Letters

(2 of 3)

Ruling Britain

I was astonished to read about the various infrastructure and social deficiencies plaguing Britain today [WORLD, June 11]. I thought that only those of us who live in the so-called developing countries experienced such inefficiencies. So, the rich also cry. I wish Prime Minister Tony Blair a successful re-engineering of the Queen's land into an El Dorado.
NURUDEEN ALABI-BELLO
Kazaure, Nigeria

The disappointing turnout at the polls for the British election was a reflection of the current British identity. We complain about the poor state of our hospitals, education and public transport, yet when the opportunity comes to take action, only 58% of the electorate bothers to vote, the lowest turnout in more than 80 years. Too many people want a quick fix to difficult problems without having to do the work to help solve them. Some people have forgotten that it was 20 years of short-term solutions that resulted in our current depressive state. As a nation, we need to learn the art of being patient, first with one another and then with our system of government.
ANDREAS KOKKINOS
London

The problems in Britain today--corruption and the need for better roads, schools and hospitals--are reflected in its former colony Nigeria. Here too we struggle with what we call the dividends of democracy, but we realize that gains can come only after a lot of pain. The best solution, as naive as it sounds, is not to rock the boat.

The victories by Tony Blair and the Labour Party are a lesson that the dividends of democracy come slowly but surely. Nigerians need only look to the U.S. to find that, in the final analysis, no matter how difficult it is, democracy is the way forward.
LULUFA KUNDUL VONGTAU
Kaduna, Nigeria

Follow the Bouncing Ball

Let me add a rebuttal to the readers who wrote defending school dodge ball [LETTERS, June 11]. A child not as physically developed as some other children should not be placed in a situation of discomfort as might occur in playing dodge ball. Sports like basketball and football allow individuals to make their own decision about how competitively to play.
STEVEN WRIGHT
Hamilton, Ont.

The Cost of the Cut

By passing the $1.35 trillion tax cut [NATION, June 11], we have squandered a golden opportunity to fix our crumbling infrastructure and stimulate the U.S. economy. The next time you are stuck in traffic on an interstate highway, just say, "$1.35 trillion." Because some of those revenues would have upgraded many interstate freeways, improved air and rail travel and so on.
RAYMOND FREEMAN
Thousand Oaks, Calif.

The cost of this tax cut will come home to roost in the out-years. Government will have to borrow to spend or add new taxes to get out of the mess brought about by brainless political inertia.
RAND KNOX
San Rafael, Calif.

Calling Dr. Robot

"Forceps! scalpel! robot!" was an informative article [MEDICINE, June 4], but the idea of having a robot operate on me for heart-bypass surgery isn't very appealing. Too many things could go wrong in the operating room. What if the person controlling the robot made a mistake or the robot malfunctioned? I could not take the risk. Granted a doctor could mess up just as easily, but I would rather have my life in the hands of a human than in the hands of a machine.
SHERESA DARLENE NOWELL
La Russell, Mo.

Focus on the Family

Margaret Carlson's commentary on the Bush twins' underage drinking and their need for privacy is exactly what the American people need to hear [VIEWPOINT, June 11]. Have we, as a society, become so jaded that we will sit in judgment of the 19-year-old twins for something many of us have done ourselves? These girls are normal teenage college students. They aren't President of the U.S.; they didn't choose to dedicate themselves to a life of politics and public scrutiny. The members of the press waiting for the girls to step out of line ought to remember that.
CATHERINE O'DELL
Angier, N.C.

The Bush twins' drinking antics may be better left untold. However, in this instance, the infractions beg public scrutiny. These are, after all, members of the sanctimonious "family values" crowd. And as usual, the hypocrisy of that community is what is most notable.
DAVID EMES
Reading, Pa.

If President Bush's daughters are adults over 18 who can marry without parental permission, have children and even join the military, why are they not adult enough to enjoy a margarita?
RICHARD C. SCHAUFFERT
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.