Dissent is Democracy

Below is a letter to the editor written by my father (that's him on the left). I thought it deserved to be posted here. Enjoy.

Dear Editor:

A national news story this week should have us all very worried. It says that politicians are doing everything they can to stifle dissent. There is a reason why the first amendment was first. There is a reason why the founders wrapped five basic rights together in that brilliant first article rather than setting them out separately.

Judge Learned Hand understood that when, half a century ago, he wrote, "All discussion, all debate, all dissidence tends to question and in consequence to upset existing convictions; that is precisely its purpose and its justification."

Dissent is democracy. If we cannot understand that basic idea we are lost. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement understand the necessity of informed dissent. That is one of the reasons we have invited Lewis Lapham, the editor of Harper's magazine, to speak at our annual convention in Des Moines this summer, on July 14.

Lapham writes, "Dissent is what rescues democracy from a quiet death behind closed doors." We need to take him seriously. We need to get to work.

Sincerely,
Bob Uetz

Chet & Patty

Well it looks like the Democratic Party will have a great ticket in Iowa's upcoming gubernatorial race. Chet Culver, who has practically been given the nomination by horse race journalists like the Des Moines Register's David Yepsen, was recently endorsed by former rival, Sec. of Agriculture Patty Judge. If we are to believe Yepsen and the others, then Chet Culver will be the Democratic nominee because he has found some people with the ability to write him large checks, larger checks than the ones his opponents are receiving. And with the announcement that Patty Judge will be his running mate the Democrats will proudly endorse a pro-death penalty, pro factory farm ticket.

I find it appropriate that their ticket this time around will be one that represents what the Democratic Party has become - a team of half wit, sell outs. Chet Culver has long been the golden child, serving his time as Secretary of State until given the order to run for Governor. What a disappointment he's been. And he favors the death penalty. His running mate is the current Secretary of Agriculture who has been financed by large agribusiness - something she is actually very proud of. She sits idly by as family farmers are forced to be serfs on their own land or go under all together. And she's just plain rude.

It must feel good to be an Iowa Democrat.

It was me, officer

The arrogance of America's political elite is astounding. And other than the growing plague of big money in our elections it is the most immediate threat to our democracy.

Dick Cheney shot a guy in the face on a hunting trip. We all know this by now. If you weren't aware of it, please send me directions to the Eden in which you currently reside. Okay, so this story has received much airtime and all of the old talking heads have had their moment of glory with the one-liners. I think that's terrific. It was an accident, a hunting accident that happens all the time in this country. Dick got drunk with his buddies and went out blasting away (almost sounds like a porn review). What good red blooded American hasn't done that.

But what pisses me off is that it has turned into another example of how this ship of fools treats the American people (that's us). Something like this happens and there is silence. When asked about the status of the wounded, the answer is vague and misleading. When opportunities arise for honesty, they are mocked and disregarded in lieu of another power play. We are made to feel as though we are the poor, stupid neighbor child who doesn't understand how decent people live.

When I broke a window as a child, I didn't wait a week after my mom discovered it to emerge from hiding and announce that I had broken the window - after everyone in the house already knew. Why do we let these idiots get away with it?

I think a lot of us would have reacted in a similar manner. "Okay, nobody says a word. We'll just head back to the compound, have a few more drinks and Quaaludes, and it's business as usual." But this is the Vice President of the United States. Shouldn't we hold him to a bit higher standard? Shouldn't we hold everyone in government to higher standards?

But we don't, or very few of us do. We have been put to sleep by a meek media, a corrupted political system that rewards acquiescence and spinelessness, and our own inability to recognize the bread and circus. We have allowed arrogance to replace accountability. And we are paying the price.

This has gone on long enough

I didn't watch our Commander in Cheat give his recycled State of the Union last night. But still, let me sum it up. We're screwed. Yes, we are screwed.

Thank you. God bless America. Good night.