Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008
As bad as Horowitz thinks the left is, the extreme right is worse! Plus: Deciding who can say the N-word; is commerce saving Nepal or ruining it?
Nov 13, 1999 | Together at last
BY DAVID HOROWITZ
(11/08/99)
David Horowitz continues to exercise his constitutionally given right to twist facts to the point where it no longer is a right-wing spin, but an example of Newspeak. When extreme left politicians like U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters accuse an opposing politician of racism, this is not racism, such as that espoused by Patrick Buchanan.
The extreme left would never place Horowitz in a concentration camp, or beat him into submission for his heritage and belief structure -- it is against the most basic tenets of liberal philosophy. The extreme right, from late-'30s Berlin to late-'90s Jasper, Texas, has proved itself entirely capable of such atrocities. Horowitz's conversion to conservatism will not save him from the extreme ends of your political persuasion.
-- George Lang
Oklahoma City
Enough. There are, in fact, certain African-American political figures who demagogue the race issue in an irresponsible way -- but the picture presented by Horowitz, of a Democratic party about to be taken over by such folks, is wildly distorted. He is at least consistent in his one-sided hatred of all things liberal, finding no fault with a Republican Party that tolerates the race baiting of Jesse Helms, and that still employs the Nixonian "Southern strategy" in presidential elections.
-- David C. Orr
Bethany Beach, Del.
Patients' Bill of Rights goes to committee
BY DENA BUNIS
(11/06/99)
Since 1996, former doctors and other employees of insurers and HMOs have testified before the House and Senate on the profit-protecting treatment delay and denial tactics of insurers and their HMOs. Dennis Hastert's threats of higher costs, lost jobs, a body of uninsured and "government interference" are thin spin against the fact that the largest HMO insurance contractor had a 33 percent increase in profit last year, and the average salary, exclusive of stock, for insurance and HMO executives was $6.8 million each.
Under section 514 of ERISA (the Employees Retirement Income Security Act), Hastert and his fellow politicians and government employees enjoy the right to sue their insurer -- but if you are a private citizen, you do not. Evidently Hastert and some other Republicans enjoy flaunting their new positions as a privileged ruling class -- entitled to rights they deny the average citizen. The Republicans who opposed the bill should be retired by the voters.
-- Rebecca Renfro
New Bern, N.C.
Sharps & Flats: "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic"
BY CHRISTINA NUNEZ
(11/09/99)
Christina Nunez tries just a little too hard to sell Prince's (I really can't bring myself to address him in his chosen fashion) latest recording. At least this release does sidestep the bombast characteristic of much of his mid- to late '90s output, but it's a middling effort at best. Nunez's attempt to portray Sheryl Crow as a slight talent compared to Prince's towering genius is a weak ploy as well. While unspectacular, Sheryl Crow's output has been consistent and confident, which is more than could be said for Prince's recent efforts.
At one time, as the writer correctly notes, Prince was a revolutionary and exciting talent. Unfortunately, even while hiding a lack of inspiration under layers of overproduction and unmemorable riffs posing as songs, Prince seems unaware of the irony of his situation. Just as he has ceased to be Prince, but instead a symbolic reflection of his own bloated ego, his music has become artifice and caricature, rather than substance.
-- John Stanton
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