ST. GEORGE AND HIS CRUSADES
"George Soros would be surprised at the level of support for his philanthropy. Every cause needs a moneyman; he's the one!" RICK BROWNE Ashland, Ore.
Thanks for introducing me to the persona of financier and philanthropist George Soros [BUSINESS, Sept. 1]. How refreshing it is to read of someone of his stature who is truly committed to learning from argument and open debate and who is willing to use his power to apply new insights to some of life's more perplexing problems. JACK E. RUBEY Norcross, Ga.
In July I had the opportunity to teach creative writing to a group of East European students at Pennsylvania's West Chester University. Their eight-week stay was funded by Soros, whom I'd never heard of. We ought to clone him. Imagine, a business tycoon who spends a third of his day "thinking... about... where the world is going"! This is behavior we normally attribute to poets and philosophers, people we pretend to take seriously but prefer to confine to the ivory towers of a university, where their radical social ideas will pose no threat to our selfish individualism. JENNIFER FISHER BRYANT Glenmoore, Pa.
Soros' perspective from high atop Cash Mountain affords him a spectacular view for his societal vision. The irony is that the capitalist society that enabled him to accumulate such a disproportionate share of this planet's wealth is the root of the problem. If Soros wishes to identify the difficulties facing humanity, perhaps he ought to look in a mirror. PAUL AZZARIO Southampton, Bermuda
I've often daydreamed about what I would do if I had millions of dollars, and oddly enough, my fantasy comes close to George Soros' reality. I'm as selfish as the next person, but after mentally spending 4 million or 5 million dollars on yachts and jewels, my imagination lags. So my dreams would then focus on all the good I would do. I say, "Good on you, George." I don't have to agree with every project of yours to congratulate you on returning, in some measure, what you have taken from society. SHERRI L. DILLON Raleigh, N.C.
As an immigrant, like Soros, I understand his reaction to the government's reduction of programs aiding legal immigrants. People from abroad are the pride and strength of this great country. God bless Soros! We are all immigrants. JOAQUIM G.M. FERRO Hudson, Mass.
I hope that Soros' largesse will shame some of our homegrown billionaires into opening their own overstuffed pockets and giving something back to the country that has given them so much! DIANE F. SMITH Denver
Soros is naive to think that decriminalizing drug use would be a step in the right direction. Yes, we should try to reduce the harm done by over-punitive policies toward ordinary drug users, who are victims not criminals. But we need to avoid making dangerous and addictive drugs more easily available, especially to our youth. This requires careful modification of policy, different for each drug, not sweeping legalization. AVRAM GOLDSTEIN Stanford, Calif.