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Artvoice Weekly Edition » Issue v11n44 (11/01/2012) » Section: Letters to Artvoice


The Romney Doctrine

In May of 2012, Mitt Romney made his now famous 47% speech to a secret group of very wealthy donors. In this presentation, we see the “Romney Doctrine” in full relief. In fact, we rarely (perhaps never) have seen a more open class analysis of our country made by a presidential candidate. In it, Romney has laid bare the fundamental contradictions in American economic life for the past 35 years. His view of the broad masses of the American middle class, working class, and poor people can only be seen as one of disdain and condescension. His analysis offers rare insight into the world of the so-called “job creators,” and begs an answer to the issue of how wealth is actually produced.

Grisanti is a Fracker

It’s no surprise that Senator Mark Grisanti isn’t taking a stronger stand on fracking, even though it’s such an important environmental and health issue for New York State (“Week In Review: Independence, Amodeo, and the Power of Money,” October 11, 2012). With so much campaign money on hand—more than 90 percent of which is from downstate donors—it’s no wonder Grisanti is ignoring the 1,700 Western New York residents who have signed a petition urging him to get behind a statewide ban on fracking. After all, this ignorance is being rewarded with endorsements from pro-fracking lobby groups like Unshackle Upstate.

Michele the Citizen

In the early 1930s my family was my world and as far as I knew everything my family believed, the whole world believed. There were no intrusive, beguiling, electronic interlopers like television and text messages worming into our home, telling me that my parents were wrong or “old fashioned” and there are better ideas out there, beyond our door. Despite the horrendous depression beating down on my parents, my four-year-old’s world was secure, and family values were clear and uncluttered.



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