November 13, 2002

talkback...

On to war

The Democrats lost because they made the mistake of being suckered in to supporting Bush's war. Most of America had no real choice and decided not to vote. The choice was between a Republican who supports Bush's war – and a Democrat who supports Bush's war. Why bother to vote? When the Democrats decided to support a war for political reasons, they lost the respect of their supporters.

And now, since war seems to work so well for the Republicans, there is no doubt now that we will go to war. And we will have a civil war as well because there is no one in either party who represents the will of the people.

Marc Perkel

San Francisco

The wrong message

Greetings on the first day of the Republican tyranny, a.k.a. the federal government. What America can look forward to in the next few months/years will be a repeal of the estate tax, a permanent version of the Bush tax cut, an end to taxing corporate dividends, and a flat income tax. Don't even dream of expecting them to encourage corporate accountability. Just think, this business wish list was planned back in October before the election.

This greeting is aimed, though, at those so-called progressives who believed opting out of voting sent a statement to the Republicrats. Your inaction certainly sent a message, all right. I hope you remember that message as you enjoy the benefits of insanely higher PG&E bills and watching the rich reach World Trade Center-levels of wealth.

Peter Wong

San Francisco

The piano police

I read with interest and sympathy the articles about the cops closing down clubs and controlling S.F. music permits ["Show's Over," 10/23/02].

It reminds me of the day a couple years back when I was performing cocktail jazz at happy hour at a place downtown where I had worked for years.

I wasn't wearing makeup or a miniskirt, but coat and tie all the way, with trousers in the traditional position (not around my ankles).

We were in the middle of a tune when a lady with a clipboard along with one of SFPD's finest were leaning on my piano.

The towering uniform, 6'5" 250 lbs., leaned forward and said, "One more note and we'll confiscate the instruments."

It seems this little rhubarb had little to do with volume or complaints, however, the end result was the same: one less venue for S.F. musicians. Keep asking the important questions!

Eric Shifrin

San Francisco

Johnny's language

I am a huge music fan, specifically hip-hop, and I do not ever recall a critic's review as well written as the review of The Fix by Scarface [Grooves, 10/30/02].

Much kudos to the author, Johnny Ray Huston, and his amazing manipulation of the English language. This especially came as a surprise given the fact that the artist would normally be dumped by the critics into the category of "gangsta" rap with not much thought given to understanding the music.

"Scarface doesn't forget to bitch slap the government from time to time, but on The Fix political gun sight and spiritual God sight struggle to find peaceful ground."

Ken Krumhansl

Pleasanton

Where is Afghanistan?

One year ago Afghanistan was all over the media. Reporters were telling how winter was coming, the country was reduced to rubble and suffering from food shortages. Today the same conditions prevail, yet it is nowhere to be found in the press.

I talked to people who recently returned from there. They say that Afghans need: Security. A nationwide security force. Rebuilding, starting with roads, which can't begin without security. Refugee resettlement. So many returnees are crowded into Kabul!

The countries of the world have pledged $5.5 billion over five years. Very little has arrived. The United States allocated $250 million for this year, but I understand that $134 million is being held up in a budget dispute. However, President Kharzi says it will take $10 billion, maybe twice that to put his country in working order.

As humanitarians, we must press for action! As a practical matter, do we want our streets flooded with cheaper heroin? Do we want to lose our great victory there, like the English and Russians before us?

Gertrude Reagan

Palo Alto

Rich got richer

Recent events should disabuse anyone of the idea that in our society the rich get rich simply by the sweat of their brows and the miracle of the marketplace. Rather than letting PG&E and Southern California Edison fail, as capitalist mythology suggests, the PUC has determined that we get to bail them out again, this time to the tune of some $5 billion. Meanwhile, we will have to pay another $6 billion so that big energy users can negotiate lower rates. Of course, these are the groups who pushed California's electricity deregulation disaster in the first place. We've been paying PG&E high rates for decades to pay off their white elephant, Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, thanks to earlier PUC decisions not to make those poor PG&E stockholders bear any of the burden.

David Fairley