John Spain was definitely beating around the Bush in his analysis last week of President Bush’s victory. 

A few comments he made were striking. Stating that the New York, Washington and LA media have a liberal background is true, but the key word is “background,” as you would have to go back to previous decades in order for this statement to be true.

Certainly what is on view in the New York media today cannot be called liberal to anyone who has watched Fox, CNN, or any of the business cable channels recently. Only CBS is kinder to the Democratic point of view. 

It is probably true that middle America was a gentler and kinder place 25 years ago when Mr. Spain was there, but that was before the Reagan/Bush/Bush era. Civil rights may also have driven middle America into the Republican camp; let’s not be naive on that score. 

No one can dispute Mr. Spain’s contention “that societies evolve at their own pace.” If the British Lancet account of 100,000 dead Iraqi civilians is correct, they are certainly given the chance of evolving faster than they might have hoped. 

It is true that Mr. Bush is “a better bet for business.” I watched a government policy flack on TV recently as he addressed the business community, telling of donors who write checks and expect a return on their investment, and he emphasized that they are entitled to a return on their investment. Now we have government as a business concern with “return on investments.” 

Isn’t it great that corporations pay only 5.25% in tax on $350 billion on profits accumulated abroad? It is many moons ago since most of us were in that tax bracket, if we ever were. 

What about the rest of us who cannot write big checks? With jobs outsourced and the schools falling apart, with the only affordable choice in health insurance being HMOs (joining one of those is the equivalent of playing Russian roulette with your life), we can all sleep better knowing GOP donors/investors are getting a good return on their investment in the government. 

Finally, I wouldn’t be as smug as Mr. Spain was in his statement that “Bush is seen as the better bet for us.” Today’s country of outsourced jobs is tomorrow’s overpriced market, and the jobs are outsourced to a country where the corporations get a better deal. I seem to recall a business in Mayo closing, and those jobs being outsourced to Spain and Mexico. 

Ireland needs to develop it own economy based on local talent and entrepreneurship, and quit relying on jobs outsourced from America. That gravy train may end abruptly, leaving the Irish economy in shambles.

Anne Lavin. New York.