THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 1, 1996 TAG: 9602010007
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
I would like to answer David C. McCrary's letter (``Democrats did it,'' Jan. 3) with a short lesson in American History.
About 75 years ago, Sen. Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts led the Republican Congress, against the wishes of President Wilson, to keep the United States from joining the League of Nations. They also passed the Smoot-Hawley tariff act which practically cut off trade with Europe. This brought on the great depression of the '30s and Adolph Hitler and World War II.
It did not end there. President Reagan (who I voted for) took our national debt from less than $1 trillion to more than $4 trillion. This has pushed the poor into the gutter and the middle class to become poor. This has led to both parents having to work and a breakdown of the family.
Those with high incomes are doing very well. As an example, AT&T will lay off 4,000 employees and its stock jumped more than two points. Corporate welfare gives big bonuses to CEOs.
Henry Ford said he will price his autos so that his employees can afford to buy them. That theory has made this country great. Where will the people who lose their jobs or work for minimum wage get the money to purchase the products made in America?
If we don't learn our history, we will repeat it. The next depression and/or war can very well destroy our civilization.
MILTON MARKOW
Norfolk, Jan. 4, 1996 by CNB