I did not notice any articles about disabled persons having their children removed and put up for adoption because the government feels that the parents are too disabled to take care of their own children.

I have found myself for the past 16 months caught up in this system because I am disabled and poor. I have no other alternative than to watch this legalized kidnapping take place while the taxpayers pay the ransom.

Alan Schuetz

Des Moines, Iowa

Is Clinton a `lesser evil'?
I read with great interest your Sept. 2 front page article which gave a very in-depth analysis of the presidential campaign and capitalism's world disorder.

In the article you make the case that Clinton is certainly no option for working class people over the Republican party.

Recently Clinton signed the vicious anti-labor welfare reform bill, but he also signed the minimum wage raise bill. Of course he did this to win labor's support in November, and as you point out, the raise won't amount to much anyway.

But suppose that Dole and Kemp were to defeat Clinton? Their party is the party of the fascist Christian Coalition with its agenda, the party of Buchanan, a dyed-in-the-wool Nazi, the party of fascist Militia people and Klansmen such as David Duke. This very party would control the White House and the Congress. Where would this leave working people?

Certainly Clinton is no friend of labor, and certainly only a workers' government can even begin to solve the problems of this criminal capitalist system. But socialism is not on the agenda this year! As an independent socialist, and a very dedicated socialist, I believe, knowing that Clinton is not to be trusted as an ally of the oppressed, that he would be preferable to Dole-Kemp, who have outright fascists entrenched deeply in their party and who carry a lot of clout.

Personally I agree with the program of the Socialist Workers Party, but I feel that my vote would be wasted. Also, it would only benefit the ultraright. Of course, I am desperate to know the truth and do the right thing for my class. Could you clarify this for me?

Nicholas Brand

Loretto, Pennsylvania

Crime and workers' rights
I think Militant readers Corin's and Joya Lonsdale's fear, that any special legal measures against the ultraright militia might be used against socialists, is well founded. I would go further, and say that any restriction of democratic rights will inevitably be used against the workers and the socialist movement.

Let's think about what happened after the Oklahoma City bombing. Before the dust had even settled, the president and the mainstream media had taken advantage of the tragedy to launch a hysterical witch hunt against Arabic people and members of the Islamic religion. Even after the alleged perpetrators were rounded up, and they turned out to be native born, English- speaking, white-skinned all-American nuts, the anti-Arab and anti-immigrant propaganda continued.

If you look at the measures contained in the so called "anti- terrorist" legislation, very little of it has to do with combating "terrorism". The actual thrust of these laws, is to undermine the right to privacy, to abolish the right to a jury trial and the right to appeal - and generally to undermine the right of free speech and association. The ruling class politicians have taken advantage of the mass revulsion against the Oklahoma bombers, to move against democratic rights. Those first targeted, will be political refugees, like the Palestinian or Irish freedom fighters, and immigrant workers; but if the capitalists get away with this, it will be everyone's turn, soon enough.

It's worth considering whether or not any special "anti- terrorist" legislation is needed anyway. As far as I know, murder is illegal, bombing buildings is illegal, arson is illegal and blowing up airliners is illegal. Every violent act that a "terrorist" might want to commit, is in fact illegal. What the various new laws seek to prevent, is the advocacy of political positions.

Roy Inglee

Elsmere, Delaware

Devastation in Guatemala
This summer I had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala as a part of a human rights effort. If anyone wanted to see the devastating effects of capitalism run rampant, Guatemala is the place to go.

Unfortunately, if tourists visit this beautiful country, and they don't know or ask questions about the history, they would think Guatemala was a quaint little country blending the old with the new. They would see Mayan women walking in traditional dress with babies strapped to their backs, McDonalds, Taco Bell, and Toys-R-Us. The only visible indication of the struggle when I was there was the graffiti on the walls stating "Che Vive" or "URNG Vive." There was also a very obvious military presence. In fact, there is one soldier for every 200 people, while doctors are rare; about one for every 2,000.

The brutal effects of the 36-year-long war started by the United Fruit Company and the CIA is unimaginable, particularly to the indigenous population, which makes up 65 percent of the population. Approximately 800 massacres have occurred, and over 150,000 people, mostly civilians, have lost their lives. Many more have been permanently disabled by torture and lost homes and crops through the military scorch and burn practice.

Where are all the revolutionary thinkers, workers and groups of the world in speaking out against the atrocities committed against the indigenous people of the world, especially in Central America? A similar struggle is occurring in Chiapas, Mexico. Shouldn't we be asking them and ourselves what we can do to support the EZLN in their struggle?

As an indigenous person, I feel we are often ignored and caught in the middle with no real understanding of the situation. Sometimes because of our isolation and ignorance we are even manipulated to the side of the oppressor only to end up in a worse situation.

Roxanne Gould

Sioux City

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