George,

Some parents may choose to require their children to use the particular forms of expression that, to them, denote courtesy, good manners. Others may prefer genuine courtesy, not the rote words that often do not express courtesy at all. In any case, only states with totalitarian tendencies pass laws to enforce what they think of as courtesy and good manners. How did this subject get into the Democratic Party dialogue anyway?

Paul Gaston (electronic mail, March 20, 2000).