Foreign policy set by business
At the time of his death in 1940, Smedley Butler was the most decorated Marine in U.S. history, having served in active duty from 1898 to 1931. His book, "War is a Racket," was a very early attempt to describe the unholy alliance between Wall Street and the U.S. military, whom he referred to as "the gangsters of capitalism."
In 1934, Gen. Butler testified before Congress (McCormack-Dickstein Committee) about a right-wing plot to overthrow the FDR administration by a group of wealthy businessmen that included some of the most famous families in America _ the DuPont family, owners of Heinz, Birds Eye and Maxwell House, leaders of U.S. Steel, General Motors, Standard Oil, Chase National Bank and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., and George Bush's grandfather, Prescott _ who believed that their country should adopt the policies of Hitler and Mussolini to beat the Great Depression. While Congress corroborated almost all of his testimony, nothing was ever done about the plot or plotters.
Perhaps when Hillary Clinton mentions that "vast right-wing conspiracy," she is referring to the fact that nothing much has changed since the 1933 White House plot against FDR. Perhaps Hillary is referring to the fact that the democratic process has been hijacked by the far-right under the guise of "conservatism," and that Wall Street and the U.S. military really "run" the country's foreign policy, with the president and vice president just slightly better than figureheads of power.
Given the "privatization" of the war in Iraq, and the obscene profits reaped by the military-industrial complex, including the Bush family through the Carlisle Group, perhaps it is time for Americans to take the profit out of war, the corporations out of our political process, and finally hold accountable all those who have sold our democracy out for the almighty dollar.
Richard Averett
Otego
Some thoughts on politics, guns
A short time ago, when I was a young man, Sam Stratton died. I remember a few people saying, "There goes the last honest politician." That didn't say much for the rest of the government personnel. I was shocked and upset by this statement.
As I grew older, that statement came back to me many times. I have come to accept it as pretty much true. I don't mean that all of our elected members accept bribes, take graft or do dishonest acts. Why aren't honest parties exposing those who are engaging in these practices? Their practice of looking the other way leaves me with no other choice than to tar them with the same brush.
The old 60 is now the new 50 _ the old distortion of the truth is now mis-spoken.
A few words about gun control: New York state has published gun laws that measure at least one-half inch thick. They have done little to curb gun violence. The reason? The lawless element either does not read the laws or really doesn't care about the laws.
Our lawmakers should try a different tactic. Take away criminal rights. Give them back to the people who were violated. I have heard a saying, "If you do not succeed, try, try again, then stop." There is no sense in being foolish about it. The only thing most of these laws achieve is they force honest people to jump through hoops and fund this bureaucracy through fees levied to stay in compliance with the law.
I think all letters should end on a happy note. So, congratulations to the speaker of the House divided. So far, they have named a couple of bridges and buildings. Too bad that grown men and women can't get together and play nice.
Winfield A. James
Oneonta
An explanation on Yankee game
I am writing in response to your April 22 "Jeers" editorial. We did indeed, err on the Yankee telecast of Friday, April 18, and an explanation is in order.
As you correctly stated, most of the Yankee telecasts are on YES Network and have been since its inception in 2002. There is, however, a package of 21 games that is offered to local broadcast affiliates. WICZ-Fox 40 in Binghamton purchased the rights to those 21 games, with four being carried by WICZ and the other 17 by its sister station, WBPN, a MY Network affiliate. As the MY Network station is not carried on our system, we created, several years ago, an alternate means to televise those games by using Channel 56. We also use Channel 56 for any Mets telecasts that are not carried on either SNY or TW Sports.
On the 18th, a rarity occurred, with both that evening's Yankees and Mets telecasts in need of a channel position. Procedurally, the Yankees are the priority, but in this circumstance, the Mets game was chosen. For that, we apologize to our Oneonta-area Yankee fans. We have reviewed this season's remaining schedules and there are no further conflicts.
In actuality, our annual practice is to find a manner to bring these additional games to our customers, in recent seasons on Channel 56, and previously through an arrangement with local channel WISF.
To intimate that we ignore these Yankee games or treat our customers "shabbily" is incorrect.
David J. Whalen
Binghamton
Whalen is vice president of public and governmental relations for Time Warner Cable.
Group using media ironic
I read with interest the letter by Devorah Tarrow of the Aesthetic Realism Foundation about the food shortage, because it follows a formula that the Aesthetic Realists use: use a current event as a means to get in a plug for Aesthetic Realism via a letter to the editor. A quick Google search will turn up dozens of such letters. It's pretty ironic for this group to blatantly use the media for its own ends when members used to go around wearing buttons that said "Victim of the Press."
I know all this because I'm a former member of the Aesthetic Realism group myself. Many other former members and I consider the group to be a cult. That's been reported on in the New York Post, Jewish Times and Albany Times Union.
Michael Bluejay
Austin, Texas
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