Dole on Drug War, Moral Decline

Re “Dole Assails Clinton’s Record in War on Drugs,” Aug. 26:

Well, leave it to the Dole strategists to realize that what we need right now is a good old-fashioned war we can feel great about! Within his first 45 days in office, right after he cuts our taxes by 15%, he’ll use his executive powers to mobilize our armed forces, round up the National Guard, maybe even deputize a posse or two and launch an all-out assault on .J.J. America! Well, not the “heartland” perhaps, where lumpen couch potatoes eat up this kind of wretched rhetoric, but urban America where the evil drug forces dwell.

A tax cut and martial law; who could ask for anything more? Although originally applied to different circumstances, once again I am reminded of Walt Kelly’s now famous Pogo-ism, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

DAN GERRITY

West Hollywood

* Re “End of the Dream? These Are the Good Old Days,” Opinion, Aug. 25:

Bruce Schulman quotes Bob Dole out of context to make it appear that Dole was comparing the whole of the past against the whole of the present. Those of us who listened to Dole’s acceptance speech know he forthrightly stated that many things have improved since the olden days, for example the struggle for civil rights. Dole was explicit in saying that certain moral values have declined since he was a young man, and carefully listed them. As for Rep. John Lewis’ (D-Ga.) terrible tale of having to grow up with a shotgun always to hand, tell me, Mr. Schulman, were those Republicans out there in those sheets, or registered Democrats?

Schulman’s canard that the VA and the GI Bill are welfare is an insult to every veteran who has served his country, and to every American as well. After the war, a grateful America bestowed financial rewards on its veterans, while at the same time wisely investing in the country’s future. Compare that to the current liberal welfare state, where millions of people are induced to live nonproductive lives on the dole. Any American capable of seeing reality as it is understands where Dole is coming from, regardless of attempts by liberal shills like Schulman to convince them otherwise.

ANDREW ROBINSON

Sun Valley

* Walter Russell Mead’s discussion of Dole’s 15% tax cut proposal has two major faults (Opinion, Aug. 25). He failed to mention the national debt! What effect would a tax cut have on our massive debt and the extraordinary interest for which taxpayers are responsible?

Additionally, Mead neglects the concept of savings. What effect would increased money, either in savings accounts or investments that are “safe and in growing areas,” have on our economy?

MICHAEL H. SUKOFF

Tustin