To: The Dallas Morning News 
Date:  February 11, 2008
Subject: Questions not discussed or asked in the Democratic primaries
Result: censored

Dear Editor,

Judging from the Letters to the Editor in Sunday's "Points" section (Feb. 10), plus Ms. Ehrenreich's column, it seems there are a lot of people very concerned about the harmful effects of unbridled capitalism, huge tax breaks for the wealthy that haven't provided the promised benefits to the people on the lower tiers of the economic scale, the ability of big money to buy elections, and just the entrenchment of a morally bankrupt system that basically subjugates and excludes large numbers of people. But I don't really hear even the Democrats talking about most of that.  [afternote:  I have now heard Barack Obama talking about a lot of it.  I like him, but I'm just afraid he doesn't have the basic seasoning needed to be President – or at least to get elected without saying too many stupid things]. 

One big problem that facilitates much of the abuse and wrongness that occurs is the lack of term limits for legislators. Democracy would be served a great deal better, and not be so buyable, if each Congressman were limited to a single term. With Senators, for example, we could elect 25 each year, with the senior positions going to the ones who are in their 4th year – which they would not have to spend on re-election campaigns.  

Also, with the Democratic primary coming to Texas, could some journalist please ask the candidates to state their positions regarding the missile system that President Bush wants to build in Europe? That's an important issue, that I have not heard one word about in this election. Forgetting the expense we can't afford, Russia doesn't like it any more than we would if they were trying to install a similar system on our side of the world.

Thank you, John Vehon