Letters: Feb. 25, 2002

The Enron Mess

I am perplexed that the Enron situation is considered a scandal [THE ENRON SPILLOVER, Feb. 4]. It seems to me this is the epitome of Republican philosophy and policy: remove resources from the worker bees of America as quickly and efficiently as possible and concentrate them in the assets of the wealthy. The Enron collapse just continues what deficit spending and tax breaks for the wealthy have done to widen the income gap since the 1980s. PAMELA MULLER St. Petersburg, Fla.

Enron is not an aberration but the tip of a special-interest iceberg endangering Americans' future economic security. This is not a time for political rhetoric and blame placing by the White House and Congress. There is a growing corrupt and evil collaboration between government and business leadership in Washington. It involves many Republicans and Democrats in the Legislative and Executive branches who provide regulatory protection to U.S. corporations, unions and associations for campaign money. It's time to dissolve this corrupt capitalist partnership. CRAIG KAISER Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Statistics tell us that harsher penalties have little deterrent effect on a holdup man. Top executives, however, understand penalties. If they were sure that criminal fraud would get them 10 to 15 years in a penitentiary, they would think long and hard before committing the kind of deceit that went on at Enron. BILL RICHMOND Carmichael, Calif.

Your article danced around the idea of a possible White House scandal while offering the weakest support of the allegations I have ever read. So five years ago, while George W. Bush was Governor of Texas, Karl Rove recommended Ralph Reed for a job at Enron. How is that illegal or unethical? And a few sentences in a government report may have been altered at the suggestion of Ken Lay. But that is unimportant, because the energy policy the report advocated was never enacted by Congress. You need to focus on fair and balanced reporting. DAN LONG Huntingdon Valley, Pa.

I am frightened for our domestic security and financial safety when the White House holds secret talks to protect the robber barons who pillage us. Are our elected leaders protecting the American people, or are they only looking after their friends in Big Business? RANDY E. HENDERSON Romney, W.Va.

Call me cynical, but the Enron house of cards is an example of modern American capitalism at its "finest": elected officials being influenced by huge sums of money, top executives making off with millions of dollars and having cozy political relationships, the White House refusing to talk, and regular folks left holding the proverbial bag. For my money, fraud, greed and corruption certainly should bring down a government--but they won't. JAMES P. MORGAN Gardnerville, Nev.

You haven't found anything connecting the White House with Enron in any meaningful way. People won't be fooled by the Democrats' attempt to smear this Administration. The Dems might just shoot themselves in the foot. MARY S. BELL El Cajon, Calif.