Rug Seller Exploiting Waterlogged Neighbors

I’m really hoping your “Rug Dealer Sitting Pretty” (Sept. 16) was meant in sarcasm and not a glowing affirmation of capitalism at its best.

It’s one thing to come to town, rent a hall at the Holiday Inn for the weekend, run full-page ads in local newspapers offering to buy coins, paintings, jewelry and so forth, and in the process take advantage of the ignorant.

But for Bob Rue, living in his devastated New Orleans, to offer a pittance for rare rugs from the townsfolk, knowing they need the money to fix their houses and lives, and then to glow about it is pathetic.

One can only hope karma, and the citizens of New Orleans, will see to it that he gets his just reward.

Gary Fletcher

Poway, Calif.