Marx Is Dead; Invest in Americans

Whatever inspired you to give such prominence to shopworn liberal drivel like “Class Dismissed” by Neal Gabler (Opinion, Jan. 27)?

From its contention that the American public has been “brainwashed” to its specious claim that the purpose of the tax code is as a “tool for correcting an imbalance” (in reality, most Americans consider that the purpose of taxes is to provide defense and various social services), this piece simply restates the liberal belief that the populace is ignorant of its own best interests and somehow must be brought to enlightenment by an intellectual (liberal) elite.

I’m not surprised the author is a fellow at the Norman Lear Center, though Norman Lear might well think twice before turning his back on a system that turned him into a multimillionaire.

Robert Waterbor

Rancho Mirage

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Gabler overlooks the views of Ralph Nader, which are shared by many Democrats who would not vote for Nader but nevertheless believe our society is in a state of capitalism with a vengeance, where the richest reap the most rewards. The current patriotic fever makes those who utter such statements appear suspiciously antipatriotic.

Trickle-down theory is a joke to the homeless on the streets of L.A. The millions who do not have any health insurance also are aware of the fact that the rich never worry about health care.

Anyone who is not rich who votes Republican deserves to pay for the free ride the very rich are getting on the backs of the middle class. We will see if the single-issue voters who vote Republican think the same come November.

Mary Ann Gilmour

Whittier

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Gabler is correct in 5% of his article on class conflict. There are, indeed, many anecdotes like mine. My wonderful father was a butcher who taught me that hard work, intelligence and education could make me a millionaire. I fulfilled our “dream.” Gabler is also correct that it isn’t intelligence alone that made me a success. I am dumb enough to think that Karl Marx had died long ago, but Gabler’s diatribe proves me wrong.

Saul H. Sanders

Palos Verdes Estates

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After reading “Class Dismissed,” I thank the Social Security system for benefits to my mother on my behalf because I was a minor when my father died, thank the public schools and universities and the taxpayers for my education, thank the G.I. Bill for its financial assistance to my education and, finally, of all governmental institutions, I thank the IRS, which provided an excellent opportunity to tax-defer some of my income for a secure retirement, through the powerful 403(b) plan. I am proud of the help of the government and these wonderful programs that leveled the playing field so I could have a shot and ultimately succeed at going from a have-not to a have.

Gabler courageously and accurately outlined that investing in Americans, public institutions and infrastructure is the best investment we can make.

Stephen A. Schullo

Los Angeles