Letters to the Editor

Since Mr. Bartlett played the Nazi card, here is something several people sent me over the past few weeks:

Who Am I?

I was born in one country, raised in another. My father was born in another country. I was not his only child. He fathered several children with several women.

I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in me. My mother died at an early age from cancer.

Later in life, questions arose over my real name.

My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.

I grew up practicing one faith but converted to Christianity, as it was widely accepted in my country, but I practiced non-traditional beliefs & didn't follow Christianity, except in the public eye under scrutiny.

I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult, disguising myself as someone who really cared about them..

That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.

I wrote a book about my struggles growing up. It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.

I became active in local politics in my 30's then with help behind the scenes, I literally burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my 40s. They said I had a golden tongue and could talk anyone into anything. That reinforced my conceit.

I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization. Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me as though I were a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.

I drew incredibly large crowds during my public appearances. This bolstered my ego.

At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy. I was very critical of my country in the last war and seized every opportunity to bash my country.

I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess. It was the free market, banks & corporations. I decided to start making citizens hate them and if they were envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.

I called mine "A People's Campaign" and that sounded good to all people.

I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics & was able to gain widespread popular support.

I knew that, if I merely offered the people 'hope' , together we could change our country and the world.

So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include "persecuted minorities" like the Jews. My true views were not widely known and I needed to keep them unknown, until after I became my nation's leader.

I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found out what I really believed, if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with.

I'm glad they didn't. Then I became the most powerful man in the world. And the world learned the truth.

*Who am I? *
I am ADOLF HITLER

WHO WERE YOU THINKING OF? Scary isn't it?

It's a combination of the rise of 24 hour news networks, the ascension of the Internet as an mass information delivery mechanism, and the confluence of several other things: People don't think anymore, they simply react.

I don't see "brownshirts" at these meetings as much as I see a bunch of very easily misled, badly misinformed people who seem to think that by being the most shrill, they will win the debate.

They don't trust politicans, they don't trust the media, they don't trust anyone. They're scared. And scared people, just like scared animals, tend to lash out, snarl and bare their teeth.

I'm with you, Richard. I wish that we could get a collective mental enema and begin treating each other with mutual respect. Alas, I don't think it's going to happen.

"As we describe the world in which we live today and the world we're building for tomorrow, we see two trends growing side by side-a universal quest for more and better information, and new opportunities and technologies sprouting up to meet this quest almost faster than we can imagine. We Americans have an unprecedented opportunity. We can embark on a noble journey to reach our dreams and to serve mankind, and we can do it through communications, creating new growth, jobs and hope for our people and for the rest of the world. This is our challenge for the eighties".
-Signing Proclamatiom 5006
World Communication Year 1983
December 16,1982

"...They don't trust politicans, they don't trust the media, they don't trust anyone. They're scared. And scared people, just like scared animals, tend to lash out, snarl and bare their teeth..."

Seems to be reminiscent of the American Revolution.

Interesting inscription on an 1890 tombstone.
"Through this inscription I wish to enter my dying protest against what is called the Democratic party. I have watched it closely since the days of Jackson and know that all the misfortunes of our nation has come to it through this so called party therefore beware of this party of treason."
N. Grigsby
2nd. Lieutenant CO. G.
10th Ind. Cavalry
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25400862

Richard, I must have missed your letter of outrage concerning the Bush as Hitler pictures that have been on the internet for years.

Could you please provide a link or is this another just another example of thinly veiled partisanship now that the shoe is on the other foot?

Did you ever consider that after having the stimulus jammed down our throats and the President firing the CEO of a private corporation Americans might, on there own, want to reel in some of the power of the administration?

Medicare is in the red, Social Security is turning out to be nothing more than the biggest Ponzi scheme ever, the failure of the Post Office speaks for it self, so why not let the government take a whack at health care too.

Хаил Президент Обама!

Mr. Bartlett: I am sorry you are so blinded by cateracts of years of bitterness. Many of us who oppose this so called reform do so not because we thing things are perfect and want to keep status quo. I will be the first to admit that the system needs worked on, and needs to be helpped. But there is a lot more in this bill that is so detrimental to our democracy that our forfathers are rolling over in thier graves with disgust. I would also think if you took the time to read what is in this bill you as a veteran would see that the freedoms you have fought so hard to help preserve for others is about to be taken away from you. Healthcare is only one part of this issue. Maybe there are a few brownshirts as you call it out there. But the majority are not. Wake up, before you find that all YOU have fought for has been taken away from you and give to the goverment to think and do for you.. You have your opion I honor that,, however I beleive you are dead wrong,, By the way leave the extrem radio talk hosts out of it, that is all they are extremest. Im not, one and dont support them.

Dear Mr. Bartlett:

I honor your service in World War II, and consider you one of the greatest generation. Your letter, while offensive to me and others who respectfully disagree with the current health plan in Congress, is something that I would fight to the death to allow. Freedom of speech, as with any right, is a precious commodity.

Calling the dissenters Brown Shirts cheapens your argument in that you've chosen to opt for the nuclear option (calling them Nazis) instead of dealing with the facts.

Anyone with a sense of history will tell you that the National Socialists loved the idea of government control--this was the essence of Fascism--and that Universal Health Care was first proposed by the Fuhrer himself when running for office. But I will not call you a Fascist or Communist for making your allegations. That would make my argument as weak as yours.

I hope that once you've had a chance to think this all over, and consider that others have an opinion contrary to yours. you'll recant your letter.

One planet, not growing in size; humans,population growing massively in size, farmers, declining in size. Get the picture, fruit fly?

Numah:

The answer: Soylent Green! It's people! Tasty, tasty people.

Peter, bring on the scoops, let's start with Wall St. How did you figure out that was my favorite flick. (Next to Escape from NY)

P.S. I always hated the liver flavored Soylent

"The people speak" Howard Zinn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qpm6aw5OWw

All opposition will be deemed enemies of the state and those forthright citizens shall inform the state of any illegal activities...

der fuerher

Mr. Bartlett fails to appreciate the irony of his outrage.

The current "status quo" was created by the very people who now propose to fix it.

And since he's so against that status quo, perhaps he can tell us what it is that he's defending? "Change?" Change to what?

Oh, that's right. It hasn't been written yet. Not even the legislators can read it yet.

But it's against the status quo, so it must be good.

Lunacy.

When the people fear their government there is tyranny.
When the government fears the people there is liberty.
Tom Jefferson

Mr. Bartlett is correct, of course. Right-wing crackpots scare the bejeezus out of old ladies who fear for their healthcare. But it's a funny to hear people who are on Social Security and Medicare rail against government programs.

It's not the "government" that is feared insomuch as the branching changes. "Headfirst against the grain!"

Americans are nothing if not contentious, litigious, pugnacious and contrarian. Once this has all run its course, we will indeed have a healthcare bill. It will -- like all progressive legislation since TR -- move us at least a microstep closer to being the unstintingly generous America that veterans like Mr. Bartlett fought for and that most of us believe is possible.

The new healthcare bill is unraveling as we speak: first the "public option" bites the dust, and now we discover that folks like Richard Bartlett and I, honorably discharged veterans of foreign wars, can expect to be exempt from any of the new programs--per congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA)and the US Congress (see today's Wall Street Journal)

Fromafar: Yet Mr Barlett is in favor of it ?? Go figure,,, bets me how people can still stomack this proposal..

Any urgency within an innovative plan cometh in share with nuts and bolts.

Dear Rockhopper: The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money--we are at this stage.

A preparatory stage indeed, but with every stage there is also an exit, in this case supplementary.

See, sea or C. We have a healthcare bill.