Anger at Government

Virginia Postrel’s Column Right (“Voters to Government: Back Off!,” Nov. 1) makes about as good a case against government-dictated regulations as any right column can make--and it’s a very weak case indeed. Postrel writes from the point of view of the business community, which is fair enough. But she lets that segment of society off a bit too easily.

What that faction wants of government is more than cutting down on red tape or on the number of forms to fill. It’s against annoying snoopers poking into meat processing plants to check for standards of cleanliness; it’s against being bugged by pesky intruders who claim it’s not nice to dump poisonous byproducts in the nearest river, or fill the skies with noxious fumes emanating from smokestacks. In short, it considers regulations to ensure the health and safety of the public as “government harassment”!

Yes, Virginia, there are people who want freedom from regulations that would put a crimp into profits, which is like asking for year-round Christmas.

MEL TOLKIN

Beverly Hills