Thomas almost had a good point

Again, Cal Thomas almost has a good point. To quote Cal in his Nov. 4 column, Democrats would put us at risk with carrots and sticks.

"What is lacking in all these candidates -- Democrat and Republican -- is a clear vision that empowers individuals," Thomas wrote.

Well Cal, guess what? Former Democratic Sen. Mike Gravel has proposed the national initiative, which would empower citizens to be lawmakers. Also, Mike Gravel, who was excluded from the Philadelphia debate and had his own forum at the same time, disproved all candidates who used the "carrots and sticks" line by saying that America should negotiate with other countries like equals and not donkeys.

And yes, Cal, there is a difference between supporting our troops and denouncing their(our) leaders. Our troops are doing what they should do, and that is what they are told. Until our troops massacre civilians in furnaces we can admire them. I think the war in Iraq is wrong, and yet I support the troops fighting in Iraq. Is that too difficult a concept for Cal to comprehend?

Cal almost had it right when he wrote " Do we have any enemies? Just Republicans."

He forgot to mention Democrats as well. Both parties are responsible for the mess our country is in.

Peter Arient

Schaumburg