LETTERS
Middle East
Re Eldon Griffiths’ March 29 Viewpoint, “Another Promised Land?”:
It’s about time someone expressed a little optimism over the Middle East. To be negative and critical is easy.
I think Eldon has “nailed it,” by George, and thanks for doing so.
Marc Sarbarneck
Costa Mesa
There are people quick to criticize Israel for the assassination of Palestinian terrorist leader Yassin, as well as condemn President Bush for aggressively confronting Saddam Hussein by declaring war on Iraq. Yet, if people worldwide ever are to feel safe again, terrorism must be aggressively attacked and completely eliminated.
That will not happen if we continue to concede to terrorist demands and allow the fear of their threats to manipulate our decisions.
With that in mind, I will continue to support leaders who courageously and aggressively fight terrorism and I will question the wisdom of any who hinder them or suggest anything less.
Bonnie O’Neil
Newport Beach
The FDA
The Food and Drug Administration now is seeking to expand its considerable powers into the regulation of vitamins and nutritional supplements.
The FDA evidently has discovered that Americans, after centuries of experience doing so, now cannot be counted on to take vitamins or dietary supplements without poisoning or killing themselves.
We all should use informed and discriminating judgment before gulping down a tonic that claims effortless weight loss while turning us into Don Juans who will live forever. If some consumers recklessly disregard such caution, no federal agency can help them. If consumer health is destroyed by the willful malfeasance of a vitamin manufacturer, whole armies of trial lawyers stand ready to help put those firms out of business.
Assuming that many of these products do enhance the health of Americans, we will become less healthy when the FDA starts regulating them.
Today the FDA adds billions of dollars to the cost of drugs. The FDA often needlessly delays the availability of new drugs for years. This probably has prevented some accidents. But at what cost? The first principle of medicine is “do no harm.” What is the cost to our health of keeping many drugs off the market, and adding greatly to the cost of the drugs that survive?
Americans should not be asking what vast new areas of our lives require FDA regulation. We need to be asking how much less the FDA should be doing.
Richard E. Ralston
Executive Director
Americans for Free Choice in Medicine
Newport Beach
Trade Policies
Our trade policies are plain wrong.
As loony as some people think Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot are, they were right!,Buchanan for caring about “America first” and Perot for his anti-NAFTA “sucking sound” remarks.
Outsourcing and the tax benefits of doing so are part and parcel of our misguided policies. Our educational system has been hijacked by foreigners, who go back to their native lands to do the high-tech development with their low-tech labor forces.
Our trade agreements need to be reviewed and changed. The Democrats can make hay with this one if they are smart but don’t count on that. President Bush, being stubborn, will allow this to come back to haunt our country.
Barry M. Gold
Irvine
Dugout Dissension
I note that you went with your best lineup on the Comment page last week to coincide with the opening of the baseball season:
1. Rick Reiff, leadoff sparkplug.
2. Dr. Mike, hits singles and sacrifices.
3. Argus Hamilton, sprays to all fields but strikes out a lot.
4. Howard Fine, power hitter who drives home points.
And on the bench where he belongs, Sir Eldon.
Michael Glueck
Armchair Manager
Newport Beach
