternative energy research. He will forge a peace between Israel and Palestine.Both parties have allowed corporate interests to cause massive suffering all over the globe. Your vote for a rational, decent, principled human being will show the world that a small number of thoughtful Americans are not on board with unregulated Capitalism and the “neo-con” agenda. Be brave. Stand up for those without a voice, especially if you are living in safe state (like MA, VT & NY) where the Democrats are assured an electoral win, regardless of your actions. Vote strategically. Vote Nader!

Third Party

Dear Editor,
Every election year, we see multiple letters extolling the virtues of various local candidates. “My democrat is a better servant of the people” - “My republican has more experience” - “My dad’s better than your dad.” This simplistic barrage is rarely issues-based. Apparently, these Ward and June Cleaver types are all great neighbors, amazing parents and all-around, heroic, noble people.For the sake of keeping things simple, lets agree that each of these candidates will, in fact, decide a very important thing if elected – How to spend our money! Whose interests will they serve? A clear majority of politicians represent one of the two major parties, so this is an easy question to answer. These candidates are, basically, indentured servants. Their parties choose to run them because they’ll “do what they’re supposed to” after they’re elected. It is certainly in a candidate’s own self-interest to tow the party line after election day, and most do.Vote republican or democrat (at any level) and you are supporting a system that is, by nature, undemocratic. You are playing part in a false polarization of the masses that allows many to think they are making an actual choice when they align themselves with one political juggernaut or the other. The two major parties have always represented the interests of the ruling class. It is highly unlikely you are a part of that class; Why on earth would you elect its minions?Our nationally-elected representatives have a lot in common. They are rich. They love big business. They hate unions and workers. They refuse to address the need for affordable health care. They cut our veterans budgets while sending our children to fight oil wars. They allow our air and water to be horribly polluted. They shut “we the people” out of the democratic process through the electoral college and corporate sponsorship. They lie. Most damaging perhaps, together they sustain factory-schools with which they raise complacent, materialistic, easily-manipulated adults.Republicans and democrats are one and the same. When you vote, doAmerica a favor and don’t sell it further down the river. Vote Green, Progressive, Independent, Working Families, Libertarian or one of the many other alternatives. If no “real” human beings are running, run for office yourself! There are always choices beyond what you’re presented with!

Ode To His Own Boss

Dear Editor,
Today (Feb. 23), the Post Star ran a piece on its publisher, James Marshall. In it, Ken Tingley notes his boss’ rise to power by revealing that Marshall was the son of a guy who owned a paper. In all fairness, his other qualifications include stuffing newspaper inserts, selling advertising and writing obituaries. When Marshall took over, the Post Star crushed its union to increase profits. Tingley refers to this time as “uncomfortable” and relates how the newspaper was dealing with a “legion of labor issues”. Wow, that’s really vital news that is in no way shameless revisionist self-promotion! Thanks so much! Just what I’ve come to expect from the Post Star.Back in reality, the centrist, corporate-sponsored democrats have all but selected their candidate, a white, male, ruling class, Ivy-league, frat boy (John Kerry). They want us to jump on board to defeat George W. Bush, the Republicans’ white, male, ruling class, Ivy-League, frat boy.You would think the American public and the Post Star’s readership might be interested to know if they had any real choices in 2004 (instead of the usual “lesser of two evils” choice). You would think they might be interested in a candidate who wants to repeal NAFTA, shut down corporate loopholes, go after polluters, establish clean elections, get us all health care, repeal the Patriot Act, encourage job growth, fully fund education and end oil supremacy and the nuclear race, wouldn’t you?Ralph Nader announced on Sunday that he will be making an independent run for president. His candidacy offers Americans a real choice. He is brilliant and straightforward and recognizes that the two major parties are self-serving and virtually identical. His announcement ensures that one candidate representing our best interests will be at the debates.Is this newsworthy, an actual human being running for president? The Post Star gave “Ode to My Own Boss” 24 column inches and a full color picture on the front page of the local section. Ralph Nader’s announcement was less than three column inches in the Morning Briefing on Page A2. That’s setting your priorities straight, corporate media! If it was your job to make bad editorial decisions and ignore or bury any real news and show preference for fluffy little stories that are completely irrelevant to the bulk of your readership, I’d certainly have to give you 10 out of 10! Great work!
Matt Funiciello

A Corpse Is Worth A Thousand Words

Dear Editor,
A picture says a lot, especially when it is a picture of the charred, hanging body of an American mercenary. Almost 600 American soldiers and somewhere around 10,000 Iraqi civilians are dead (countless thousands of Iraqi military conscripts were also slaughtered but our government will never tell us how many). The Post Star hasn’t printed a single picture of a dead body in relation to this war in an entire year. Not one! You have been “sheltering” us from the awful truth. Why this sudden change of policy?We are all adversely affected when we see a picture like this. Most of us care about living things and this evidence of what we are capable of doing in our darkest moments is truly awful. What humans have done throughout history in the name of freedom, defense, tyranny, religion, honor (or oil, as in this case) is truly awful. But, it’s not the picture that gives me pause. It’s the letters people wrote complaining that it was inappropriate, disturbing and tasteless. Nonsense. War photos should be on the front page of the paper every single day.If unthinking people wish to cheer on wars of empire and glorify the murder of innocents and mercenaries alike, they should, at the very least, be forced to see the end result of their ignorance on a daily basis. Unlike the soldiers and civilians they have plunged into Hell with their complicity and cheerleading, the American newspaper reader can simply turn the page. Trying to bully your local paper into self-censorship is a supreme act of cowardice and is patently un-American.Showing atrocities to those who would glorify them is a great way to end wars (as with Vietnam). In war, children get killed, atrocities are committed and life is arbitrarily ended, every single day. If you can’t accept seeing this in the paper, how can you accept the act of war itself? Many readers have chosen to “kill the messenger". Perhaps, it would be more productive to re-think their own complacency and ignorance and what it has wrought?War happens because, we, the people, allow it. We are responsible for the man hanging from the bridge. We caused him to be there. Look at the picture. Own up to it. It is the truth and we should not be frightened by it, but learn from it.
Matt Funiciello

A DOWNTOWN WalMart?

Dear Editor,
With all the terrible issues on our national table, it’s awfully hard to get “up in arms” about a local one, but this one is far too important to ignore. Last week, the Glens Falls Economic Development Officer was interviewed by the Post-Star. Jim Martin is a regular customer of mine and I like him. In this article, he really surprised me by talking about trying to “land” a mini-Walmart for Hometown, USA. He reassured us that it’s not a full-sized one (apparently, the smaller ones only run about 60,000 sq. ft. or so).As a Glens Falls business owner, I can only hope that he was pulling our leg. A huge store full of cheap consumables and minimum wage jobs is NOT what we need in downtown Glens Falls. What kind of a statement is that to make?“Come to downtown Glens Falls! Eat at Aimie’s, Glen Street Bistro, the Siam-Thai Restaurant, the Mikado, Rock Hill Café or Samantha’s Pantry. Come see Cooper’s Cave Ale Company and Davidson Brother’s Brewpub. Check out the new Wood Theater and the world-class Hyde Collection. See a great hockey, baseball or basketball game. Go to Scoville’s, Glens Falls Guitar or Mommi and Me. See the quality wares our merchants purvey? Enjoy our beautiful library and our wonderful parks. Oh, and I almost forgot. If you need a razor that vibrates while you shave or a box of Ding-Dongs at half-price, just stop by our new Wal-Mart. See it? It’s that huge building over there that’s blocking out the sun. Yeah, right next to that three-story parking garage we had to build for its employees and customers. Neat, huh?”If we’re serious about revitalizing downtown, we need more small business. Small business attracts quality-conscious customers and, in general, creates better jobs. Wal-Mart does not, and we all know this. The only reason to bring in such a retailer would be to justify the cursed parking garage and enrich the developer of said project at the taxpayers’ expense.Mark Levack already did the math for us. He showed the city how to create many dozens of additional parking spaces, cheaply and simply, by re-painting the lines on the streets. Please, for our children’s sakes, let’s use some good, old-fashioned horse sense in rebuilding their downtown. Tell Jim and the Mayor that we don’t want (or need) a Wal-Mart.
Matt Funiciello

Small Business Owners Demand Minimum Wage Increase

(An open letter to NYS Governor George Pataki who vetoed a liveable wage for New Yorkers)

As the owner of Rock Hill Bakehouse (a bread bakery in Glens Falls, N.Y.), I employ forty people. It is my job as the “CEO” to ensure that each receives a livable wage. We will gross about 2 million dollars this year, of which I will keep about $50,000 dollars. This is far below the six-figure salary commonly garnered by those running similar businesses, but I have made a conscious decision not to live off my workers’ backs. I feel that it would be truly immoral to keep the bulk of the profits to myself.I live in this world, not in some “gated community” where I can avoid the realities that plague my fellow workers. I have worked unbelievably hard and I do feel that I am entitled to a bit extra, but I’m honest enough to know that my investment could never justify a salary dozens of times larger than my entry level employees. I am astounded that anyone could feel entitled to thousands of times what their employees are paid. As an empowered worker, I see the State’s current minimum wage as misguided and insufficient, at best, and as cruel and inspired by corporate lobby efforts, at worst.The “Wal-Marts” of this world market themselves as models of honor and decency. Why, then, are such a huge preponderance of their employees paid starvation wages? No self-respecting human being would ever dream of paying someone so little for their labor and, perhaps, that’s the key. These large corporations are not run by compassionate human beings, but by the unchecked avarice of their stockholders. This conscienceless capitalism has created a whole new class of unthinking middle-class robber barons, unaware and unconcerned by the damage done to enrich them.I think of small business as a canvas by which one may express a more enlightened model of the employee/employer relationship. There are many obstacles to successfully completing this “portrait”, foremost of which that we are constantly forced into unfair competition with huge corporations who suckle at the government teat (subsidized development, payroll, benefits, tax cuts and grants). While small business (the largest employer group in the U.S.) does not embarrass itself demanding corporate welfare, larger businesses don’t seem to suffer these pangs of conscience. Apparently, pride in one’s self-sufficiency, like compassion, is a uniquely human characteristic, not a function of greed. Its cruel irony, indeed, that this corrupt system allows these pariahs to use taxpayer money to fund their efforts to affect economic hegemony over small business ands its workers.In 2002, the gross individual income in New York State was roughly $684 billion dollars. If shared equally, each three-person household would have earned just over $108,000 dollars. In actuality, the median household income was $36,000 dollars. Who got the other $72,000 dollars? A very small minority of the population keeps the lion’s share of the wealth, apparently feeling justified in retaining more than two-thirds of New York State’s potential income! Boy, they must work awfully hard!I recognize that everyone’s contribution in the workplace is not equal and that, therefore, not everyone is necessarily entitled to an equal share. However, capitalism needs to be regulated such that greed and bad judgment may be forcibly tempered by both compassion and common sense. The best way to remedy the current disparities is to raise the minimum wage. It’s long overdue. Small business-owners already pay far more. The unofficial minimum is much closer to $7.00 an hour.Opponents of raising the minimum say it will drive up prices (although, interestingly, they don’t seem too concerned when Tyco executives need an extra 2 million dollars for a birthday party)! Its only when a worker needs something more that the world is going to end. Sure, prices may go up, that’s true, but the additional cash in the workers’ hands will fuel higher consumption, right? Raising the wage is a win-win situation, as it has been in every state which has done it thus far. The big-box stores may take a hit, but they too can survive, by slightly altering their priorities as a whole new crop of consumers becomes able to consider quality when making a purchase.State officials need to stop ignoring their mandate to take care of the people who put them in office. They need to increase the NYS minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, now. If New York would have the courage and intelligence to do this, perhaps the federal government would take note and do what is right, as well. No full-time American worker should ever be living below the federal poverty level. It’s a disgrace! If you are a worker or a small business owner, you need to support and vote for only those public officials who vow to repair this grave imbalance.
Matt Funiciello

The "Aggressive" Music Festival

Dear Editor,
Let me say first that the three people who are most solidly against the Aggressive Music festival are people that I know and respect (Mark Frost, Bill Brown and Diane LaFontaine). Each, seem to me to be reasonable, well-intentioned and thoughtful. That doesn't, in any way, stop me from completely disagreeing with them, though. As a parent and a big fan of "Hometown USA", I can understand (emotionally) where they're coming from and certainly will stop far short of accusing them of "zealotry" or labeling them "Un-American", as others have done. They have simply voiced their opinion that this type of event has no place in Glens Falls. The music in question is violent and anti-social; devoid of artistic merit and these events usually carry with them some baggage of destructive behavior. These things may, or may not, be true, but they are all subjective arguments.The bottom line is that we live in a democratic society (well, sort of .... for the moment, anyway). People who seek to censure or restrict art should be considered out of touch with what are truly core American beliefs. I believe that those who championed free speech (most of the founding fathers, for example) knew that it would open Pandora's Box. With valued commentary and artistic expression, you also get the Ku Klux Klan, Michael Savage, Howard Stern and Brittany Spears. Truly a mixed bag! Do any of these voices really serve any useful purpose at all? I honestly don't think that they do, but I'll defend their right to free expression nonetheless. Should Glens Falls only allow "quality" musical acts to play? If quality were the issue uppermost on the American mind, surely, there would be no Walmarts and McDonald's would not be the nation's most successful "restaurant".The real “evil” coming to town is inarguable. That evil is Clear Channel, who will be promoting the "festival". Their evil is far more insidious than any leather-clad musician expressing angst and denial and anger and sadness to teenagers. This un-American media monopoly is a truly evil mechanism designed to spew propaganda and invective and set the intellectual bar lower while enriching its shareholders. With its selective reporting and hate speech, Clear Channel has caused millions of misinformed Americans to champion some very un-American activities (wars of empire, the two-party system, the death of free media, the Patriot Act and globalization, just to name a few).If it weren't for Independent Media, like WRPI (91.5 FM) or the Internet, American news might be totally devoid of truth. We would have no choice but to blindly accept what we are told by mainstream medium. Clear Channel owned 1200 radio stations spanning many genres before last years historic FCC decision to allow corporate media to consolidate even further. Now, six corporations own more than 80% of our "free speech" in this country. Without independents, (like the Chronicle) the voice of democracy and discourse can be easily silenced. We all need to champion the right of free speech, regardless of our political or religious beliefs, before it’s too late and our voices are silenced, forever.My three friends, I love and respect each of you for your contributions to our community and for your well-intended opinions in this matter, but when it comes to censorship, Boy, do we disagree! Thank God we're still allowed to do that!
Matt Funiciello

Extra! Extra! Corporate Media Ignores Nader Again!

Dear Editor,
Ken Tingley’s recent editorial asked, “Who’s Man Enough to Be President?” In it, the only principled person running is completely ignored (Ralph Nader). Tingley found Kerry to be “impressive” and Bush to be lacking.I can certainly agree that Bush has been a spectacular presidential failure. He is, at best, a simpleton, a chauvinist and a warmonger whose failed policies rival the worst in our history. But, to say that Kerry is impressive, by comparison, seems a stretch. Bush and Kerry squaring off in the intellectual arena are kind of like a heavyweight bout between a six-year old and Lennox Lewis, don’t ya think? Is it really a fair fight?What if we put Kerry up against a real contender, like Nader? Kerry, like Bush, is just another ruling class politician whose two-party message is surprisingly consistent with that of his supposed “opposition”. Neither candidate is a friend of anyone who works for a living, they’re just good fakers. What’s so “manly” about that?Ralph Nader is the man who will withdraw our troops from Iraq. No reinstatement of the draft on his watch! He has a single-payer Healthcare plan and a way to pay for it. He’ll repeal NAFTA and help put an end to global economic slavery (or “globalization”, as we’re asked to call it). He will mandate a minimum wage that is above federal poverty guidelines. He will fully fund alternative energy research. This doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.Will we see this title fight? Will Nader get his time in the ring with “Mr. Impressive”? It’s highly unlikely with the “free press” so focused on the completely fake battle between TweedleDumb and TweedleDee. If the press continues to ignore independent candidates and doesn’t focus on the undemocratic nature of the “debates”, who will?Imagine an America where Instant Runoff Voting is the norm and where the press thinks of it as its duty to give equal time to every candidate. Do you think that place might be a little closer to a real democracy than the system of lies and posing we currently live under?Ken, please do your part. Stop ignoring the only “real man” in the race. Don’t wait for the wire services or the mainstream corporate press to signal that it’s okay. Cover Nader yourself. That’s what a newspaperman should do!
Matt Funiciello

Is Parking REALLY Such a Problem?

Dear Editor,
My business, Rock Hill Bakehouse Café, has just finished its first full week of business in Glens Falls (in the old Triads building) and it has been fantastic! I wish to thank both of our hometown newspapers (and TV8, as well) for the wonderful coverage we’ve received.After this first week, I have been left with a deep desire to work on re-establishing a shopping and restaurant district in downtown Glens Falls. Small towns all over the country have them. They are a destination where people come to shop, to eat and to be entertained. There are no “stars” in these districts. All choices are truly unique. Nothing is mediocre. Everything is exceptional. These districts become destination points for connoisseurs of quality items, food, wine, theater and clothing.It seems that Glens Falls worries about giving up much-needed sales tax revenue to Queensbury. The right answer to this problem seems obvious. Make sure that downtown stays high quality and niche market. Why not make revenue from one $295 dollar handmade American dress instead of ten cheaply-made $20 dollar dresses at a mall franchise? We already have some truly unique businesses. We have wonderful music and theatre. And thanks to Charley Wood we’ll soon have an amazing venue to match it. We just need to keep setting the bar higher; better food, better entertainment, better service until we are considered “the” place for upstate residents tired of being bilked to go for a wonderful afternoon or evening out.What we DON’T need is to continue focusing on (and being hysterical about) parking. I have yet to have trouble finding parking downtown, in fifteen years of living here. I have yet to walk more than a block and a half to get to any function, including sold-out Icehawks games and Taste of the North Country. I think we can all agree that people who can’t walk a block and a half are being ridiculously lazy, right? Do we really care about these lazy peoples’ needs so much that we are going to forego real growth and gentrification in favor of “parking hysteria”? Can’t we, as a community, focus our efforts on growth and spend every available dollar and morsel of energy we have attracting more new small businesses to town?
Matt Funiciello

Run, Ralph, Run (letter to "The Nation" magazine)

Dear Editors,
I have a few questions about your ridiculous “Open Letter to Ralph Nader”. Was it Carter or Reagan or Bush or Clinton or GW who murdered people overseas to protect American corporate interests? Who misled America and was then brazen and unapologetic about doing so? Who got us all health care? Who encouraged globalization and NAFTA and basically provided the ruling class with a license to print their own money? Who was pro-union and increased the minimum wage? Who championed Instant Voter Runoff and Campaign Finance reform? Who is pro-environment and forced the big three to develop hybrids and alternative energy?Ultimately, what is accomplished, exactly, when we elect a Democrat instead of a Republican? You might liken voting for Nader to banging ones head against a wall. I can only say that at least my wall is made of sheetrock and is weakened by each blow. I am surrounded by astonishingly naive Democrats with bloody foreheads and brick dust on their LL Bean sweaters. Doesn’t that hurt? Do you really think that wall’s giving way?During each election cycle, Democrats never tire of pretending that all Republicans are the anti-Christ and only a Democrat can save us! Spare me. Both parties are full of completely straightforward fascists and the only real answer is to stop supporting them and their corporate masters. Your somewhat undemocratic strategy to stifle Nader’s candidacy and urge voters to support another corporate minion isn’t awfully inspired and, in my lifetime, has yet to yield us a single human president. Can you explain by what wizardry you expect it to work now?I will support Ralph even if he doesn’t run and so should you!Shame on the Nation (both the magazine and the country) for taking such a cowardly stance!
Matt Funiciello

Are You a Member of the Ruling Class?

Dear Editor,
A friend of mine, perceiving himself as rich, took offense at my “Tax the Rich” bumper sticker. I define the rich as those who don’t pay taxes, and who live, as parasites, off our collective backs. I asked him to take my test. Was he obligated to get up and go to work in the morning? He said yes. I congratulated him for being a worker.Many people like him seem strangely desperate to define themselves as “rich”. They list the signs of wealth; big houses, college-bound children, SUV’s, boats, cottages, stocks. My grandfather earned a similar lifestyle working hard on the shop floor of a glove factory. I know he saw himself as a worker who had done well for himself, and not as “rich”.Approximately 95% of America’s wealth is controlled by 3% of our population. It’s a no-brainer that if you’re reading this, you’re probably not of that class. You are a worker. You have to be smart and strong and lucky to survive. You have almost no safety net. You are not an heir or a trust fund baby.In November, wouldn’t it be wise to vote for candidates who understand this struggle? Won’t they better represent you? Why vote for those who have been handed everything on a silver platter (like Bush and all three front-runners in the democratic primaries). How can they appreciate what they have been given when they have done little or nothing to earn it.Albert Einstein said that … “The minority, the ruling class at present, has the schools and press, usually the Church as well, under its thumb. This enables it to organize and sway the emotions of the masses, and make its tool of them.”Let’s show ourselves to be wiser than “tools” by supporting real people who have struggled, candidates like Ralph Nader and Dennis Kucinich. Remember which class you belong to when you vote. If we mess up yet again, it is our children who will suffer. They will still not have health care. They will still have to fight oil wars. They won’t have social security and they’ll be left with a huge deficit. They will have fouled air and water.The ruling class, as always, will laugh at us (we “tools”), confident that their children, through mountainous accumulation of wealth, will always be insulated from these “lower class” realities.
Matt Funiciello