We need new ‘-isms’ for political systems
I will not argue with Eric Ventimiglia’s critique of the extant or defunct socialist systems in his national guest commentary (“Socialism doesn’t work. History proves it,” Aug. 24). Indeed, I believe they failed. At the same time, I cannot accept his praise for the capitalist system as it has evolved.
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There are many reasons that lead one to think that capitalism is the best system, as Adam Smith and David Ricardo envisioned.
However, one must also consider Smith’s caveats which the commentary neglects to mention. Adam Smith warned us that regulations must exist in order for the system to work. Unfortunately, under Reagan’s premise that “government is the problem” and the neoliberal policies of supply-side, trickle-down economics that both parties espoused, I believe we have watched capitalism evolve into a legalized bribery and oligarchic plutocracy.
I am not sure where we go from here. Clearly, our system is not working for the majority of the people. With no adequate regulations it has gone awry. Can it correct itself as it has done in the past?
Various politico-economic systems have evolved through the ages. Feudalism came and left. So did mercantilism and agrarian capitalism. All -isms have their day in the sun, decline and new systems emerge.
I believe we are seeing new “-isms” created, discarding the faults of the old ones but combining their advantages. Artificial intelligence can help, if we use it wisely.
— Elias Vernikos, Winter Springs
Avoid old labels
As I read the opposite viewpoints in the Aug. 24 paper, “Socialism doesn’t work. History proves it” vs. “Pundits call it socialism, but many Americans call it common sense,” my conclusion is that our propensity to label one another is the real issue. It seems to generate the distrust and anger expressed by many toward those with opposing viewpoints. You are either a socialist or capitalist, Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, woke or anti-woke, wealthy or poor.
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It seems that once you are labeled, you automatically despise those who are labeled the opposite. In reality, I believe most of us are somewhere in the middle of these labels with much more in common than our labels would indicate. If we can raise our sights to focus more on our mutual love for our country, voting for candidates who pursue the highest good for each American, and working with our global partners for positive outcomes, I believe our country and world will be a much better place.
How about we establish new monikers reflecting that we all have complex ideas and stands that do not fit into the usual labels and that will not force us to behave in a manner dictated by the label to which we have been assigned? Personally, I like “capisoist” (capitalist + socialist), “demorican” (Democrat + Republican), “conserberal” (conservative + liberal)… or maybe get rid of the labels altogether.
— Gloria Groome, Windermere
Trump’s naming obsession
The president’s insatiable thirst to see his name on any and everything seemingly can’t be quenched. In my opinion, Donald Trump might be addicted to changing the name of American institutions, bodies of water and just about anything or person his malicious and grandiose mind focuses upon.
It may be that he didn’t get enough love from his father as a child or during adulthood because he constantly plasters his name on anything he thinks he has control of, whether allowed or not. Our nation’s capital is besmirched, on his say-so, with signs and banners bearing his likeness and name. The hotels and buildings (that he does not actually own) proclaim “Trump” under licensing agreements. He has no authority to, as he is currently threatening to do, rename Lake Ontario (to provoke Canada) just as he has no authority to rename the Gulf of Mexico (to punish Mexico over some imaginary slight) or the Department of Defense because Pete Hegseth suggested it.
Then there are the hundreds of people whom he has childishly insulted by mispronouncing or slandering their names. Trump will depart sooner or later, the banners will be torn down and much of his petty talk will be and should be forgotten. Hopefully, the harsh lessons Americans have learned from electing a man I see as a cretin to high office will be remembered.
— David Kahn, Boca Raton
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