Excu-use me? Such letters have been urged upon me by the ACLU, Social Security protection groups, pro-choice organizations, anti-war organizations, etc., etc. It's convenient and economical of busy people's time, most of which is spent trying to make ends meet. No one must use them; but they are, nonetheless, a tool used by all sides of the political spectrum. Better those, perhaps, than nothing.
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Jonathan Julius Dobkin
  To: [log in to unmask]
  Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2003 12:09 PM
  Subject: Re: [CHOMSKY] Astroturf


  Nobody who does this is on "my side," because I know how dishonest (as
  well as damned lazy!) it is to pass off somebody else's letter, word-
  for-word, as my own.

  Those who do this are cynical political manipulators, and it is just
  such politicians who have corrupted & destroyed democracy. I am very
  sorry that you would sink to such a level--and speaking as somebody who
  still has standards, I strongly resent your attempt to identify me with
  your own lack of integrity: say "my side" if you must, but not "our
  side." Leave me out of it!

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: llevitt <[log in to unmask]>
  Date: Saturday, January 18, 2003 12:25 pm
  Subject: Re: [CHOMSKY] Astroturf: identical pro-Bush letters to the
  editor

  > "Our side" uses boilerplate to aid and facilitate letter-writing
  > campaigns. So it's no coincidence, not untoward, and not to be
  > sneered at that the right does the same. They are involved in
  > their causes, no matter how wrongheaded we may think them, and
  > disciplined.  ----- Original Message -----
  >  From: Jonathan Julius Dobkin
  >  To: [log in to unmask]
  >  Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 2:09 PM
  >  Subject: [CHOMSKY] Astroturf: identical pro-Bush letters to the
  > editor
  >
  >  Hey folks, here's a fun experiment you can try! Just put the
  > following  line into Google's search window ("google it" as the
  > kids say nowadays):
  >
  >  "genuine leadership" "Contrary to the class warfare rhetoric"
  >
  >  Now see all the virtually identical letters to the editor, in papers
  >  across the country, supposedly from different people, hailing Bush's
  >  economic plan for its benefits to the middle class. What an amazing
  >  coincidence that they all independently wrote the same letter!
  >
  >  -Jay
  >