Letters, we get letters...

Couldn't resist sharing this... sent in by somebody calling themselves "Washington Native"; refused to provide an email address. Apparently it's easier to call people Soviets when you can do so anonymously... who knew?

You people are crazy! You make Glenn Beck seem calm and normal. Are you guys all transplants from the former soviet union? I've never seen pile [sic] of communist ideas in my whole life.

You are certainly entitled to your independent point of view and I hope you keep sharing it because the more people who read about your pro-big-government views the better off we are.

That's what make this country great, crazy people like yourselves are also welcome.

Another nameless commenter projecting their paranoia onto other people. The Internet's full of 'em. If Mr. Native was a calm and normal person, he wouldn't behave like a McCarthyite, pointing fingers and screaming "Communist!"

It's not clear what Mr. Native believes in, but if he's an atypical conservative who supported George W. Bush, then he's actually a believer in big government, for that is what today's conservatives believe in (to be fair, big government minus services that help struggling Americans, since government should only help people who already have money. Hurray for corporate subsidies and no-bid contracts!)

Just take a look at the spend-and-borrow policies of George W. Bush. We've spent hundreds of billions of dollars on the unjustified invasion of Iraq, plus Afghanistan.

And Mr. Native, don't forget that it was George W. who signed the bill creating the Department of Homeland Security, which brought us the infamous color-coded "alert" system. (We always think of Sesame Street characters whenever we see or hear reference to whatever status we're on now. It's always Yellow or higher).

Liberals, in contrast, are for an idea that's pretty simple, which dates back to America's founding: Effective government of the people, by the people, for the people. Government that works... and does, as Abraham Lincoln said, what we cannot do for ourselves in our separate and individual capacities. Like building roads, schools, and sewers.

Liberals are for a robust economy that offers good jobs, fair markets that provide a level playing field for businesses to compete, and opportunities for entrepreneurs.

In short, we believe in an America with a strong public sector and a strong private sector. It's the combination of both that makes our country work.

So anyhow, Mr. Native, thanks for giving us an opportunity to reflect on our values, and for pointing out that we live in a nation where dissent and disagreement isn't illegal. At least we can agree on that very uniquely Soviet idea.