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Opinion Letters to the editor for April 18, 2011
Letters to the editor for April 18, 2011
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Obama’s success To the Editor: When the Republican hopefuls think their best attack is to raise the birther thing … again … it should reveal to anyone out there still capable of thinking that they know they’d lose any debate on real issues like Obama’s modest success in reigning in the worst of the profiteering health care industry, the worst of banking abuses, the worst of the republican recession he inherited, restoring sanity to the U.S. involvement in global affairs. They’d be basing their challenges on these if they thought they could make a case for Obama’s failures, but they know they cannot. I suspect thinking Republicans are starting to figure this one out. Bob Wetzel Murphys Precise language To the Editor: The sustainability issue in San Andreas is becoming hilarious. The late Sam Hayakawa taught us that a word never has precisely the same meaning at different times nor to any two persons who hear it at the same time. Others say that words have no meaning in themselves, it is all in the context and how we arrange them that convey ideas. To communicate effectively with others, we must know the meaning that others will attach to the words we use. And, to understand a political statement you must understand what the politician really means. George Orwell, an advocate for precise language, wrote about “meaningless words” that are endlessly repeated in the political arena. Words like “freedom”, “democracy”, “justice”, and I would add “sustainability.” Orwell claimed these words have been abused so long that their original meanings have been forgotten. Without precise meanings behind words, politicians and elites condition us to reflexively associate certain words with positive or negative perceptions. In other words, unpleasant facts can be hidden behind purposely meaningless language. So when you hear any Orwellian loaded word like “sustainability”, “smart growth”, “diversity” etc., start asking questions. What are they selling. What is the true meaning of the word? Who says? Why? Do you get the idea? Be skeptical. Think for yourself. The next time you get a blurb from your favorite political party have a little fun dissecting it. And remember that honesty always speaks clearly and uses words correctly. Robert L. Mulvany Murphys Drilling permits To the Editor: Sadly, most people are not aware that gas prices in this country are being affected by the fact that the current administration is not issuing drilling permits to drill in this country. Supposedly the ban on drilling in the gulf was lifted, but no permits have been issued. Despite the fact we’ve given millions to Brazil (George Soros) for them to drill in the gulf. Alaska is hurting because they are not being issued permits. Not only are our gas prices being unnecessarily increased, but so many Americans are out of work. The news media is not reporting this. The government wants us all driving tiny little “smart” cars and they will do anything they have to to make that happen. Linda Bernal Sonora |
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