Conservative forum

Pete Seeger, West Point Deserve Benefit of Doubt

Your front-page article on Pete Seeger addressing the cadets at West Point [HumAN EVENTS, December 26] was well researched and sound in its appropriate anti-Communist tone. There may be, however, another way to look at this story.

When Pete Seeger appeared at West Point, I was teaching in the MBA program and was surprised and, at first, disappointed. Whether Seeger was a Communist may be in some doubt, but there is little doubt about his inclination to side with the enemies of America on every patriotic and military issue. Given the credentials of Lt. Gen. Daniel W. Christman, an outstanding soldier and patriot, there seemed to be a tremendous inconsistency here.

On second thought the fact is that Pete Seeger did appear, which demonstrates at least a modest change of posture on his part. Gen. Christman did not go to some anti-war meeting and tell them how terrible America is. Pete Seeger came to West Point to help instruct our cadets in a positive mode.

While we should diligently expose Communists and work to set the record straight, we ought to allow for those who want to, in whole or in part, make amends for past sins. It seems as though Pete Seeger, and particularly Gen. Christman, deserves the benefit of the doubt in this case.

-Stanley Goldstein Briarcliff Manor, N. Y

How Clinton Demeans Office of Presidency

My nephew, Christopher, stayed with me last week and I was surprised at a response of his that indicated that he thinks Clinton is a great President. Paula Jones, Gennifer Flowers, Whitewater, Troopergate, Hypocrisy, all seemed to mean little to him. In Chris's words, "What does all that have to do with his being President?" This response, which is reasonably typical of mainstream thinking, is an example of the most dangerous trend threatening America today. The fact that the President of the greatest country on earth can get on TV and lie, and have most people know he is lying and yet do nothing about it is abhorrent and inexplicable.

The liberal media, in cooperation with Bill Clinton, have now made acceptable: * Lying * Infidelity * Insider trading * That truth is relative * Spin control * Obstruction of justice * Winning at any cost * Smoking dope

What kind of examples do these set for our children? What are they learning from these examples? What will be the effect on society IS years hence if this trend prevails?

Clinton has done more to demean the office of the presidency than any other President, including Nixon. In retrospect, Nixon was a saint compared to this team. At least Nixon was motivated by the good of our country, while Clinton is motivated by personal power and winning, not by what's best for our country.

I can only hope my observations are somehow wrong. I yearn to believe there are others out there who value truth, respect, family, integrity, and honor and that these values will prevail.

-Nancy Morgan

Manhattan Beach, Calif.

National Sales Tax A Rip-Off for Seniors

Reader Michael H. Agranof ("Conservative Forum" November 21) denounces the proposals for a flat tax as a "nightmare waiting to happen." He would prefer a national "consumption" (sales) tax.

Agranof sets up a straw man to fight: The "quick fixes sold by liberals" would allow "critical deductions and exemptions."

True, but the same applies to any tax system. We all know how the present system got to be the nightmare it is. Another quick fix could jack up Agranof's "consumption tax" from 10% to 17% to 25%, and then follow up by a 20% Value Added Tax. It is up to us to set up the system-whichever system winsso that the liberals cannot pervert it again. The National Sales Tax proponents have been hiding its fatal flaw: It would be an unconscionable, almost criminal rip-off of the seniors. Any major purchase I may have to make as a retiree would necessarily have to be paid for from my savings. Except for some 401 (k) funds, most of those savings have been taxed at least once already when they were earned as income.

While the seniors would be hardest hit, the National Sales Tax would be a rip-off of everybody who has saved anything: a new refrigerator, college tuition for the kids, a downpayment on the first house, a little nest egg before getting married, the cost of a retirement home, or a hospice. The only people who would come out ahead would be the type that cannot be bothered to take care of themselves, and prefer that society take care of them.

The National Sales Tax is a clever scheme designed to double the taxes on a large part of the population. A politician pushing it deserves to be voted out of office for fraud. -KA. Skapa Denver, Colo. GOP Must Campaign Against Kyoto in 2000

Once again the Republicans are getting snookered. They are attacking the Kyoto Treaty with all the wrong arguments, which may solve the short-term problems but will likely give the liberals victory in the long run.

Liberals love to paint Republicans as being greedy, and willing to sacrifice the environment in pursuit of a profit. But when the Republicans fight the Kyoto agreement by saying it will cost too much, or that it's not fair because developing nations don't have to limit their emissions, they're falling right into the liberal's trap.