Readers write: Positive views of China and Puerto Rico, and portrayal of socialism
Positive views of China, Puerto Rico
Many thanks for The Monitor鈥檚 View articles 鈥淚n China, a great leap in corporate governance鈥� and 鈥淧uerto Rico says 鈥楥ome on down!鈥� 鈥� in the Sept. 24 Weekly Print Edition. To read two really positive articles relating to areas that in most news reports tend to be negative was so refreshing. Jack Ma in China exhibits such a strong business ethic of freedom from family domination in his immense online shopping market, Alibaba.聽
Then to discover the growing inner spirit of courage and determination in Puerto Rico, in what many see as a hapless area following the disastrous effects of hurricane Maria and the halfhearted assistance from prosperous America, warms the heart.聽
Puerto Ricans deserve to develop a profitable tourist trade that can bring employment to many of its needy populace.
David Barker
Barnstaple, England
Portrayal of socialism
I am a subscriber and appreciate the enlightened perspective of the Monitor, but I couldn鈥檛 be more disappointed with Mark Sappenfield鈥檚 editorial commentary, 鈥淭he triumph of gray,鈥� in the Oct. 15 issue.聽
Socialism is not 鈥渢he other extreme鈥� of capitalism. Socialism is exactly what the cover story by Mark Trumbull and Eoin O鈥機arroll is all about: placing some constraint on capitalism. Furthermore, the editorial cartoon about fish also foments an inaccurate illustration of socialism by suggesting it is 鈥渁 bit too far鈥� as though it is synonymous with communism.聽
The problem I am addressing is that by describing socialism this way, the Monitor reinforces the ignorant understanding of the term. I believe that socialism is, simply put, constraining capitalism to some degree for the good of the community. Even Adam Smith, the godfather of capitalism, realized that government needed to constrain greed to ensure honesty in the market. Now that really doesn鈥檛 sound so scary, does it?
John T. Spence
Covington, Ky.
