To the Editors at the New York Times:

I was entirely shocked to find that Thomas Friedman’s recent editorial on American Democracy was not only read by your editors… but thought good enough to publish. To borrow a bit of modern vernacular, WTF.

Friedman is, of course, entitled to his opinion — as are your editors. This does not, however, entitle them to their own facts, their own version of history, or their own logic.

In order to accept Friedman’s argument, one must conclude that there is some great difference from one-party rule in China… and one-party rule in America — as if the Chinese leadership never had a difference of opinion. He goes on to praise the expediency of the Chinese political system while neglecting to point out just how quickly congress can pass a 2+ trillion dollar ‘stimulus’ bill… or just how damaging political expedience can be for future generations. Embarrassing omissions if you ask me.

And if these gross omissions were not enough, Friedman had the audacity to blame Republicans for the legislative sluggishness–even though Obama doesn’t need one Republican vote to pass anything. Supposedly its twice as hard to pass bills with your political allies than with your adversaries (who knew!?). And I guess republicans are the bad guy for saying ‘no’ even though Obama was the one who shut them down originally by saying “I won”.

Friedman simultaneously says the GOP “used to be the party of business” and then hails Obama for stealing all their latest ideas (after campaigning against each and every one of them). He cries foul when Republicans “scream socialism” even while admitting that health care will be transferred from private businesses to government control. (I suppose it is the opposition to socialism Friedman finds so problematic — not the accuracy of the criticism). He imagines that Globalization has neutered the Republican party even though Republicans championed free trade and are now enjoying its benefits.

Oh, and I guess Republicans are hypocrites to vote against a socialistic health care bill if it in any way incorporates some abstract tax balancing notion they once championed.  McCain’s plan to tax both public and private insurance equally was contingent on the encouragement of private plans… not the expansion of a federal one… (a nuance lost of Friedman).  If Republicans were ever hypocrites, it was passing the prescription drug bill for seniors under the Bush administration, not standing up to massive government programs on this occasion.

And then there was the gratuitous dig on Sarah Palin’s “Drill Baby Drill” comment.  Mr. Friedman, please do us all a favor and grow up already.  I expect this sort of vacuous disparagement from insecure teens needing personal validation, not respected editorialists (oh wait…)

Next time you write or publish an op-ed piece in your paper, make sure it doesn’t insult the intelligence of your readers.  Hey, it might even help you sell a few more copies!