From You
Presidents and War
originally published April 16, 2008
Dear Pete: I just finished reading your editorial in the most recent issue of Flagpole [Pub Notes, Apr. 9] and, as usual, it was extremely well written. You have a real talent for writing, and I must agree with our good friend, Dr. George O. Marshall, who proclaims that you probably are the best writer in Athens. However (and I might say, as usual), I disagree with a great deal of what you have to say. I especially have a serious problem with your statement: “When the Kennedys and Dr. King began to question the validity of the Vietnam War and its effects on our own country as well as Southeast Asia, they put themselves at odds with those whose creed is perpetual war. For the sake of the nation, they had to be removed.” That is just incredibly wrong!
Have you forgotten when the United States entered the Vietnam war and who was president of the United States at the time? It was John F. Kennedy. And have you forgotten who aggressively prosecuted the war for the next eight years while he was president? It was Lyndon B. Johnson. And have you forgotten who ended the war? In was Richard M. Nixon. In fact, one of the main reasons Nixon was elected was his promise to get the United States out of Vietnam and end the war, which he did. Nixon began troop withdrawal in July 1969, six months after taking office.
It is important to note that during the administrations of Kennedy and Johnson more than 540,00 U.S. troops were sent to the war and more than 33,400 of our brave men were killed.
I have a great deal to say about your misguided support of Barack Hussein Obama as the best choice as our next president, but I fear it would fall on deaf ears. I will simply end by paraphrasing a quote from Joseph Dunninger: “For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t understand, no explanation will suffice.”
With highest personal regards and best wishes,
Fairtax
originally published April 16, 2008
There are two things that come to mind reading Bob Booth’s Comment on the FairTax [Apr. 2]. First, he has not read HR 25, the FairTax Bill currently before Congress, nor does he have any understanding whatsoever as to how the FairTax will work. Second, Flagpole will print anything that it believes will stir liberals into a frenzy.
Since Mr. Booth has not read the FairTax Bill, or even, God forbid, the FairTax Book written by a Republican, U.S. Representative John Linder, and Neal Boortz, who pisses off liberals on a regular basis, I will attempt to dispel some of the misleading statements made in his commentary.
Like most people, he doesn’t understand that the FairTax is not in addition to the cost of goods and services, but instead it is designed to be an inclusive tax, like the fuel tax that is currently paid on a gallon of gasoline. Let me explain. By removing the embedded taxes, i.e., personal income tax, corporate tax, medicare and social security taxes, the cost of all goods and services at the retail level will be lowered by approximately 22 to 25 percent. We are all currently covering the cost of these taxes. The $20,000 car would then be, at 23 percent, $15,400; and when you include the FairTax, that car would be $18,942, minus your trade-in of $4,000, which gives you a principle of $14,942 plus local sales tax and title fees, etc.
The FairTax will completely un-tax the poor to the federal government through a prebate equal to 23 percent of $9,000 (the current poverty-line income for an individual). So every month every individual would receive a check or credit of $172. The FairTax doesn’t address local and state taxes. This bill is to address replacing the federal income tax, so please, Mr. Booth, don’t try to muddy the water. The FairTax would also start taxing all of those individuals in this country who currently pay zero dollars into the system. Drug dealers, prostitutes, foreign visitors, and yes, illegal aliens would all have to pay into the system instead of only being a drain on it.
Under the current system, our government has become incredibly corrupt, with a 10,000-page tax code to hide behind, and with personal income and corporate tax concessions being the trade beads of politicians in return for “campaign contributions” or other shady dealings outside of their paid Congressional duties. The FairTax is completely transparent, there are no deals to be made. Everyone pays the same percentage. When you buy a big luxury item, 23 percent is included; when you pay rent, 23 percent is included, it makes no difference; and as shown in the above example, it doesn’t cost you any more money than what you currently pay.
The FairTax will bring home all of the companies that have moved out of the U.S.A. due to high corporate taxes, and create more jobs here at home, thus creating more revenue for the federal government. Plus, by choosing whether to buy new retail (since the FairTax only applies to new goods and services at the retail level) or used/recycled, you get to decide how to pay your taxes; after all, it’s your money, not the government’s.
So far there are 60 co-sponsors of HR 25 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The FairTax Act would take the power out of the hands of lobbyists and career politicians and put it back where it belongs, into the hands of the citizens of our country. I am a staunch supporter of the FairTax and my only question to anyone who read the legislation and fully understands it is, why aren’t you?
Free Tibet?
originally published April 16, 2008
Why are there no banners on the Golden Gate Bridge for 4,000 dead and tens of billions sacrificed on the artificial altar of Iraq? Why is no one marching on Wall Street where the Tower of Mammon is crumbling as the High Priests take the money and run while the poor credulous believers scavenge among the ruins? Why aren’t the people throwing up their hands at this pathetic quadrennial billion-dollar puppet-show that is supposed to represent the democratic election of a president?
How many Americans want to know that their country is more or less owned by Chinese capital? Better not piss off Cathay. They don’t even have to call in their markers, just stop lending and the sub-prime fiasco will look like a Sunday stroll in the park.
Free Tibet? Give me a break.
R.E.M. Fan.1
originally published April 16, 2008
Dear all this my mail is to ask to you if you can send to my address one copy of Flagpole of 2 april on the cover Michael Stipe. I’m an r.e.m. italian fan, and I really love to have this copy. (naturally I’ll pay all the cost for the shipment)
How can I say, i thank you in advance for yr. precious “help” and understanding.
Have a good day and thank you so much.
ciao
R.E.M. Fan.2
originally published April 16, 2008
Hi, I´m Jose from spain, and I’ve seen an article at your magazine Flagpole, at April issue. I know your magazine by REM official website. I’m a REM’s fan, and I see that you talk about REM at your April issue. I’d like very much to get the April Flagpole issue. How can I get it? I’d like to get it, because I love REM.
I thank you very much if you could send me the issue to my address; I’ll pay the sending, of course. If you want, you could send it to me cash on delivery.
Please, tell me something.
Thanks a lot for your attention.
Best,
What Happened?
originally published April 16, 2008
Flagpole…
What happened? Are you all scared to speak out? Have you all been bought off, perhaps by our corrupt, fascist mayor Heidi Davison who openly supports the bioterror lab? DO you all have any idea what’s coming? This “indie” magazine has a tremendous ability to raise awareness about the REAL issues of our time. Hmmmmmm… I wonder… why do you all not publish articles about the New World Order, Human micro-chips, FEMA concentration camps, media bias, illuminati, the powerful elite, North American Union, One-World government. If you would like for me to submit some articles on any of these topics, I would be more than willing. But I highly doubt Flagpole has the balls to stand by its reputation NOW!!!
If you are having problems with the site, or have questions or suggestions, please contact us here. Thanks!
Care to comment on this article? Click here!
5 people have commented so far.