TO THE TRIBUNE EDITORS

FROM: LIANE C. CASTEN, 847-869-9144

By now, I assume the Tribune is being inundated with letters responding to your editorial endorsing Bush.

I will add my own sentiments—total disgust and great disappointment. With all your words, and there were many in this editorial—you cannot excuse the deliberate avoidance of some absolutely crucial issues:

--The connection between major corporate contributions and government favors has become so blatant, bribes is no longer appropriate words. Deep, blatant systemic corruption is the better term, and with such practices, many Americans are simply disgusted and ashamed;

--The politicizing of science. Bush has minimized or fired those who find scientific conclusions that are inimical to Bush’s preconceived, religious-based science. A group of Nobel Prize Winners and other scientists have signed a significant public letter indicating deep concern for these trends. (Did the Tribune publish this letter?) This practice serves to sharply erode the U S as the leader in technology and medicine;.

--Dissent anywhere is NOT tolerated. Period. Hardly the American way I know;

--Some of the most seasoned, experienced and worthy State Department employees are being marginalized or ignored. Regulatory agency personnel across the board are leaving in disgust or frustration;

--The contempt and distrust many countries now feel toward this administration only grows;

--No Child Left Behind Law is a damaging law, not capable of doing what the Tribune claims. Instead of closing the achievement gap between rich and poor students, the landmark law might be underwriting a new "digital divide" at the very time when, thanks to billions in public investment, needy schools are just now catching up in their access to computers. I know of no teacher who likes the law. Most teachers and administrators see the law as an opportunity to further de-fund public education in favor of government funded religious schools;

--The separation between Church and State is eroding, quietly, behind the radar;

--The lies coming out of the Bush administration have become systemic and dangerous;

--The U.S. is not fighting for peace and freedom in this failed war. We are fighting for empire, more power and oil We are emboldening the terrorists;

--Its energy policies are antediluvian – and dangerous for a healthy planet. Since you at the Tribune love these energy policies so much, I suggest you offer to put some of the burgeoning numbers of nuclear spent fuel rods in your basement at the Tribune. It would fill up faster than you could blink and within days, many on your staff would not be alive;

--Words and deeds do not match. One example. This administration ignores those in need. Many thousands have become fodder for the war while “compassionate conservatism” becomes the covering mantra;

--The military in Iraq are suffering from inadequate equipment and protection while Halliburton makes off with billions in no –bid contracts. Some of that money went down an unaccounted for black hole. All the while our military are dying or losing limbs. This is the height of criminality. Back in WWII, we called this war profiteering; the guilty were sent to jail;

--Bush’s 2005 budget falls more than $2.6 billion short of the amount needed to fully fund veterans’ health care—with the need growing;

--He calls for total closure of three veterans’ hospital and partial closure of eight more—with the need growing.

--500,000 veterans have been excluded from enrolling in health care—with the need growing;

--VA personnel must stop informing veterans about their benefits;

--OMB memo shows the VA expects $910 million cuts in 2006—with the need growing;

--Your own paper is remiss in reporting this information;

--Republicans are coming out condemning this president in record numbers on such issues as the economy, lack of planning, the losing war;

--As the Bush administration scrambled last year to pull together a "coalition of the willing" to wage a war in Iraq, it simultaneously negotiated and financed an unprecedented multibillion-dollar arms deal with Poland - a compact that promises to funnel at least $6 billion in U.S. investments into the former Warsaw Pact nation, which has become one of the United States' primary wartime supporters. It appears the U.S. could not find enough money to bribe too many other countries;

--The illegal kidnapping and ouster of Aristide in Haiti, leaving that country impoverished, in murderous chaos, without any leadership;

--As leader of our country, Bush has a moral obligation to help maintain free and fair elections. His party is doing everything it can to disenfranchise as many voters as possible. The ways are numerous and creative, (illegally purging voter rolls, tossing Democrat registration cards, intimidating visits to poor, black homes, challenging their status,) while the moral ground—and trust-- have been lost;

--Basic economic policies are simply lacking; we are sliding into deeper and deeper debt, leaving a hideous legacy for our children and their children;

--The attempt to privatize everything, from the war contractors to social security—is dangerous. Standards and accountability will be lost while private profits will soar at the expense of others;

--Our air is dirtier; our water less clean; our children have more asthma; our old growth forests are under massive attack by predatory lumber companies given the green light to cut;

--The new Medicare package is a boon to the pharmaceutical industry, but seniors will pay even more;

--This administration banks on fear, not on openness; on division, not on unity; on prejudice, not on acceptance, tolerance and love.

I know of no administration that has done as much damage to our Constitution, our laws, our environment, our economy and our standing in the community of nations as this one.

Clearly, you have an agenda—perhaps not visible, but considering how much damage this one President has done, it’s hard to understand why enlightened, intelligent men and women could come to such an ill advised conclusion as supporting him. I and many others deeply regret your decision. It is as backwards and self serving as this administration's corrupted, greed-based, rapacious energy policies.

Liane Casten, pres., Chicago Media Watch