Correspondence

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Jan 8, 2001

Democratic and Republican Parties Don't Differ Much

Despite the emotionally charged election conflict, the American people have given George W. Bush a mandate as next president.

He can, as he did in his victory speech, point to voters' support for the common goals that he and Al Gore share. Federal funding of prescription drugs, increasing the size of Medicare, more federal funding for and control of education, saving Social Security, preserving abortion on demand (infanticide notwithstanding) a new world order, small tax cuts (preservation of the IRS and progressive taxation), and sundry other socialist programs have the implicit approval of 97 percent of voters who preferred either of the two candidates.

It is questionable whether differences between Republicans and Democrats in the details of this mandate will do anything to obstruct its implementation. Conservatives should take a moment to rejoice at the end of the Clinton dynasty, but then let Bush and Congress know that pushing that agenda will not be rewarded with another nomination in 2004.

Josh Malone Plano, Texas

Grouchy Customers Can Lead to Grouchy Customer Service

I agree with much of what Timothy W. Maier wrote about in "Customer Service Is an Oxymoron" [Jan. 1, 2001]. However, in the South customer service seems to be better than elsewhere in the United States.

Recently, I took a wall gas heater that I bought in February back to Lowe's. (It still was in the box since I had not been able to get anyone to install it and I could not do it myself). I knew they had a 90-day return policy, but I was nice to the lady working behind the return counter and told her I would like to trade it for a kerosene heater, since I had been unsuccessful getting it installed and the price of natural gas is going up so much. She called a manager on the phone and told me to go get what I wanted and bring it back to her. When she made the adjustment to my credit card, I thanked her very much for letting me do the exchange. There are nice clerks out there, but as one that I know told me, grouchy people (one right after another) soon can put the clerk in a grouchy mood also if they are not careful. However, there have been times when I have left items on the counter and walked out of the store when service was bad, and I think the stores should have classes on manners for new employees. Thanks for your article.

Harold Gibson Florence, Ala.

Recounts of the Election After the Fact Will Not Serve Truth

Conservatives need some easily understood rebuttals to those who continue to stir the spin pot saying, "Just wait, those votes will be counted someday and we'll all know the `truth'" so they can feel vindicated somehow that this presidential election was stolen by Republicans.

Here are a few questions to pose:

Will any of those mystic "freedom of information" counts be done publicly? Will we get to see by whom and how the mystic counts are done on prime-time television? Will NBC or CBS offer to pre-empt all regularly scheduled programming in order to bring these exciting exercises in futility to us for the next four years so they can keep the flames of distrust and partisanship blazing?

C.S. Finke Phoenix

Mystery Still Surrounds Earhart's Disappearance

Regarding "Aviation Legend" [Feb. 28], Amelia Earhart was one of those super persons who made history. Timothy W. Maier really got this story off and running. Her disappearance off Howland Island was and still is a tragic mystery. Many of us old-timers would like another article to bring us up to date on this project to discover what really happened.

Walter H. Swanson Charleston, S.C.

Write: Insight, Correspondence Editor, 3600 New York Ave. N.E., Washington, DC 20002. E-mail: Insight@wt.infi.net. Fax: (202) 529-2484. Please include an address and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for space.