Carrol's note is one of the more thought provoking messages I have seen on the list for a while. I suspect what he is describing reflects the CNN effect, where we get plenty of information about the abuses in Iran, but much less in Honduras, even though it is closer to home.
I worry that ginning up too much anger against Iran may give an opening to another theocracy to attack, which promises no good. >It is sad that so many u.s. leftist are in such total despair of any movement in the u.s. that all they can do is mount a verbal (for it is only verbal and has no practical implications) crusade against the Iranian regime. I don't defend that regime; I just notice that unlike _eqyallly_ vicious regimes such as EKgypt, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Peru (all of which regimes are supported by u.s. power) Iran makes at least gestures of setting itself against u.s. power. U.S. leftists might, were they organized, exert some real pressure on those regimes to change. They have no power over the Iranian regime. Everything they say, in fact, strengthens that regime by allowing it to point out to the dreadful threat from the u.s.. Once that threat were _definitely_ removed, doubtless the Iranian regime would be forced by its own people to liberalize; but it would be fatal to Iranian indpendence for it to liberalize under u.s. pressure. It is the caterwauling of moralists disguised as leftis in the u.s. that in fact gies _real_ support ot he worst tendencies in Iran. Lay off. Attend to your proper business at home. You are merely howling to the moon. Carrol _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 530 898 5321 fax 530 898 5901 http://michaelperelman.wordpress.com _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
