A blue letter from a red state

The following letter was written to the New York Times and Paul Krugman by a friend in a red state.

Dear Mr. Krugman,
I come from one of those Red States (IN), which was given up on some time ago. Conceding that Hoosiers are dominated by giants like the Indianapolis Star, we reliably buy the conservative 'label' with reputed 'common sense' not to vote for any Democrat President.

Other myopic media across the State keep polishing up a handful of 'figures' like Dan Quayle. Even he, looks intellectual compared to the current occupant of the Whitehouse. Still we have close to 40% of the people who don't swallow the policies, the deceptions, and 'rhetoricals' that GWB has foisted on us.

What you said about the costs of this Iraq War and the blindness of this 'leadership' not to face up these costs, not to be straight with the American people about them is a disaster. All the more that no end is in sight. Expecting that we could just move from our "success" in Iraq and transplant 'democracy' all around the Middle East is even more outrageous when no major mistakes are even acknowledged.

As a kid I remember how we saved, went without, or put up with lots of rationing during WWII. We have morphed from a nation of citizens into loyal consumers ready to wave the flag in the face of any person who asks a good question. Nov. 2 could well be the tipping point. Whether we begin to recover and find our way is a serious question.

Finally, any Nation that assumes the mantle of world leadership must expect to meet lots of 'global tests'. For a President to scoff at the idea that we have such global tests to meet... It does raise the question. ...Another child left behind?
Erick Keats