Gates and Block

Reading the reasoned, thoughtful colloquy on the root causes of the tidal wave of crime now engulfing the community and the nation (Daryl F. Gates, Sherman Block interviews, “The Prospect of Class Warfare,” Metro, Dec. 14) one cannot help but marvel that the two presidential contenders in 1988 could find little more pressing to discuss than flag-burning and ACLU membership! Too distant from the real world where Gates and Block live, no doubt.

Now the national ‘drug czar’ pronounces the war on that front is well in hand and, having declared victory, resigns. Rewarded for this achievement by a grateful President with nomination as chairman of the Republican Party’s National Committee, he (declines it), explaining the job would foreclose the possibility of making some serious money. “I haven’t taken a vow of poverty,” he says as his terminal comment on the ideal of public service.

It’s been said that all politics is local.” Maybe we need to pay more attention to local authorities who are on the front line of our unraveling society.

J.F. BECK

Encino