This letter just in from the Rev. Jack Zylman:

Here’s the AP story for reference: Economist Milton Friedman Dies at 94

I studied with Friedman at the University of Chicago, taking his course in economic philosophy in 1964.  His 1962 book, Capitalism and Freedom, was the basis of the course. 
 
He distorted Adam Smith in denying that Smith wrote of the need for government regulation of corporations to prevent monopoly, actually denying that Smith wrote it.  When I pointed out chapter and verse in Wealth of Nations, he said that Smith didn’t mean it!

Freidman was an ideologist and a liar, distorting even Adam Smith to achieve his goal of corporate freedom and license.
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To the editor:

Georgia ain’t got nuttin’ on Alabama when it comes to Redneck games.

Look at the Republican NASCAR qualifyin’ race for Lt. Governor.

In Lane 1, “Big Mule” Luther Strange, sponsored by Alabama Power, BellSouth, Energen, the Business Council and corporate lawyers everywhere.

In Lane 2, George “Junior” Wallace, sponsored by the Council of Conservative Citizens, the “coat and tie” KKK, at which he was the keynote speaker just a spell before announcin’ his race.

Waitin’ for the preliminaries to be decided is the Yaller Dog himself, “Little Jim” Folsum. He don’t need no primary since Alabama always votes for a Yaller Dog. If ya don’t, yer a carpetbagger, scalawag, or downright coward.

In the finals, as always, all real Alabama boys and gals will vote for the Yaller Dog. Like ever’body says, “My granddaddy did, my daddy did, and I do, too.”

I’m a real Alabama boy, and in November, I’ll be there on top of my pickup with my shirt off, my Lite in my hand. and votin’ like Alabamians are supposed to.

“Little Jim” ‘Yaller Dog’ Folsum is the real thing.

I’ll vote for him and all good ole boys need to to do the same.

Don’t vote for wealth or for hate - vote for the .”Yaller Dog.”

Sincerely,
Jack Zylman
Southside, Birmingham

Gov. Bob Riley has told the people of Alabama that he is concerned about the environmental and economic health of our state. He has the opportunity, right now, to show us he really means it. He has publicly stated that he will not allow open-loop technology in liquid natural gas (LNG) facilities to harm the fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico. The clock is ticking on his chance to stand behind his word.

Alabama is an adjacent state for two liquid natural gas facilities that are currently in the licensing process. As the governor of an adjacent state, he has the power to veto these licenses or to require conditions on their approval.

Natural gas is an important source of energy for our country and will be a source of revenue for Alabama’s economy. But the technology is new and not all of the impacts are known. We do know that the new pipelines that are being built will go through areas already suffering from environmental and social effects of having heavy industry in their front yards. We also know that a healthy Gulf is crucial for tourism, commercial fishing, and protection of our natural heritage.

There are currently seven open-loop terminals proposed for the Gulf. All of the 36 other proposed and existing LNG terminals around the country are closed-loop. Why should Alabama have to absorb the cost — in irretrievable natural resources — so that ConocoPhillips can have a higher profit margin?

Each open-loop reheating system could use up to 200 million gallons of Gulf water each and every day to vaporize the natural gas for distribution into pipelines. The drastic temperature change, chlorination and physical damage caused by the process would destroy fish eggs and larvae by the billions. The cumulative impacts of these facilities would be a significant blow to both commercial and recreational fisheries. Open-loop LNG terminals are currently proposed in essential habitat for shrimp, redfish (red drum), king mackerel, red snapper, blue fin tuna and other important species.

The gas companies prefer open-loop systems because they are a few percentage points cheaper than closed-loop systems. The value of the recreational and commercial fisheries that stand to be lost are much greater.

If the governor fails to act, he is letting the gas companies get away with increasing their already record profits at the expense of our environment, recreational resources and livelihoods. Any increased costs of the closed-loop system will not be borne by the oil companies anyway; they will pass those costs onto the taxpayers and consumers.

We can pay 2 percent more for our natural gas now or pay much more later by having our seafood and recreational fisheries industries destroyed forever. The answer to that decision is an easy one

Only by acting to veto this or other open-loop LNG proposals can Gov. Riley show us he really means what he says.

Sandra S. Nichols
WildLaw, Montgomery

Regions and AmSouth banks are merging, just two years after Wachovia absorbed SouthTrust bank. In the Wachovia/SouthTrust merger, at least 2000 jobs were lost, and even more will probably be lost in this latest monopolization.

According to the Birmingham News, the bank representatives have said that one reason is to save money by firing workers. Apparently, this statement was made from either a golf course or an executive jet..

Adam Smith in An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, pointed out that, without government regulation, corporations will move toward monopoly. He is not quoted for this by bankers and their lackey economists, but he predicted it clearly.

The Bush administration has rubber stamped every monopolistic merger that has come along, and now that the Bush administration is coming to an end in two years, corporate monopolists are on a merger craze, trying to get them in before the Democrats get back in the White House and possibly do something to thwart this unchecked greed. Meanwhile, workers with good jobs are being fired and the nation is rapidly moving into a plutocracy - rule by the rich.

Teddy Roosevelt, a Republican, saw the problem when he was elected in 1900, and moved to increase government regulation on corporations, as well as break up the most monstrous of monopolies and trusts. In contrast, the Bush administration is violating this Republican program by being a lapdog for the banks and corporations.

The Democrats need to be returned to Congress in this year’s elections and the White House in 2008 to institute the conservative Republican program of Teddy Roosevelt.

Ironic, isn’t it?

Jack Zylman
Southside, Birmingham

Regions Financial, AmSouth Bank Continue Merger Mania

Dear Mr. Bush,

I understand you.

I know you do not tolerate criticism, so this letter is written with understanding. The mid term elections are around the corner. Some retired generals are demanding Rumsfeld’s head. Predictably the Democrats have joined in and even some Republicans, afraid of loosing their seats are peeling the blinders off and flirting with disloyalty. As usual they ‘misunderestimate’ you.

They do not grasp that you cannot fire your mentors like Cheney, Rumsfeld, Condi Rice and the Neo-con coterie, or perhaps they do understand that it would knock off the props from what they consider to be a Manchurian Presidency. Who else can run the policies with greater vigor than the ones who instituted them in your name?

You have the courage of their convictions. You do not entertain silly, soul-searching, tortuous reasoning that comes from studying history and analyzing contexts. It saps resolve and creates anxiety. You are proud of strong single-minded leadership with confidence rooted in cultivated ignorance.

Your mentors planned getting rid of Saddam Hussein even before your election. The quick way to defeat a regional bully is to be a world-class bully. You so enjoy that role. It always works in the short run. Elections are not fought for the long-term. The long-term consequences are for the historian nannies and the future generations to handle.

People who eagerly swallowed the lies in the service of “the cause” are complaining now. You know better. Torture of prisoners, spying on Americans, deceit in the service of “the cause” is justified and should be commended. Those citing constitution do not appreciate the importance of lying as the central tenet of an effective policy.

Unfortunately you have hit a rough patch. The Congressional Republicans committing the sin of getting caught in sleazy deals and the inept cover up of the utter fiasco in response to Katrina does not help either.

People do not realize how difficult it is to attend to silly problems. They even intrude in your vacations. You are right to lay down strict rules not to be disturbed. What are the mentors for? It worked for Reagan.

You resolutely destroyed the Iraqi army and its civilian infrastructure. The best way is to start with a clean slate and build a new country to the liking of your mentors. But Iraqis are such ingrates. They not only do not appreciate it, they have the temerity to ask for a democratic system suited to their historical, ethnic and cultural needs. Time and again they have stymied the Quislings you installed.

You have stayed the course with tenacity and were able to scare the Iraqis, the Arabs and the world, but master-stroke was scaring the Americans into re-electing you. Unfortunately the Americans are also impetuous ingrates. They are not scared any more and have started questioning your policies. Even the supine news media has started asking rude questions, thus helping the enemy. Just freeze them out, except sycophants like O’ Reillys and Hannitys populating the Fox news, and please do not forget the loyalty of Judith Miller.

To keep Americans scared, it is a good time to saber rattle against Iran. Your advisors brilliantly kept Iran firmly planted as an enemy. The axis of evil gambit helped defeat the moderating influence of President Khatami’s government. With quagmire in Iraq, problems in Afghanistan, the failure in North Korea, the Iranians came through when you needed a new enemy to demonize.

The Congress foolishly blocked your efforts to develop tactical nuclear bunker buster bomb that violated the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. Threatening Iran for three years, you skillfully succeeded in strengthening their resolve to start Uranium enrichment. With your bluster you were able to convince Iranian Mullahs that the only safety for them is to have nuclear weapons. It helps in keeping Americans scared.

With the US power, the world stands in awe of your ability to ignore reality and speak with ambidextrous mouth. You have thrown the gauntlet for Iran to accept our meddling to change their democratically elected government, as in the past. In 1941 we installed the young Shah, then overthrow Mosaddeq’s democracy in 1953 and helped Saddam Hussein to wage an eight-year war on Iran, using chemical weapons in the 1980s. It is good that Americans only remember the hostage taking by Iran in 1979. It helps in brazenly threatening Iran with invasion, including nuclear attack.

The courage of your mentors’ conviction helped you invade Iraq. The same courage is helping you carry on, unmindful of the no-win situation. If Iran does not back down we loose whatever credibility is left. If we attack Iran no one in the world, except Israel would even pretend to be with us. But that is a long-term problem. It will actually be advantageous in supplying more terrorists for you and your successors to keep Americans scared for a long time. There are people calling for caution. Do not listen to them. It only weakens the resolve and saps your visceral energy.

The most important thing is to keep Americans scared and plied with well placed lies. Lofty ideals are for speeches, real politics works at the basest level. I am in awe of your simplistic courage Mr. President.

You may need to get this letter translated. Don’t bother Cheney, Rummy or Condi. Just ask any high school student.

Mirza A. Beg
mab64@yahoo.com