George W. Bush, The Fortunate Son

I am sorry that no one is giving information about Bush. Having followed some of his history, I have been disconcerted that no one is bringing up the banking scandal, or his holier- than- thou attitude that everyone executed under his administration deserved what they got. Thanks for being brave enough to give an uncensored history of this person who might become president. Heavens help us!

Kathleen Geathers

S.J. Greene (Ohio)

Denise Hall (California)

Fortunate Son has just been issued in a second printing and is a free premium with a two or three-year subscription to the Monitor.
-- Editor

On the Road With Ralph

Thank you for the excellent article by Janet Reynolds on Ralph Nader (Albion Monitor, July 10, 2000). I liked the author's "you are there" details from a fundraiser at Paul Newman's apartment. This article is the best I've seen for explaining the differences between Nader's 1996 presidential candidacy and his current run.

Ceil Sinnex (Virginia)

An open letter to Ralph Nader:

Of 169 entries on the Internet under your name, several of those are encyclopedia entries documenting your more than thirty years as a respected consumer advocate.

Now that you are, for the second time, running for president as the Green Party candidate we would like to urge you to name a shadow cabinet to run with you, embodying the progressive agenda with experts that can campaign on ten separate fronts... not with personalities and empty campaign strategy talk, not with sound bites, but with substantive suggestions for the problems that exist in labor, agriculture, banking, defense, the environment, etc..

We feel the photo op alone would be newsworthy. And the concept, a plank in Green Party national strategy for several years, is designed to excite the huge numbers of non-voters that see neither Republicans or Democrats as being very much on their side.

You have preached responsibility to us for over thirty years. Now it's time for you to be the responsible one, widen the debate, embody the platform with people you know would be good in each area, and they will fan out to excite those who trust them...and the growth with be geometric. Soon the media will be devoting time not to an empty discussion of whether you can win...but to substantive coverage of the very real solutions the progressive community has been forging by consensus from among its rank and file that have been working (largely on a volunteer basis) for all these years.

You will make a difference as a leader by being a different kind of leader: one who empowers and encourages by following through and using the many grassroots consumerist groups you have founded and nurtured over the years.

Good luck. You are the best man. We hope you win.

Glenn Hopkins

The Politics of Water

Good show. (Shrub and ilk will give us oil to drink -- and next year, we will all work for PG&E!) Need a series on the politics of deregulation -- both of communications and energy. It's a whole new day; learn how to make candles at home!

Robert Morgan (California)

In this issue we offer Power Hungry," the fourth in J.A. Savage's feature series on energy deregulation and nuclear/hydro power plant decommissions.
-- Editor

Let's Go To War With The Indians

I was just contemplating a visit to Puget Sound when I opened my San Francisco Chronicle to a story about Snake River dams and salmon. Halfway into the story, it was revealed that the Washington State GOP has found the answer:"Delegates to the state Republican convention passed a resolution calling for an end to all tribal governments. Supporters, including GOP gubernatorial candidate Harold Hochstatter, called for the federal government to 'send in the U.S. Army and the Air Force and the Marines and the National Guard to battle back' if the tribes resist."

Has the Whatcom County GOP begun paramilitary recruitment yet?

Jay Taber (California)

Sweatshop Help

I know that it is difficult to find companies that are free from any kind of mistreatment of their workers, but in the meantime, where do we shop? Are there any clothing companies that have at least taken steps toward eliminating sweatshops that can be rewarded by my shopping there? It is hard to find info on websites because they only point out the companies that are bad.

Alison Kramer (NY)

The best resource is sweatshopwatch.org's web section for Shop with a Conscience.
-- Editor

Attacks on Hillary

A former reporter from The Enquirer said Hillary Clinton issued an antisemitic slur 26 years ago. It seems an odd coincidence that anyone waits 26 years to suddenly recall a piece of misinformation, when the facts are well known. The Enquirer has pictures of movie stars homes, and recipes for losing weight; it is not known for investigative journalism. Also, it seems obvious why anyone would have a faulty memory that only comes to life when Hillary Clinton becomes better known and the writer can make money from a profitable book. In reality, Hillary Clinton visited the concentration camps to understand them, and is as committed to world peace as President Clinton. She is a spiritual person, and that remark about her is so out of character it has no credibility.

Then it is not a surprise that Representative Rick Lazio attacks Hillary Clinton with inaccurate slogans. If he had a great record, he would run on it. He does not, so he resorts to slinging mud. However, it seems sad that his wife is doing the same. For example, neither Laura Bush nor Tipper Gore has stooped to slinging mud on the opposition. The Lazio campaign must be in difficulty to resort to such tactics.

Hilda Coyne (Maryland)

Send Stamps Before It's Too Late

Should American troops be placed under foreign commanders? Should the United Nations control our military, as part of an international police force? Of course not. But the U.S. State Department has issued a Bulletin which outlines the official plan.The document shows a three-step plan to transfer military authority from the United States to the United Nations.The U.S. would be allowed to retain only those forces needed for domestic "internal security". Personal firearms would not be allowed.

United Nations leaders are now calling for a world police force.The plan calls for buildup of the UN military at the same time that theAmerican military is being cut back, feminized, stretched out and dumbed down.Then, add to that, domestic base closings and the surrender of strategic American bases at the Panama Canal to Red Chinese military interests.

You can already see the UN world police force being formed.With monopoly police power at the United Nations, who will have the power to control the police? If world police governance is established, how will you vote them out with your one vote, compared to the world's multi-billion population? World governance means you lose. It can be stopped. It must be stopped. You can have a free copy of the State Dept. Bulletin by sending me a SASE with two stamps.

Donald G. Crowell (Missouri)