LET TERS
sports organizations such as Major
League Baseball are not legally protected
from independent league baseball, but
nonetheless are sometimes called legal
monopolies on grounds that they are
exempted from U.S. antitrust law.”
And the cable companies would
probably disagree with you because of the
other choices available to the consumer.
Their monopoly is only for the laying
of the cable — and not the delivery of
the product. In fact, federal regulations
specifically prohibit monopolizing the
delivery of the product.
Frank Skipton
Springfield
GRATE EXPECTIONS
The Donald is often greeted with ridicule
when he promises to “make this country
grate again,” although no one doubts his
ability to make this country grate. His
mistake, as Hillary pointed out, is to say
“again.” To paraphrase her response, this
country has never stopped grating.
Tony Waters
Eugene
REFORMS NEEDED
As this election year grinds on, it has
become clear that our political and financial
systems need a complete overhaul.
Corporate media and corporate-sponsored
politicians are the captives of special
interest groups. Their interests often run
contrary to the national and international
well-being of the U.S.
Consider two powerful lobbies and
their influence on domestic and foreign
affairs: The National Rifle Association
(NRA) and the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Despite numerous gun-related deaths
and injuries, including political and civil
rights leaders, our public servants in
Congress have been unwilling to pass
meaningful legislation to stop the carnage,
largely due to the role NRA money plays in
influencing elections.
Internationally, American supporters
of Israel have been successful in stymying
all efforts at realizing an independent and
viable Palestinian state. AIPAC, with its
generous support of American politicians,
has jeopardized our national security.
According to the 9/11 Commission
Report, Israeli oppression of Palestinians
was one of the chief grievances of the 9/11
attackers, and the Palestine/Israel quagmire
has served as a radicalizing recruitment tool
for groups that target the U.S. and its allies.
We need comprehensive campaign
finance reform to strengthen the democracy
we cherish, as well as the moral imperative
we aspire to.
Until then, we have no claim to the
moral high ground and less to democracy.
M. Reza Behnam
Eugene
CAN WE TALK?
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We must be the laughingstock of the
world. Our so-called presidential campaign is
little more than a school-yard shouting match.
Except for the Democratic debates, there is
nary a word about policy and substance.
As a nation, and in particular those
subscribing to the Republican banner, we
have every reason to feel embarrassed.
Will Donald Trump continue to build his
campaign around attack and chest-beating?
But Trump’s emergence is no mystery.
Brawn and bluster have arguably become
the American way. How do we explain
30,000 gun deaths every year? Why only
in America is there a multi-billion dollar
industry built on a coliseum sport of hyper-
violence, even as reports of terrible brain
injuries grab headlines?
We have only to recall — history is
such a bother — that as swords rattled
for war post 9/11, many of us were like
angered gorillas needing to kill something,
anything. To ask people at that time to
reflect was to find oneself accused of being
unpatriotic or un-American. Indeed, the
prevailing mood supported a mistaken war
that opened a Pandora’s box in the Middle
East, which we continue to pay for.
Walls along our borders? A more flush
Pentagon? More torture? How about
ramping up education?! Wouldn’t America
be stronger and better with a populace
reared and educated in history, debate and
compromise? We are Trump.
Can we talk?
Russ DesAulnier
Eugene
THE BIGOT VOTE
Let’s stop all the hand-wringing over
David Duke’s endorsement of Donald
Trump. Everyone knows that Republicans
need the bigot vote to win elections.
Not all Republicans are bigots, but it
is probably safe to say that most bigots
are Republicans. Not all Republican
politicians explicitly seek the racist vote,
but Republican policies and rhetoric
certainly attract the less tolerant and
enlightened among us.
Raise your hand if you can name a
Democrat who was endorsed or supported
by the Aryan Nations or the Ku Klux Klan.
Spud Smith
Oakridge
eugeneweekly.com • March 10, 2016
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