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Economic Outlook

Re “The 97-lb. 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.

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.

Lessons from Trayvon

As the white grandmother of a half-black 12-year-old, I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness when I read Tour’s Commentary “How to Stay Alive While Being Black” [April 2]. Every time I hear of the loss of a young black male, I thank God it wasn’t my grandson, yet I know it could have been him, for as senseless a reason as in the case of many who are being killed. I applaud Tour for his advice and commend TIME for publishing it. It needed to be said.

Char James, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.

Statistically, the biggest danger, by far, to black males ages 17 to 35 is other black males. Black men are far more likely to die at the hands of another black man than at the hands of a law-enforcement officer or a white racist. Perhaps part of the conversation parents should have with their black sons should be counseling on nonviolent, nonconfrontational interactions with their peers.

Tim Hauser, OVERLAND PARK, KANS.

Tour delivers sage advice about the best ways to deal with conflict, life-threatening or not. Yet he challenges his own wisdom by saying “we’ll get revenge later.” Seeking revenge only escalates conflict. It leads to greater violence, the very thing he wants to avoid.

John Shaffer, BELLEVUE, WASH.

Debating the 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

Santorum’s Social Conservatives

Re “The New Christian Right” [April 2]: The problem with this group is manifested in the words of one of its purported leaders, Tony Perkins: “I wouldn’t invite just anybody to my church.” The exclusivity of that statement is anything but Christ-like and reeks of hypocrisy.

Mark B. Leedom, FRANKLIN, TENN.

Spotlight on Kony

I find it interesting how so many people seem to be either all in for Invisible Children, a group dedicated to bringing down Joseph Kony, or believe U.S. involvement is not warranted at all [“The Warlord vs. The Hipsters,” March 26]. We should bring Kony to justice, but his army is dwindling and he is certainly not the full-blown threat he used to be.

Daniel Tamayo, BEL AIR, MD.

I very much appreciate Alex Perry’s measured outlook on the often outlandish criticisms Invisible Children has recently received. I hope the thousands of young people whom IC’s Jason Russell inspired will be brave enough to try again.

Sarah Scinto, ON TIME.COM

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