Federal highway system should be privatized Re: “Cars gave Americans mobility, prosperity, greater freedom,” Editorial, Sept. 22
This editorial highlighting the freedom and economic advantages brought to us by the automobile was a nice reminder of the blessings we Americans enjoy. But while it’s worth counting our blessings, as conservatives we must also mind the costs.
Subsidized federal highways have indeed benefited the economy, but we can do better. Our highway network is the most socialized part of the U.S. economy. Nowhere else does the government provide all the infrastructure, set standards from Washington, pay for it entirely with taxes, and make spending decisions on the basis of politics rather than the market. Centralized planning and political machinations have resulted in a system that benefits certain interests and typically favors rural areas.
In contrast, railroads maintain their own infrastructure for the most part without government funds.
A market-based approach would deliver better roads more efficiently with less cost to society.
Christopher Parker
Putney, Va.
Social Security is not a Ponzi scheme
Re: “Rick Perry is right about Social Security,” Sept. 21
Both Rick Perry and Walter E. Williams are wrong. A Ponzi scheme originates with a criminal’s express intent to enrich himself.
Social Security and Medicare were passed by duly elected representatives of the people to provide financial assistance to those covered by these safety net plans. They did not enrich a single member of Congress who voted for them, or the presidents who signed them into law.
The statements in the 1936 pamphlet produced the year I was born are not legally binding. With regard to the opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court, that panel once ruled that Dred Scott was mere chattel goods.
Had I the power, I would stand both Mr. Perry and Mr. Williams in front of a blackboard until they had written 10,000 times: “I will not further contribute to the dumbing down of America.”
Darrel Salisbury
Lorton
Direct negotiations can solve Palestinian problem
Despite the Obama administration’s continued efforts to persuade the Palestinians to resume direct negotiations with Israel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not back down.
Both nations are capable of working out their issues through direct negotiation and coming to a mutually beneficial agreement. This has been proved through treaties between Israel and Egypt (1978) and Israel and Jordan (1994).
The best way forward for Abbas is to withdraw his U.N. campaign and return to the negotiation table with Israel. If a two-state agreement is the desired solution, Israel and the Palestinian Authority should discuss what that would look like. The U.S. has made an enormous investment to find a permanent, peaceful solution through direct negotiations, and it should not be thwarted through reckless unilateral decisions.
Matthew Redmond
Ellicott City
