Socialist policies have succeeded and endured
Dumont, N.J.: To Voicer Charles T. Compton: Thank you for your well-researched and erudite response to my letter on democratic socialism. I stand by my comments about leadership in Nordic countries like Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden and The Netherlands.
Your comment, Mr. Compton, that my comments are inaccurate is highly inaccurate. Your transgression back to the ’60s and on through the ’90s and 2005, cherry-picking the hiccups the above-referenced countries experienced while evolving into their current status as democratic-socialist nations, is proof positive that democratic socialism works. You contradict yourself when you say that “center-right reforms like reduced taxes” were enacted, while stating in the same paragraph that the middle classes pay taxes at a nearly 60% rate in those countries, casually omitting that those tax rates are progressive, and 50-55% is the high end of their income tax rates.
Feel free to try to explain to me how the democratic-socialist policies are “center-right.” I have yet to hear one Republican in our country call for our tax dollars to fund our higher education and health care. Isn’t that what democratic socialism is all about — using our tax dollars to support ourselves?
And the aforementioned happiest countries on the planet do enjoy guaranteed minimum wages, albeit not government-mandated minimum wages. The annual minimum wages of these countries is determined through collective bargaining negotiations and agreements between companies and employees in every sector of private industry, once again proving that democratic socialism works for those countries in its current form. Josephine Kay
Left of our left
Bronx: So, the Scandinavian “center-right” reforms cited by Voicer Charles T. Compton still include pensions and health care for everyone as part of a strong social welfare safety net paid for by taxes as high as 60%. This puts them far to the left of many of our country’s Democrats. Some of them in the Senate just voted to reopen the government without any assurance that the Affordable Care Act will remain affordable. Richard Warren
Led to defeat
Manhattan: Sen. Chuck Schumer once again betrayed Democrats by caving to pressure from MAGA Republicans to reopen the government in exchange for an empty promise of a future vote on extension of ACA tax credits. If the vote even happens, the GOP majority will vote it down and millions of Americans will lose their health care. Hospitals will be forced to close. While Schumer voted no on this false deal, he was only able to because he’d already made a deal with Democratic senators who weren’t running for reelection to vote yes. Those eight senators wouldn’t have joined with Republicans if their leader hadn’t agreed that they should. It’s time for Schumer to resign and make way for a leader who can make the Democrats a true opposition party, willing and able to stand up to President Trump’s authoritarian cruelty, and strengthen our fragile social safety nets before they disappear entirely. Lynn Walker
Staying optimistic
Smithfield, R.I.: Say what you will about the orange guy, the portfolio thus far has done well. And if he appoints Rick Rieder as Federal Reserve chief in the middle of next year, I will be the first to proclaim hope for him as a truly freedom-loving politician. Impossible, you say?! I am hopeful! We shall see — and know very soon. Stephen De Falco
Devoid of honor
Whitestone: Isn’t it rich? Trump was at Arlington National Cemetery to honor military veterans on Veterans Day. Here’s a draft-dodging coward who said that dead heroes in hallowed ground were “suckers and losers.” How do any Americans, especially veterans, tolerate the hypocrisy of such a pathetic, hollow man? Dorothy Lyons
Extreme apathy
Yonkers: To Voicer Bob Pascarella: Yes, I’m very satisfied with the election results. You called Zohran Mamdani an extremist. Well, then what the hell would you call Trump? He is going to the extreme of keeping us hungry and sick. You can keep your fists up until the cows come home! Wanda White
Not the end of the world
Bayside: Well, most of us are unsurprised by Mamdani winning the election and unimpressed with his victory speech. We know he doesn’t have the power to keep his campaign promises, and his threats against the rule of law are merely playing to his base. NYC survived John Lindsay, David Dinkins, Bill de Blasio and Mayor Adams. We also survived Tammany Hall shenanigans a century and a half ago. We’ll still be here in four years. Margaret Dabraccio
Folly of youth
Richmond Hill: This mayoral election proves how correct former Vice President Kamala Harris was when she referred to young people: “What else do we know about this population, 18-24? They are stupid! That is why we put them in dormitories and they have a resident assistant. They make really bad decisions!” When I was able to cast my first vote 63 years ago, you had to be 21 to vote. It should return to that or even be increased! Socialism/communism has never been, nor will ever be, successful. This has been proved throughout history. And I will add the words of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher: “There is no such thing as ‘safe’ socialism. If it’s safe, it’s not socialism. And if it’s socialism, it’s not safe. The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” Joseph Napoleone
Very different things
Garden City, L.I.: Apparently, quite a few people are using communism and socialism interchangeably these days. They couldn’t be farther apart. In a nutshell, under communist rule, you work for the government. Under socialist rule, the government works for the people. Under communism, you own nothing and the government owns everything. Socialists keep their stuff. No religion under communists — just do what the state tells you to do. Socialists, feel free to pray. In communism, a select few choose themselves to run your life. Socialists elect their leaders. What’s happening in Washington right now is very close to a communist regime in every sense of the word. Leadership, fairness and civility needs to be returned to the people. Paul Falabella
Targeted population
Pleasantville, N.Y.: I take it that Voicer Richie Nagan didn’t hear about the attacks on Jews abroad for the last two years in response to how Israel was handling the situation in Gaza. There were a lot of times where Jews were either assaulted or just intimidated by whoever didn’t like what Israel was doing. Also, a lot of synagogues and properties owned by Jews were vandalized. In other words, it’s one thing to be against a country’s policy, but it’s another thing to attack its people as a whole, so relating anti-Zionism to antisemitism isn’t as farfetched as it seems to be. Meanwhile, I have hardly heard about Russian people being attacked as a whole for what is going on in Ukraine, or even Muslims abroad for the actions of Hamas, for that matter, unlike what’s going on with the Jews over Israel. Tal Barzilai
Lowest of the low
Hoffman Estates, Ill.: I’m appalled at pictures from Chicago showing ICE personnel pointing their guns at protesters and onlookers. Is there any reason the ICE cohort is issued guns at all? The Atlantic reports that one-third of aspiring ICE cops fail the minimal physical requirements (15 pushups, 32 sit-ups, 1.5 miles in 14 minutes). In fact, ICE had to ease the requirements to attract more recruits. The agency may be luring the type of people who live in their mother’s basement, watch porn until the wee hours, play Mortal Kombat on a split screen and microwave corndogs for nourishment. Videos of these cops in action seem to show the doughy faces and sagging bellies of the aforementioned fumbling arrests of mostly innocent folks. That’s not the kind of people I want enforcing our laws and toting firearms on our streets. They seem to be a joke. Comedy cops. Jim Arneberg
Pursue peace
Levittown, L.I.: We don’t need to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. What we do need is a Department of Peace. John Di Milia
