Dear Editor:

My thanks to Mrs. Shaw for her response to my letter. No doubt Glen Beck's income is substantial, he is over-the-top theatrically, emotionally and is probably certifiably crazy. The point is that this (and every) administration should be held accountable.

I remember a moment in civics class when the teacher said "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I had learned a powerful truth. How can it be forgotten? When checks and balances fail in government, just as when balance tips in nature, an avalanche of unintended circumstances ensues.

Glenn Beck presents facts that the "news agencies" won't report. He played a clip of White House Communications Director Anita Dunn telling a group of high school seniors that Mao Tse Tung and Mother Teresa are two of her favorite political philosophers, the two people she turns to most. Mao, who was responsible for the deaths of millions of his own people. Imagine that! The White House Communications Director!! That's just one. Look him up. Look her up.

People who would discredit those of us who are concerned call us paranoid. Our concerns do not compare to McCarthyism. These are confessions from their own mouths. McCarthyism was witchhunting. I certainly do not intend to be rude but somewhere between paranoia and rose colored glasses lies some "change" in progress about which we might someday wish we had opted for a heads up.

Yes, America will reawaken to the precepts and values that made her great. Pray the awakener is not another 9/11 - a clown will do.

A little aside - Mrs. Shaw mentioned paranoid people being afraid of things like black helicopters. It's been a few years since a long string of black helicopters lined up just above the tree line here in South Freestone County on FM 489 across the front of our property. (Yes, we have an Oakwood address). We jumped on the ATV and scooted out to see what the ruckus was about and as the pilots turned toward us so did their 50 caliber machine guns. We waved and watched as they lifted and moved over to repeat the exercise several times. There were lots of witnesses and lots of calls were received at the sheriff's office. It was with mixed feelings that we observed the exercise, good to know we are protected, and sad to know that we have to be. In reality I suppose the equipment was destined for either continued training or for other shores.

I hope, Mr. Reavis, that the people who read your article and Mrs. Shaw's letter will not be turned away from Fox and Glen Beck and others but will at least listen and make their own decision about the value of what they hear. Thank you for the opportunity to express an opinion.

Dorothy Cox

* * * * * Dear Editor:

One of my favorite sections of The Fairfield Recorder is the Letters to the Editor section. I am always glad to hear someone else's viewpoint on a given subject whether I agree with it or not. Most of the time I just read it and let it go, but sometimes I find that a reply is in order. Today's paper had a letter that definitely merits a reply.

I don't know Joy Shaw and she certainly has a right to her opinion, but she does need to get the facts straight.

Fact—Glenn Beck is not a reporter and his program is not a news program. It is a commentary program and he reminds his listeners daily. He wants you to know it.

Fact—I have watched his TV program since it first came on CNN, then FOX and I have never heard him say anything about "Masons, railroads, the pope, or guys in black helicopters being in league to destroy us and the country." Elected officials? Yep, I've heard him call them out and none of them have responded to his accusations that I am aware of. He has a dedicated line to the White House and Anita Dunn hasn't called on it yet.

Fact—Glenn Beck's web site is a free website. Go there and see for yourself. You can become a member and that will cost you, but you don't have to be a member if you don't want to. Where did you get the information that people had paid $3 million to visit his web site? Do what Glenn Beck does, "check your sources."

Fact—Glenn Beck has never had 80 sponsors to lose. Again, lady, "check your sources."

Fact—The last time I checked, we live in a capitalist business environment and if baseball players earn $10 million dollars a year, football players $78 million in five years, what is wrong with a news commentator earning $23 million in a year?

Fact—At least one of President Obama's czars was a self-admitted Communist (remember Van Jones?). Beck has shown video clips in their own words of at least four others in President Obama's administration professing their allegiance to Marxism.

Fact—I remember when Joe McCarthy was running his investigations and he exposed Communists in Hollywood and in Washington. I don't have to rely on Google to tell me about McCarthy, I listened to him on live radio and read about his activities on the front pages of the Dallas Morning News. History has proven him to be correct in his accusations.

My wife just asked me why I get involved in Letters to the Editor and my answer is "This country is in the mess it is in now because others don't get involved."

As Joe Friday would say, "The facts, ma'am, just the facts."

Jim Gazzaway Fairfield