Frank E. Bovalino – 12/19/04

This page was last updated on December 21, 2004.

Let’s talk moral authority; Frank E. Bovalino; Beaver County Times; December 19, 2004.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“President G.W. Bush is reclaiming moral authority in this country. What a joke. (‘Reclaiming moral authority,’ Letters to the Editor, Thursday)

“Is it moral to invade a sovereign country and lie to the American people about the necessity for invasion, troop levels, stay time and the quality of equipment needed to combat the enemy?”

[RWC] Please Mr. Bovalino, provide examples of the alleged lies and supporting evidence. Merely being wrong is not the same as lying. If being wrong were the same as lying, Mr. Bovalino would be a liar based on the content of this letter.

At least Mr. Bovalino conceded we’re fighting an enemy. I guess he would prefer we bury our heads in the sand and hope our enemies leave us alone.

“Is it moral to condone the export of jobs, business and wealth to foreign countries? Is it moral to burden the middle class with the financial support of our government while their jobs are being exported? Is it moral to cut programs that the poor and elderly so desperately need due to the huge deficits incurred because of selective tax-cuts and war costs? Is it moral to rob future generations the chance of the American way of life because of wealth distribution in this country?”

[RWC] Mr. Bovalino uses the word “condone” but he really wants us to read “encourage.” That, of course, would be incorrect. President Bush hasn’t encouraged “the export of jobs, business and wealth.” If he has, perhaps Mr. Bovalino can explain why the United States has nearly the fastest growing economy in the industrialized world. Lest we forget, President Bush even applied tariffs to imported steel in a misguided effort to protect the domestic steel industry.

Regarding the last two sentences, Mr. Bovalino appears to be a true socialist if he believes a role of government is to provide economic support to “the poor and elderly” and that government needs to redistribute wealth.

“Is it moral to import foreign capital to the tune of $2.25 million a day to support the President’s economic agenda (including the budget deficits)? Is it moral to sell the very freedom we enjoy to foreign investors? Is it moral to jeopardize more than 200 million peoples way of life to get elected?”

[RWC] Mr. Bovalino’s data is a tad out of date. The Census Bureau estimate of the United States population is 295 million.

Foreign investment in America is a bad thing? Regarding the selling our freedom to foreign investors BS, Mr. Bovalino must really believe the claims made by Times editorials.

“Does the ‘moral majority’ believe judges who represent their interest influence policy over the foreign investors who hold the purse strings of this country? America has witnessed the morality of big money in this country: Corporate payments to CEOs prior to bankruptcy, then have the arrogance to negate labor contracts and steal pensions of hard working employees. Is this moral?”

[RWC] “Big money” is not inherently bad or good, immoral or moral. Great good has been done with “big money.”

Regarding big pay to anyone leading a failing company, I believe that’s a stupid business decision, neither immoral nor moral. Regarding bankruptcy, Mr. Bovalino forgot to mention that creditors and owners also lose, not just workers. Indeed, though they too suffer, short of completely losing their jobs, employees generally make out better in a bankruptcy than creditors and owners.

“Yes, Bush and his regime are wolves in sheep’s clothing. When will the American public wake up and hold our president to the task of preserving the American way of life instead of selling it to the highest bidder?”

“That would be moral.”

[RWC] It is not government’s responsibility to preserve the American way of life. That is the responsibility of us individuals. If you believe government is the answer, just take a look at the world’s socialist countries and dictatorships.

It’s too bad Mr. Bovalino didn’t provide any concrete examples of his accusations.