Feelings of despair

One of my first things to read in The Times is the editorial page, followed by enough venting to get me going. On Thursday it was Thomas L. Friedman’s column [“There’s no ‘we’ in American politics,” Opinion, Syndicated columnist, Oct. 1].

Rather than venting, a feeling of extreme sadness settled over me. Why? Because I realized every word was true, and had the capability of destroying our country or at least some of our leaders.

When we have people attending public meetings with an AK-47 over their shoulder, we are already in trouble regardless of what the Second Amendment means.

As I continued to think about the column, I also realized I had no idea how to fix the problem, except to call out my friends when I hear them spewing some of the vitriolic right-wing statements — most of which is engendered by the likes of Rush Limbaugh — against our leaders.

Any one care to join me?

— Hugh R. Givens, Kirkland

The rest of us are the “we”

Friedman’s column enumerated many threats to sensible discourse, including blogging President Obama’s assassination.

The solution is straightforward: Those propagating lies or inciting riot should go to jail. Retorts abound about freedom of speech, protecting the press, and can we tell what is a lie?

Speech has restrictions. It is criminal to threaten the president, incite riot, or cry “Fire!” falsely in a theater.

If a reporter reports someone said something and that person did, there is no lie. If that person did not or does not exist, the reporter is lying. Courts decide the truth regularly.

A French politician is about to begin serving a sentence for lying about his opponent in the last election.

As Friedman said, we can agree, disagree or argue about programs or policies, but it may be criminal to lie about individuals, their policies, proposals, or the relevant facts.

Such crimes are more dangerous and destructive than car theft. These criminals are a small, if sometimes influential, minority.

The rest of us are the we in politics.

— Leonard D. Goodisman, Bothell