Posted: Monday, September 8, 2008 12:00 am
Hear from officials who support workers
In a sane world it might make sense to print the message from the secretary of labor on Labor Day. But whoever chose to run the anti-worker corporate servant Elaine L. Chao's ridiculous column is either very blind or very funny.
If it was meant as a companion piece to the cartoon about outsourcing Labor Day, it was smart and funny. If it was meant as a serious piece of information on the condition of labor in real-world America, it is a bad joke.
Forget the "information age" where we no longer produce anything as a field for great employment opportunities. "Retraining" has proved to be a fraud and at best, a traumatic adjustment for workers, families and communities as the "costs" of corporate profits are externalized. Real job creation has not kept up, despite her cheery words.
What is truly galling is her proud claim that America has a "tremendous competitive advantage in our work force." We do lead the world in productivity, but the profits from that growth have not gone to workers.
The workers are so happy that their bosses are getting filthy rich.
It is time to have a secretary of labor who is for working America.
Don Caughey, Corvallis
McCain botched pick for vice presidency
By selecting Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate, Sen. John McCain botched the first important decision of his intended career as president of the United States.
Palin has apparently not read the U.S. Constitution, since she admitted to reporters when she was approached for the position in July that she had no idea what the job of a vice president was. Palin has been governor of a state of 650,000 people for less than two years, and was the mayor of a town of 6,000 before that. She has no other elected experience, though she has been a journalist and beauty pageant winner.
Not only does Palin lack experience, but in her less than two years at the helm of Alaska, she has already come under fire from her own legislature for abuse of power. Less than a month ago, a bipartisan committee voted unanimously to fund a special investigation into her role in the termination of Walt Monegan, Alaskan commissioner of public safety, after he refused to fire a state trooper who is currently embroiled in a nasty custody dispute with his ex-wife, Palin's sister.
McCain is in admittedly poor health; he is the oldest candidate for presidency ever, and he refused to let reporters see most of his medical history. Yet he would put Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the presidency?
His choice doesn't make him a maverick. It does make him irresponsible, and the wrong choice to lead our country.
Rachel McGonagill, Corvallis
More Last needed for balance, fairness
After another scathing letter from a furious, but not very democratic, Democrat, it seems that it is appropriate to run more of Jonathan V. Last's columns, if only for balance and fairness.
Larry Daley, Corvallis
Bush Bashers batter their own credibility
Bush Bashers in Corvallis are a loosely organized conspiracy with about two dozen regular spokespersons, who, over the past four years, have submitted to the G-T hundreds of super-critical and often highly insulting letters in an attempt to demonize President Bush.
Bush Bashers put a divisive, negative twist on President Bush's challenges and decisions. They undermine our country's leadership. Bush Bashers perpetrate division. Their conclusions are so overstated that they destroy their own credibility.
Bush Bashers tend to fall in two categories:
Democrats who are bent on creating a negative public mindset to put their party back in the White House at any cost; and
Socialists (often Green Party USA members) who attempt to gain power by destroying all public confidence in President Bush's ability to govern. Their methodology also targets our democracy in a republic, personal responsibility for oneself, and capitalism with the freedom and motivation to acquire personal property and wealth.
I take Bush Bashers with a grain of salt and a little pity, too. They accuse, claiming that information on the Internet from hostile sources "proves" validity. President Bush is an admirable man who remains true to his responsibility to govern and protect our country. I am grateful that we have a focused, organized president who is making every attempt to bring our country successfully through troubled times. May God bless America that our next president will be a person of integrity, too.
Jean Nelson, Corvallis
Freedom of speech includes other views
I find it surprisingly ironic that there have been numerous letters in this section lately castigating the editorial staff for publishing columns or letters which are counter to the writers' opinions. Are these the same people who say that their "rights" are being eroded? If so, the irony is that they want to quash other people's rights. There is a reason why freedom of speech was the First Amendment to the Constitution; it was to protect political speech which might be found offensive to others. If you are for censorship, stand up and be counted, all of you!
Specifically to the editors: How about a small article concerning the responsibility of the press in the protection of this fundamental right?
Beverly Caron, Corvallis