Letters

Don't need no book smarts to be No. 1

Re: "We're No. 2!," Editor's Note, Jan. 20: Forty years ago the Russians were going to overtake us with their superior education, or so conventional wisdom in academia went. We know how good that prediction was.

Twenty years ago, the same end of U.S. dominance hysteria was present in the media. Then it wasn't Russia, but Japan, with its superior education. Here we are now, still the best standard of living in the world and Japan and its brilliantly educated people? They have been perpetually in recession since 1989.

Today it's China and Europe with their superior education who will overtake us. Getting kinda boring now. The only way this happens is we follow the advice of "experts" and get government involved in everything including spending kajillions of dollars on improving education (whatever the hell that means). Allow the free markets to work freely and the U.S. will be just fine, even with our crappy education.

--Eduard Dordea

Didn't know Revelation mentioned computer chips

In Geoff Schumacher's review of the new book The United States of Europe by T.R. Reid ["We're No. 2!," Editor's Note, Jan. 20], many facts stated agree with another book written 35 years earlier. The Late, Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsay predicted a United Europe would become the dominant world power. Of course, back in 1970, non-Christians scoffed at the idea. Who's laughing about it now?

Another prediction, this time by the Bible, claims that in the final days before the Tribulation, Christians will be persecuted and ridiculed. You are witness to this in the media today, as God and the Bible are being banished from public life. Any peaceful Christian protest ends up in arrests and abuse. Most recent example: Christians protesting gay rights are arrested and threatened with 21 years of jail time for "hate speech."

Another prediction: Sometime in the near future there will be some kind of terrorist attack. It will make 9/11 look like a Sunday school picnic. People will be prepared to do anything to stop terrorism.

When United Europe becomes a world government, it will be led by the Antichrist. The Antichrist will bring a false, temporary peace to the Middle East. Through this action, he will become a worldwide dictator as the leader of a united world government.

How do you stop terrorists from infiltrating other countries? The Antichrist will proclaim a new law. Everyone must receive an identification computer chip installed in the hand or forehead. (This is already in use in animals.) To quote Revelation, you will not be able to buy or sell without this mark, the mark of the Beast: 666.

The signs are impossible to ignore. It is time for everyone to get right with God, because the world as we know it will not be around much longer.

--Charles Clarkton

WTO membership puts U.S. freedoms at risk

Since 1994, the United States has been entangled in the World Trade Organization. The WTO's rules allow member nations to enter into additional regional trade agreements such as NAFTA and the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). While some members of Congress may be grateful for such WTO permission, it ought to be obvious to other Americans that our nation's actions should never require the permission of international organizations such as the WTO.

Similarly, the Third Draft Agreement (Nov. 21, 2003) for a Free Trade Area of the Americas commits that proposed organization to follow the dictates of the WTO. Chapter II, Article 3 states: "This Agreement shall be governed by the following principles: ... (c) consistency of the rights and obligations emanating from this Agreement with the rules and disciplines of the World Trade Organization. ..."

America's independence is being frittered away because of numerous international agreements that have far more to do with national sovereignty than with so-called "free trade."

All senators and representatives who believe that our nation should restore its ability to act as a truly independent nation should vote to get the U.S. out of the WTO.

--Frank M. Pelteson

What is Bush's secret agenda?

Your column of Jan. 27 was right on! ["Freedom's Just Another Word for...Iran Invasion?" Editor's Note.] My major concern is:

Does this administration really believe what they are telling us or is it just a cover-up excuse to carry out a secret agenda that they are not telling us? This applies not only to foreign policy, but also domestic.

I'm fearful of the answer to that question. Either they are really stupid to believe it, or worse....what is the real agenda.?

--Marv Ravis

Support Wal-Mart and you support communists

We fought the communists in Vietnam for years. We lost 58,000 young lives in Vietnam to keep the communist horde from overrunning Asia and dominating the world.

Now we have Wal-Mart supporting the communist Chinese, our enemy for nearly 60 years. Support Wal-Mart and you support the Chinese communists.

Support Wal-Mart and you support the destruction of your local small businesses, in my humble opinion.

--Jim Kane'ala,

Seattle