Dear Watchers

Dear Watchers:

For starters, I want to compliment Whatcom Watch on the fine quality of recent issues. My reaction to the October/November 2004 issue was euphoria on the thoroughness and timeliness of Larry Cramblett’s excellent article on “Neoconservatives.” Moreover, publishing it was a crack in the Whatcom Watch on-again-off-again policy of publishing only local news. Once more it corroborates the belief held by some of us that some very important things in life are not at the local level.

Cramblett’s theme and contribution to public knowledge was the importance of Strauss theories and students and other supporters. He was right to stick to a single theme but I will ramble on. I think Cramblett wrote his article before the PBS Frontline program as broadcast on Oct. 14, 2004. Hence, he might not have been fully aware of the importance of how George W. Bush used the Christian right to further his political ambitions.

I think that in the long run, terrorism including nuclear terrorism, and the rise of world population out of control concurrently with depletion of all natural resources, especially oil and gas, will form the framework of the future upon which Strauss ideology and George W’s political ambitions are likely to be superimposed.

Final figures for this year are not in, but mainly due to outsourcing, our negative trade imbalance, which is not in the federal budget, will exceed $500 billion. Our federal budget deficit will exceed $400 billion. Hence, we will need to borrow on the order of over $2 billion dollars per day in year 2004. That can’t continue, and things that can’t, don’t. If that is not one of Murphy’s laws, it ought to be.

Further to the future of the United States, this I know. Nothing lasts forever, and just about the only thing that is constant is change. Our present situation is that of Rome before the fall, and of Great Britain before World War II. We are overextended militarily, mired in debt and living beyond our means on the future of our children and grandchildren.

Regarding the article on the Lake Whatcom battle, it has been apparent that Lake Whatcom was lost long ago. I suppose the public needs to be kept aware of what is happening to Lake Whatcom and our water supply, but Whatcom Watch readers are hardly representative of the general public. It became clear years ago that studies sponsored by the joint committee on Lake Whatcom has been a political ploy to keep enough voters satisfied that something was being done.

For years I have seen no evidence of political will to do enough of what is needed. Pollution of the lake will increase as long as men get women pregnant and as long as real estate, builder and other special interests continue to control the politics of their interests.

Dear Watchers:

This is an objection to the predictably weak Bellingham Herald article Wednesday, November 3, 2004, about a local citizen action. We marched with signs touting slogans such as “Not My President” and “Empires Fall”— over 300 Bellingham residents gathered in front of the Federal Building at 3 p.m. Wednesday, the day after our nation was bamboozled yet again, this time actually electing the neo-fascist puppet, Bush, of their own collective free will.

We took the march down State Street where we eventually stopped and sat down in the street in front of the historic Herald Building. The police followed us and blocked the Chestnut Street intersection, stopping traffic down the hill. Amidst smiles and waves from the office workers leaning out windows, and our chants of “The People United Shall Never Be Defeated,” I witnessed and recorded on my video camera the Bellingham Police scare tactics du jour such as driving their motorcycles into peaceful citizens, conscientious objectors, taxpayers and kids. Next, came the wails of perfectly orchestrated sirens, slowly coming the wrong way down Chestnut Street.

The Herald article clearly misses a great opportunity of showing Bellingham taxpayers what new toys the police have awarded themselves, all in the name of civil obedience and “Homeland Security”—15-20 officers stepped out of the cars in full body armor—shin guards, steel boots, helmets, and armed to the teeth with batons, guns and tear gas grenades!...

I know they had a good view of Bellingham’s newest storm troopers but unfortunately, The Herald didn’t include a photo of George W’s newest advances toward a federal police state.

The disenfranchised voice of reason must remain strong and we must gain even more power and momentum in the weeks, months and years to come. We must march and we must fight this old paradigm to create a nation and world of truth, honesty and compassion. No one can silence this voice. Interested people can gather every Friday at 4 p.m. in front of the federal building.