The same article reported on another very ominous development. In early March a ruling was made that bans publishers “from editing texts produced in ‘outlaw’ nations like Cuba.” The article states, “According to OFAC’s interpretation of the regulations, editing texts, such as scientific articles or studies, for publication in the United States is equivalent to providing a ‘service’ to the government of ‘outlaw’ nations…. Publishers that change so much as one word in a text face stiff fines and jail time.”

It seems to me that this is not only an attack on academic freedom, which would be bad enough. Having just participated in the production of the beautiful new Pathfinder title Aldabonazo: Inside the Cuban Revolutionary Underground by Armando Hart, I can imagine what the real target of such a ruling is.

Sandi Sherman
Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
 
Social Security
While I am not a socialist, I do regularly read your online editions. One editorial prompted me to write you this letter. It concerns saving Social Security.

The bottom line is really simple. Our congressmen and senators are enlisted in their own little retirement plan. Just a small perk that they voted for themselves. Why? Wasn’t the system that the ordinary people were a part of good enough for them? No it wasn’t and they knew what was coming down the road. If they had to participate in our Social Security system, it would have been addressed and fixed long ago. There is no incentive for them to do anything for the people. The government that you call for to be more involved in our lives is the same government that has their own private little nest egg for themselves. Pretty ironic isn’t it?

Nick Renesis
by e-mail

The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of interest to working people.

Please keep your letters brief. Where necessary they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your initials be used rather than your full name.  
 
 
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