Bush’s Speech on U.S. Goals in Middle East

Listening to the addresses of President Bush and of the Democratic Party right after, I was angered by the similarity and at the lack of alternative thinking that the major political parties engage in. I believe the world situation is not being presented with any clarity.

For instance, our moral position in the Persian Gulf is a joke. In recent memory, we have invaded small nations in our own hemisphere in violation of international law. The U.S. faces up to aggression only when it is in the economic interests of our capital-gains-taking ruling class.

Why did neither political party make any mention of solar energy as a viable alternative? Some say it is not economically feasible. But is our massive troop deployment economically feasible? Is the savings and loan bailout sound economic policy? Is subsidizing the nuclear power industry, which has proved unprofitable, cost effective? When will we realize that capital gains tax breaks and subsidies to big companies amount to the public giving the wealthy more wealth--a welfare check to industry.

KESHAV KAMATH

Los Angeles