Tell the truth
I would like to respond to the letter from Bryce Harrington of Tigard that appeared in the Feb. 8 edition of The Skanner.
As an American, I just cannot believe how uninformed the people of America truly are in some cases. Where were they when government classes were being taught? What type of teachers did they have when they were in school?
I went to school in South Dakota, and we did actually learn that in times of national defense — such as these times — the commander-in-chief, the president of the United States, has certain rights and duties that enable him to authorize certain actions by proper authorities to ensure the defense of this nation.
The president is required by the Constitution to do these things in the name of national defense. If the president fails in these duties and harm is caused to property or life, the president could be criminally prosecuted or impeached.
I realize that The Portland Skanner is a leftist publication by its very nature, but does that give it the right to print half-truths or outright lies? The answer should be a resounding "no."
Every president has had the Constitutional authority to do many things that other branches of government cannot do. President George Bush made the right decision when he authorized the National Security Agency to listen in on certain people's conversations.
It would be physically impossible for any government agency or private company to listen in on every conversation that takes place in America on a daily basis. If there were 30 million calls made every day in this country, it would require 120 million people to monitor them around the clock. That's about one-third of our population.
In her comments in the same issue of The Skanner, under the title "No One is Above the Law," Bette Moksnes-Koski makes the same mistake as Mr. Harrington. She most certainly has not done her homework on this subject, but instead seems to rely on words printed in left-leaning publications.
Ms. Moksnes-Koski and Mr. Harrington, please go to the library and download copies of the Constitution and read for yourself the rights and duties of the president of the United States. Then, hopefully, you will never again make statements like the ones you made in The Skanner.
Distortions of the truth or outright lies — whether intentional or not — cause fear and mistrust of our government to a far greater degree than one would normally expect. Please don't add to the problem.
Dusty Martin
Boring, Ore.
