Dear Editor,

In the 1920s and 30s, a dozen governors were elected as Socialists. It's possible that Socialist Upton Sinclair would have won the California governorship if it weren't for newspaper Hearst's concerted smear campaign against him. Socialist Eugene V. Debbs -- while in prison for talking against President Wilson's war mongering -- got a million votes.

What frightened the Banksters was not the spector of a Communist dictatorship in this country -- we love dictators when they slaughter their citizens to preserve corporate profits -- but of the working class demanding its fair share. An attempted coup in the 1930s against FDR, backed by big money, was uncovered by Major General Smedley Butler and evidence brought before Congress. The investigation was quashed.

In 2008, I voted my conscience. I voted for Ralph Nader because he didn't use cliches or appeal to false pride by waving the American Flag, he wasn't an insider and he had a history of helping the American people. Calling Obama a Socialist demonstrates a lack of historical education. Most text books are carefully screened to reflect the needs of the oligarchy.

Whether it's Romney or Obama, the flailing of the American people will continue unabated.

Carl Bosco, Oakhurst