Regulations to Curb Excesses

* Re “These Messes Are What Deregulation Gets Us,” Commentary, Dec. 26:

Robert Scheer argued that capitalism is falling apart and more government regulation is needed. Inasmuch as we enjoy low inflation, low unemployment, high productivity and have had a long period of growing GDP (gross domestic product), it seems to me the glass is at least three-quarters full.

Governmental regulating agencies are usually dominated by special interests such as industries and unions. Congressional legislation in 1963 mandated that the Food and Drug Administration was to protect the American drug industry, and there is ample evidence that it has done so, as drug prices are high, importation of drugs from other countries is stifled and many FDA executives were formerly employed by drug companies.

It seems the regulatory agencies are foxes guarding the henhouses.

BOB SPENCER

Santa Monica

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Thank you, Robert Scheer, for reminding us of the reasons we need federal government regulation as this new Bush administration, heavy with “true believers” in unregulated markets, moves into power.

It was only six years ago that Newt Gingrich, flushed with power as House majority leader, assured his followers that he planned to kill all kinds of federal programs and departments (Education, Energy, Commerce, PBS, etc.) simply by having the House “defund” them--an action the House can take no matter what the Senate--or the president--says.

JUNE MAGUIRE

Mission Viejo

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Deregulated utilities and energy companies fleecing customers. Tire companies selling products that kill and maim. Pharmaceutical companies selling products that kill and injure. Tobacco company executives lying about the hazards of their lethal product and targeting children. Maybe free enterprise isn’t so free, after all.

JIM TROMBELLA

Santa Barbara

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I have one question about the coming increase in retail power prices. Since the rate freeze was a quid pro quo for the utilities getting 100% reimbursement for their stranded investments, does that now mean that the “competition transition charge” will disappear from our bills? If not, why not?

Why should we have to reimburse the utilities for their stranded costs when they don’t feel that they have to live up to their part of the bargain, which was the rate freeze?

HARVEY KAPLOWITZ

Bellflower

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I find it ironic that a year ago we awaited the arrival of the Y2K bug with some concern about possible power grid failures and energy blackouts. Now, almost exactly a year later as we approach the millennium, citizens of Southern California are facing a much more serious threat of electric and/or natural gas power outages or rolling brown-outs!

DAVE ALPERT

Los Angeles