First let me me say that without knowing the details of Mr. Santos' felonious behavior, a forty-five year sentence seems excessive. Still one must be aware that Cocaine 'distribution' does not exist out of context and is not a benign professsion. His tears of joy over Clinton's election suggest to me that like many Americans he was seduced by that gentleman. In the primary season, Governor Clinton allowed the death penalty to be administerd to a retarded black man so he could not be labelled soft on crime. As far as the Willie Horton add; the issue was brought up by another Democrat in the primary season. That democrat would become vice-president. Now, why would Open Democracy publish this piece. The suggestion that editors seek out various perspectives does not cut it here. Why this perspective and why this gentleman ... Of course the reasons are both obvious and nearly insufferable. Many of the editorial choices here reflect simplistic agendas and a taste for mediocrity. And it is not pleasant to be patronized by pat answers, such as, ''welcome to the discussion.'' There was a piece published earlier by a gentleman in flight over America suggesting an encroaching police state. In fact the piece was more a vehicle for that gentleman to let us know how 'hip' he was in his admiration for Woody Guthrie and to suggest his virility by telling us of his fantasies of physically assaulting a security person at the airport. Self-indulgence, poor style and poor argumentation. At least the notion of America as police state was presented. The author had his agenda and the editors of Open Democracy had theirs. I do not mind various positions, but would not it be wise to seek out more worthy contributors .... Perhaps they are difficult to find or perhaps the editors see these choices as worthy of merit .... Let us not pretend though that there is a substantial openess involved here. Exceptions to the rule will not suffice as cover ....