More Springfield Arts Coverage, Please
I read your paper weekly, and in my opinion, your writings do this Valley a tremendous service—the arts, political advocacy and minority communities in particular. It’s great to have such a great news source here!
I just moved from Northampton to Springfield in search of a more urban experience, but still mixed with Pioneer Valley life—and I have found that Springfield provides exactly the balance that I was seeking.
Now, living in Springfield, I notice that the Advocate occasionally goes somewhat light on the Springfield arts and entertainment coverage in favor of Hampshire and Franklin county coverage.
I write this not as a critique, but as a plea from those of us in Springfield who need guidance as to what’s happening.
For example, I would have loved to read an Advocate review of the Hoop City Jazz Festival, which took place last weekend. It was, honestly, one of the most amazing free concerts I have ever seen in my 28 years.
Please keep up the good work—in my opinion, you do very good work—and also, if you could, please keep us Springfielders in mind.
Justin Marsh
Springfield
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As Pres Says, Eat Peas (Skip Cake)
At a recent White House press conference, President Obama said that we should all “eat our peas.” That’s great advice for anyone on a budget—peas, lentils, beans, rice, vegetables, tofu, nuts, pasta and other versatile vegan foods are not only delicious, they’re relatively inexpensive.
If you eat peas and other vegan foods—which are naturally cholesterol-free and generally low in fat—you won’t have to shell out extra money for statins, blood pressure pills, or other health care costs that result from eating fatty, cholesterol-laden cheeseburgers, fried chicken and milk shakes.
Peas are “green,” too. According to a 2010 United Nations report, plant-based foods require fewer resources and cause lower emissions than meat and dairy products. And no animals will have to suffer if you choose vegan foods instead of animal-based ones. If someone calls you a peabrain, you can take it as a compliment for helping to make the world a kinder, greener place.
Heather Moore
The PETA Foundation
Norfolk, Va.
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Inflation Not a Disaster
Government has mounted debts to wage war without very much in the way of criticism. It is only when the average person gets something that these “grassroots” groups, which are very well funded, come out of the woodwork to panic over “debt” (Between the Lines, July 14, 2011).
We have had inflation before. It was never a national disaster. Depressions are a national disaster.
The solution we are being given to the national debt is to create unemployment, which is a stupid way to attempt to pay off debt. Obviously, if more people were working, more taxes would be collected. Not starting wars is also a way to save money. Canceling the war on drugs would save money. But these solutions are being avoided. So we must be suspicious of those who scream about the “debt.”
Robert Underwood
via Web
Correction : In last week’s Imperium Watch column, “Wealth, Taxes, Jobs and Lies,” the second paragraph refers to the Bush tax “credits.” The word should have been “cuts.”
