Rana Foroohar’s analysis of America’s sputtering economy is spot-on [What Recovery? June 20]. At the heart of our high unemployment rate lies the fact that corporations and their executives profit immensely from the migration of jobs to low-cost countries. In a perfect world, Congress would devise a creative solution to better align the interests of these executives with those of the American workforce. Too bad pigs will fly before that happens.
Kevin Coakley, PALO ALTO, CALIF., U.S.
A strong middle class is the backbone of any country, and the U.S. desperately needs sensible economic policies that can rebuild the middle class and reduce its massive debt deficit. Failure to address these issues can only lead to strife as large corporations continue to amass wealth while individuals face an uphill struggle to make ends meet.
George Diliyannis, JOHANNESBURG
I loved it. Finally, the real truth about our economic decline appears in major media. Foroohar’s economic myth busting explains it all — why multinationals don’t hire in the U.S., why Keynesian stimulus no longer stimulates and how lopsided growth in the financial sector has hurt us. Yet she never actually arrives at the bottom-line cause and the professional economist’s sacred cow: our naive acceptance of an unfettered free market.
James A. Cunningham, SARATOGA, CALIF., U.S.
At least part of the problem is the all-too-free trade. Outsourcing support services and translocating manufactuing services overseas are the main culprits undermining the U.S. economy and causing job loss and lower wages. One might also blame lack of patriotism and corporate greed. As long as no regulatory measures are introduced, there will hardly be any improvement.
Adam Vincze, HERZLIYA, ISRAEL
It’s bad enough that President Obama’s $800 billion economic-recovery program is a total bust. But why add insult to injury by assuming that the private sector has no chance and that government is still the solution? Indeed, government has been the problem all along. Government, from Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton, caused the housing bubble by intimidating lenders with legislation designed to make it too simple to buy a home.
Daniel B. Jeffs, APPLE VALLEY, CALIF., U.S.
Foroohar claims that the private sector cannot make things better and that entrepreneurs are not one of America’s greatest strengths. This is think-tank talk. Our small entrepreneurial business in the struggling industrial market has doubled its staff in the last year and is looking for more. We have hired people who are more than 60 years old, plus a summer intern whom we are actually (gasp) paying.
Jeff Winkel, LENEXA, KANS., U.S.
The article mentions that getting American corporations to repatriate money so it can be taxed will not work because “crafty corporate lawyers” will find ways around any new tax rules. Tax avoidance by the superrich is a particularly unpalatable form of greed. Although legal obligations to pay tax may be circumvented, the moral obligation cannot be. Any changes in tax rules must be supplemented by societal change.
John Lewis, LIVERPOOL
Here are two ideas to spur recovery: Let corporations that keep profits abroad to avoid paying taxes repatriate the money at a special 5% or 10% tax rate as long as they create a certain number of jobs. Companies that take advantage of such a tax break but fail to create enough jobs would retroactively owe the full tax. Homeowners who are underwater should be allowed a deduction on tax returns for losses suffered. This would increase mobility by allowing people to move where the jobs are and clear the housing market by making homes more affordable at real market prices.
Ray Damani, SPARTANBURG, S.C., U.S.
Who’s Afraid?
Re “Europe’s Scared of the Spring,” June 20: Since the North African population is so young and full of hope for the future, they could use their boundless energy to stay in North Africa and help their fathers build more democratic societies at home. They have a great chance, now that their dictators are falling one by one. Besides, there is no shortage of unemployed people in Europe.
Daniela Deneyer, BRUSSELS
Europe is not “scared” of the Arab Spring. It is simply concerned that cautious realism is being drowned by foolish hype — as in calling “spring” something that started in December. Europeans would enthusiastically welcome a true spring of democracy in the Arab world, but they are concerned that the uprising might just as well lead to a winter of Islamism.
Noru Tsalic, COVENTRY, ENGLAND
Europe does not like migrants who obviously do not want to integrate into the host societies but want to introduce Islamic law and habits into those countries.
Hermann Oppermann, KARBEN, GERMANY
I agree that some of our citizens coming from North Africa have to face racism, but we do welcome Muslims in Europe — around 10% of our inhabitants are Muslim. It is thanks to the laïcité [secularism] concept that we have put an end to centuries of religious civil wars. Trying to impose religious rules or challenge the law from 1905 would be considered a step back to the Middle Ages.
Frédéric Houri, PARIS
I believe Carla Power misses the real point. Europe doesn’t want to be flooded with Muslims because Europeans associate Muslims with terrorism. France and Germany opposed Turkey’s admission to the European community at least partly because of this underlying fear.
Joseph Feld, LONDON
Veggie Might
Your article by Alice Park [How to Stop the Superbugs, June 20] failed to mention one small detail: the loss that Spanish farmers have faced due to the unproven accusations by the Hamburg authorities concerning Spanish cucumbers. Full truckloads of not only cucumbers, but also sprouts and tomatoes, had to be destroyed by the farmers after the products were returned to southern Spain.
Jürgen Friedrichs, MADRID
First it was beef (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease), then chicken (bird flu), now it’s vegetables (or is it not?). Only God knows what it will be next year (or next month). Avoiding fruit and vegetables won’t guarantee that one will not fall sick. I guess it is human nature that people panic easily — but they tend to forget quickly too. It won’t take long before Germany’s vegetables will be eaten and exported again.
Simone Maputo, HAMBURG
Business Dinner as Usual
Michael Scherer’s “Grin and Bear It” was excellent [June 20]. The photograph that accompanied it — of President Obama, John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi enjoying a leisurely fine meal — shows exactly why our politicians are completely out of touch with the general population. Let them eat at McDonald’s. President Clinton did.
John Eames, OLIVE BRANCH, MISS., U.S.
High School and Beyond
I felt “Life After High School” was somewhat simplistically presented [June 20]. I am a junior in high school, and my family has one of the lowest incomes in a very affluent community. I found it difficult to understand why you made no correlation between income and popularity. Yes, conformity rules in high school, but it takes money to conform. I have found that often the popular kids are the ones who can afford brand names, throw big parties in their nice houses and invite people on their phones that their parents are most likely paying for. Playing sports all year is very expensive too, as is attending SAT/ACT prep courses, student-government programs and class trips.
Gabrielle Johnson, TOWNSEND, MASS., U.S.
Many years ago, one of my Seattle high school friends was a “secret dancer” like the girl in your story. He never let anyone know he took ballet lessons. He went on to establish the Joffrey Ballet.
Kenneth G. Wong, BAKERSFIELD, CALIF., U.S.
Behind U.S. Wind Power
In his article “Breezing In” [June 20], Erik Heinrich points out the discrepancy between what the American population wants and what is being done legislatively concerning the development of renewable energy. What a pity to hear that America’s national energy policy depends on short-sighted, profit-oriented fossil-fuel lobbyists — and their willing collaborators in Congress — rather than environmentally aware politicians with a sense of responsibility for future generations.
Mark Hartzheim, COLOGNE, GERMANY
Come a Little Closer
In your piece “A Playboy in Winter” [June 20], Catherine Mayer noted that Hugh Hefner is “certainly old, and his hearing is impaired; we sit knee to knee so that he can catch my questions.” I think the seating arrangement may have had more to do with her knees than Hefner’s hearing.
Jonathan Diamond, TITCHFIELD, ENGLAND
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- TIME’s Top 10 Photos of 2024
- Why Gen Z Is Drinking Less
- The Best Movies About Cooking
- Why Is Anxiety Worse at Night?
- A Head-to-Toe Guide to Treating Dry Skin
- Why Street Cats Are Taking Over Urban Neighborhoods
- Column: Jimmy Carter’s Global Legacy Was Moral Clarity
Contact us at letters@time.com