Economic Outlook
Re "The Weakling Recovery" [April 2]: No sooner does the recovery begin than we are told that it isn't good enough. If economic growth had been zooming along at a China-like speed, we would be hearing about the soon-to-come crash. Haven't we had enough of this constant need to go from extreme to extreme?
Mark W. McCreary,
Monrovia, Calif., U.S.
Recovery might not have been necessary if companies that outsourced had insourced and kept their American workers. That would have been pragmatic patriotism, but priority was given to another P word: profit.
Michael G. Driver,
Chiba, Japan
Your cover story closed with the assessment that "there are no tools left to goose the economy." Here's one: raise the minimum wage. The total number of hours required to produce commodities, which has decreased steadily since the Industrial Revolution, is at an all-time low. FDR responded to this trend by establishing a minimum wage and a maximum workweek to divide the benefit of increased productivity between capital and labor. To bring back consumers' purchasing power, we should pair a 35-hour week with a $12-per-hour minimum wage.
Mel Rechtman,
Decatur, Ga., U.S.
Replacing Sarkozy
The article "French Toast?" [April 2] does not convey the real atmosphere in France today; the economy isn't the only issue being discussed. Under President Nicolas Sarkozy, France has divided into factions of warring social classes and religious groups. And by insulting other countries and peoples, he has harmed the country's foreign relations more than he has helped. This is why many will not vote for him.
Camille de Luca-Schwartz,
Paris
Recently Europe has seen incompetent leaders replaced by someone with real intelligence and experience. One can wonder whether France might go the other way by replacing Sarkozy, an amazing leader, with François Hollande, a strange character with no political experience at the ministerial level. France deserves a true captain at its helm.
Daniel Collard,
Paris
During his first term, Sarkozy concentrated successfully on foreign policy matters to the detriment of domestic issues. It's easier for leaders to earn brownie points in foreign affairs than in domestic matters where achievements, or the lack of, are more immediately transparent.
Karl H. Pagac,
Villeneuve-Loubet, France
Yes, Sarkozy has lost influence through his open support of high-profile businessmen, but one must acknowledge his sincerity in his intention to have French society overcome its inertia and challenge its limits, especially in regard to social issues and individual competition. Unfortunately, most of the people around Sarkozy are wasting his goodwill by acting as if they are above the law, allowed to utter whatever insanity in the name of change. Hollande does not suffer from this chaotic courtesans' cacophony, but he is one of the dullest presidential candidates ever.
Christophe Nicolas,
st.-rémy lès chevreuse,
France
Debating the U.S. Drug War
Fareed Zakaria notes that even Pat Robertson has the wisdom and courage to recognize the futility of the war on drugs ["Incarceration Nation," April 2]. Good for Pat! I'm certain he also recognizes this failed war as a growth industry whose myriad soldiers — the police, lawyers, judges, jailers and politicians — all have a vested interest in its continuation.
Herb Wynans,
Denton, Texas, U.S.
Costly prison sentences do not stop gross illegal profits from imported drugs. Why not legalize the less dangerous drugs and tax them like alcohol and tobacco? This could subsidize medical treatment for drug addicts. The cost savings from a reduction in prison terms would also help.
Peter Goddard,
Burnside, Australia
Life on YouTube
Re "The Beast with a Billion Eyes" [April 2]: Lev Grossman's article on YouTube was interesting, but I disagree with his conclusion. We're not beginning to find out how weird we really are; we're finding out how creative we can be when there's no commercial gain involved. Sure, it'd be nice to earn a few dollars from making YouTube videos, but even if there's no money in it, people will keep doing it.
Olger Diekstra,
Brisbane, Australia
Seeing Red
Bo Xilai's downfall in China's Communist Party could be temporary ["Flashing a Red Card," April 2]. Bo still commands a covert support in the party. In Chongqing, he has cultivated a grassroots base that is not to be ignored. The complex political scenario in Beijing has always been intriguing and often defies conventional wisdom. We should not write off Bo that quickly.
Zi Zenn Chaan,
Sydney