LAT op-ed: "This isn't the real America" by Jimmy Carter

[DeepModem Mom]

This isn't the real America
By Jimmy Carter, JIMMY CARTER was the 39th president of the United States. His newest book is "Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis," published this month by Simon & Schuster.


IN RECENT YEARS, I have become increasingly concerned by a host of radical government policies that now threaten many basic principles espoused by all previous administrations, Democratic and Republican.

These include the rudimentary American commitment to peace, economic and social justice, civil liberties, our environment and human rights.

Also endangered are our historic commitments to providing citizens with truthful information, treating dissenting voices and beliefs with respect, state and local autonomy and fiscal responsibility.

At the same time, our political leaders have declared independence from the restraints of international organizations and have disavowed long-standing global agreements — including agreements on nuclear arms, control of biological weapons and the international system of justice.

Instead of our tradition of espousing peace as a national priority unless our security is directly threatened, we have proclaimed a policy of "preemptive war," an unabridged right to attack other nations unilaterally to change an unsavory regime or for other purposes. When there are serious differences with other nations, we brand them as international pariahs and refuse to permit direct discussions to resolve disputes....


http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-carter14nov14,0,3117329.story?track=hpmostemailedlink

[candice]

1. And this nation has propped up and created too many "unsavory regimes"

Saddam being one of the most prominent.

This country would have been a different place had Jimmy Carter won a second term.
The thugs who kept the Americans hostage in Iran until the puppet President could be installed are to blame.

[MN ChimpH8R]

2. Excellent piece

Carter hits it on the head. Would that someone with his conscience were president now.

[Patiod]

3. Used a quote on the cover of this month's church newsletter

"We worship the Prince of Peace, not the Prince of pre-emptive war."
James Earl Carter, Jr., 2005

[tk2kewl]

8. That is a good one for sure

:thumbsup: :kick:

[skooooo]

4. Jimmy is really speaking out..

good to see.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. he was in Chicago a week ago. Brought tears to my eyes.

He said he was a better ex-president than president - and I do agree. But he is honest, ethical, moral and fully aware of how evil the Bushistas are.

[DeepModem Mom]

18. It's cathartic when someone finally steps up and tells the truth...

to the American people. I guess it's harder for elected office-holders, but maybe as more step forward, it will get getting easier.

[indepat]

5. W's supporters do not give a hoot about any threatened basic principles

[driver8]

6. Sadly, you are right. To them, Carter is a "liberal pussy." How

wonderfully black and white things must be in their little world.

[indepat]

10. Their little sanctimonious and rechious world

[kentuck]

7. Truth is the only weapon we have...

We all need to use it.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Very well said, kentuck. nt

[mike_c]

12. I can't wait to hear what Carter has to say about the suspension...

...of habeus corpus.

[MsAnthropy]

13. Better late than never

I love how the LA Times has to point out that he was our 39th president.

[BamaBecky]

14. AWSOME - THANK YOU PRESIDENT CARTER!!!!!!

We need this real bad!

Now help us with 911

Bama

[stubtoe]

15. May be dating myself here but

Mr. Carter represents the values of what a proper democratic government can and should be - as I remember them. Then came Ronald Raygun and it all started to go to hell. Clinton was able to hold back some of the damage during his two terms, but he paid dearly.

It's mighty good to hear the voice of reason again. Speak on, Mr. President!

[HippieCowgirl]

16. God Bless President Carter

I'm glad he's worked so hard after his presidency to better the lives of people around the world. The Carter Center is a real light in the darkness.

In case anyone needs to be reminded what a REAL Christian president is like, look to Carter.

[flaminbats]

26. this is why Carter's endorsement still matters to me..

Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and John Kerry have a little influence on my politics. But anytime I vote in the primaries, I always find out who Carter is supporting. No..I don't rubber stamp his vote, but it often gives me a positive perspective of a candidate I might not have considered. I will take into account a decision from someone who is selfless, moral, and humble before that of a self-serving, vengeful, and egotistical charlatan.

Maybe that is why Carter is known as a failed politician.

[faithnotgreed]

17. kick for president carter

if only....

[JuneInJax]

19. Did anyone see

him on Larry King on Sunday night? I think it was a rerun, but it was my first chance to see it. I was "Yeah-ing" and "woo-hoo-ing" like I haven't in a long time. He was the first president I ever voted for, and I haven't often had the privilege of voting for a winner.

Has anyone read his book? I'm thinking of buying it (as opposed to just checking it out of the library).

Talk about gravitas!
:)
Moni

[DeepModem Mom]

20. I thought I was the only one who woo-hooed at the set...

pumping my arms into the air -- funny especially when alone in the house, except for two cats!

[wiggs]

21. I'm carrying the article around in my pocket today. kick. nt

[shadowlight]

22. .

[struggle4progress]

23. After SCOTUS helped stage a coup in December 2000, what else ..

.. should we have expected?

[dennis4868]

24. I wonder if....

the LA Times will fire President Carter.

[texpatriot2004]

25. President Carter I agree with everything you say here except

the very last point about America coming together...all due respect, I don't understand how that is possible. Here's what you wrote:

It is time for the deep and disturbing political divisions within our country to be substantially healed, with Americans united in a common commitment to revive and nourish the historic political and moral values that we have espoused during the last 230 years.

I would like to see America healed too. Unfortunately, I will not work with this evil regime or it's followers. It's a real problem. A deadlock of differences between people who think like I do and the fundamentalists, fascists, and imperialists who would destroy America as we know it. This is further complicated by the fact that I don't see * and his veep as "good men who see the world differently than I do" I see them as working for Satan. How do you bring these two factions together? That is, those who think like me...progressive values and love of the America that we have had for the last 230 years and the pro-big business, religious fundamentalists. I have thought about it...alot and I don't have an answer. I thought it would happen under new leadership in 2004 but they stole the "election" again. I really don't know if our differences can be reconciled. I do know that there are more of us than are of them.


This is an FYI for later
Members of Congress have increased their own pay by $30,000 per year since freezing the minimum wage at $5.15 per hour (the lowest among industrialized nations).

[Stockholm]

27. It is because of men like President Carter

the world does not give up on the US.

What an awesome editorial.