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Government by the People

You got it right with your cover headline, "It's the Voters, Stupid. Forget the experts. Forget the polls. Forget the TV ads" [Jan. 21]. What the primary results from New Hampshire showed, once again, is the arrogance of the national media--especially television news, which continues to believe that it's the story. The press seemed downright insulted that the voters of New Hampshire didn't vote the way the commentators and pollsters said they would. It's long past time that the talking heads acknowledge they don't have any more political insight than do the schoolteacher and garage mechanic pulling the lever in the voting booth. Frank Maurizio SCHENECTADY, N.Y.

Your summary of the New Hampshire election slighted John Edwards. He has neither Clinton's baggage nor Obama's inexperience, and he deserves better coverage of his excellent proposals. Ruth Troetschler, LOS ALTOS, CALIF.

I got a little weary of hearing about Senator Hillary Clinton's so-called victory in the New Hampshire primary. Clinton and Barack Obama each garnered nine delegates from New Hampshire. That's called a tie. Did the Clinton campaign buy off every media outlet to proclaim Clinton's Lazarus-like resurrection, her stunning victory, her overwhelming come-from-behind triumph? H. David Goldsmith CHATHAM, ONT.

The pundits and newscasters were practically slobbering over Clinton's projected defeat and could barely wait to crown Obama the winner long before the polls closed. Obama is smart, attractive, likable and a fabulous orator, but we need much more than beautiful speeches. Clinton's credentials are excellent. By happenstance, she would be the first woman President of the most powerful nation on earth. Talk about change. Bambi Lin Litchman TACOMA, WASH.

Governor Bill Richardson is another example of a candidate dropping out owing to polls and limited media coverage. It seems that the top three polled contenders receive the most press coverage, so the others don't have an equal opportunity to reach voters. Years ago, presidential candidates were picked at their party conventions. Now they're chosen during caucuses and primaries, and the conventions are just big shows. People must be informed about all the contenders if they are to be involved in democracy. That happens only if the polls are put aside and all the candidates receive fair and equal media coverage. Randell Hansen, GOLD RIVER, CALIF.

Saved by Sentiment?

Although polls indicate that women were instrumental in Clinton's win in New Hampshire, I take exception to the premise that the majority of women were taken in when she showed emotion [Jan. 21]. My immediate reaction to the episode was that she was showing the frustration that had been building for days. Clinton is not a touchy-feely woman who has hidden her emotions all these years. She is cold and calculating, and I'm sure in future months we will see the real lady, the one who will do anything to get the nomination. I doubt she will be able to maintain this new voice she says she has found. Susan Kraebber, WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.

So Hillary got choked up. So what? I'll take tearful any day. Look where irritable, angry and aggressive have gotten us. When women get tired and stressed, or worried about people and things they care deeply about, they tend to get tearful. Men, on the other hand, tend to get irritable, angry and aggressive (especially when they're in over their head). We need to be concerned about things worse than tears. Shelley Van Kempren DIAMOND POINT, N.Y.

All the talk about Clinton's tears winning over the women of New Hampshire may be partly right, but focusing on her emotional moment misses another factor. I suspect that the idiots at Clinton's campaign stop who yelled "Iron my shirt!" did more to turn women Clinton's way. Gerry Turgeon, ROCHESTER HILLS, MICH.

A Diplomat's Doings

I nostalgically enjoyed 10 questions with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright [Jan. 21]. She is right that the world has been seriously damaged by the current Administration and that the next President, whoever that poor soul may be, will have an extraordinary amount of cleaning up to do. I find it amazing that the Secretary is able to convey her feelings without rancor, hostility or bitterness. That's the mark of a true diplomat. I did not realize at the time how wonderful it was to have a prudent, wise, cautious, intelligent individual like her in office. The cowboys and cowgirls who took over demonstrated how quickly they could squander our nation's prestige in the world. Oren M. Spiegler, UPPER SAINT CLAIR, PA.

Albright cited Kosovo as the greatest achievement of her career as Secretary of State. It might be too early to know what has been achieved in Kosovo. It was the first act of the U.S. in the post--cold war era by which military action was used as a human-rights tool, and it opened a Pandora's box. The outcome may be that the U.S. has gained a few million new friends but even more enemies. It might be too early to call the operation a success. Drasko Jovanovic, PORTLAND, ORE.

The Root of Kenya's Chaos

As a Kenyan, I was troubled by "The Demons That Still Haunt Africa," which distorted the situation in Kenya either out of ignorance or in keeping with the Western media's romance with the bleak face of Africa [Jan. 21]. The postelection skirmishes in Kenya are not a natural consequence of poverty. Kenyans have been poor but peaceful for decades. Rather, the protests are the language of the weak against a regime that rigged itself into power. Second, tribalism is not the brainchild of Kenya's first President; it started with the imperial British driving wedges between people to facilitate colonization. It was later perfected by myopic postcolonial leaders. And developed countries like the U.S. are not half as enthusiastic about a stable democratic Africa as they are about forging partnerships against terrorism and for their multinational corporations. Rich nations are very much a part of the demons that haunt Africa. Mark Evans Ondari, EAST LANSING, MICH.

You fell short of reminding readers that the same demons haunt Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas--they arise from the evil in human nature. And by the way, Kenya is not Africa's sole "island of stability." You have only to look at my home country, Ghana. Africa has been marginalized in the American media except when it comes to bloodshed. Unfortunately, you affect Africa's efforts toward development as much by what you choose not to report. William K. Agadzi, WORCESTER, MASS.

Locavores vs. Distavores

I'm sorry that the local-food movement is cramping Joel Stein's style [Jan. 21]. But just because 100 miles (160 km) has been used as an arbitrary procurement distance doesn't mean that people who try to eat locally walk around the supermarket with a GPS unit. I still enjoy bananas and coffee, and I have no problem drinking beer that comes from--gasp!--California. The point of eating locally is to become more familiar with our food. It's nice to hear a farmer say that my rib-eye steak came from a cow that ate local pasture grass rather than a corn-and-antibiotic slurry. Ben Kraft, ANN ARBOR, MICH.

If I were to limit my food choices to locally produced items, my diet some months would be based on dairy, eggs, chicken and frozen vegetables--not the most healthful or interesting food plan. And I am keenly aware of the premium I pay at farm stands. Farm-to-table advocates might win more converts by focusing less on chastising consumers for purchasing convenient and economical foods and more on making those choices available to all. Sam Manbeck, YORK, PA.

Stein's rant against Locavores only emphasized how some Americans have become spoiled brats. "I want Alaskan salmon, truffles from Europe, a bottle of Beaujolais, a damn pineapple." I want, I want, I want. Considering that two-thirds of our nation's adults are overweight and our children are facing a shorter life expectancy, perhaps a few more carrots and fewer imported bottles of wine are just what the country needs. Nick Jensen, CAMPBELL, CALIF.

I sympathize with Stein's tongue-in-cheek intolerance of locavore fundamentalism. Avoiding Ethiopian coffee, Italian olive oil and Indian mangoes is a recipe for both a bland and boring diet and harmful, protectionist trade policies. There is no reason we can't eat fresh, local carrots that are seasoned with saffron from across the world. In doing so we blend cultures the way only good eating can. Susan R. Holmberg, NEW YORK CITY

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