Letters 3/2/06

March 1, 2006

Spying & abuse of power
A rose is a rose—and illegal domestic spying is illegal domestic spying—regardless of who does it and what office they hold. No one is above the law.
The FISA secret court was originally formed because of wiretapping abuses in the past and the law is very clear—a court-ordered warrant is mandatory. I do not buy that this is about stopping terrorism—the court has only denied four requests since it was formed in 1978. It allows spying without a warrant for up to three days, but then a warrant must be sought.
What this is really about is arrogance and abuse of executive power. The means do not justify the ends. A rose is a rose and unauthorized domestic spying is illegal.

L. K. Gerow • TC

Bush not so bad
Some things never cease to amaze. Once again Bush haters are up in arms, shrieking about the latest “reason” to impeach the “criminal” in the White House. Isn’t this the same “criminal” who was objurgated four short years ago by many of the same people for “not doing enough” to prevent 9/11?
Sure, let’s impeach Bush. Bring it on. Let’s have another monumental waste of the tax- payer’s money just like our hard earned taxes were wasted 10 years ago going after Clinton. After all, isn’t that what politics is all about; partisanship and payback?
If this whole political dog and pony show weren’t so absurd it would be comical. But then it’s not too difficult to see that many of those who wanted to hang Bush four years ago for not doing enough to protect Americans now want to hang him for doing too much. Seems some people have a lot of difficulty making up their minds. Just one more example of damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t, and yet another example of our vaunted “squabble at all costs” political process at work.

Presidents Carter and Clinton both authorized warrant-less searches of Americans outside the limits of the Fourth Amendment (READ IT please) in the interest of national security.
The Clinton administration used warrantless wiretaps during the ’90s in project Echelon.
The Justice Dept. (Jamie Gorelick of all people) in 1994 and the FISA court in 2002 ruled that presidential authority DOES extend to this type of intelligence gathering, (any president, not just Bush).
So why are we wasting more time on this? Could it be because it’s yet one more opportunity for the Congressional glory whores to grandstand? This whole partisan episode is asinine. Call when it’s over please.

Lee Oslund • Mackinaw City

Civilization is doomed
Obviously, anyone who owns a computer and can type can become an authority and have their articles published. Accuracy, facts, names, references, or experience are not necessary; just a few true statements, a few statements most people would agree with, and be sure the rest are vague, that will guarantee that people will come to the wrong conclusion, disinformation.
Harley Sach’s article (on global warming) is an excellent example of disinformation, nothing but deceit, deception, and distraction. Then he has the gall to reply to Jim Sluyter’s letter and imply that he didn’t know what he was talking about, he relied on a neighbor who was an engineer. Harley didn’t give us his name so those of us who would, could not check him out.
Another example of disinformation is the statement “tax cuts creates jobs.“ Since the tax cuts went in to effect the unemployment rate dropped by 2%. That translates into give one millionaire a $300,000+ tax cut and two $15,000 jobs are created, which on such small incomes, neither will pay any federal income tax.
That means minus $300,000+ plus zero equals another $300,000+ added to the deficit each year. Yes, tax cuts creates job, but they are certainly not cost-effective.
I grieve for my country. Because of so much disinformation during these last 25 years most people don’t even have an inkling as to how dangerous our position is. Unless more people start using their brains and soon, our civilization is doomed.

Richard R Riker • Mackinaw City

Correction
Regarding the Women’s Winter Tour caption in the Feb. 23 issue for Hot Dates: Charles Layton Chocolates and The Chocolate Buzz are located in Traverse City, not Charlevoix.