The Stealing of the Presidency

Your writers describe Bush as the "accidental President" ("Can Bush heal the nation?" Government, Dec. 25/Jan. 1). There is nothing accidental about his becoming President. He and his network of Republican zealots stole the Presidency in one of the most appalling displays of carefully orchestrated anti-democratic maneuvering this country has ever seen. By seizing power in the way he has--with his buddies on the Supreme Court putting a halt to the vote counting--he has sparked a culture war that has only just begun.

Robert Anderson
Studio City, Calif.

This Court's Activism Is Just More of the Same

Your shock at the Supreme Court action ending the election astounds me ("It didn't have to end this way," Editorials, Dec. 25/Jan. 1). This is the inevitable result of the judicial activism that began in earnest with the Warren court. It is the height of hypocrisy for the left to cry "judicial activism" when that is how they have advanced their agenda since the 1950s.

The remedy is to return to the strict constructionists that President-elect George W. Bush wants to appoint and to get a court with the backbone to turn back the tide of judicial activism. But Senate Democrats are already gearing up to "Bork" any judicial appointments that W. may make--because they don't meet their "litmus test." I see nothing on the horizon to save us from business as usual.

Greg Smith
Des Moines

Maybe Greenspan Doesn't See All and Know All

Let's not be too quick to give Alan Greenspan a big raise ("Hit 'em up for a bigger raise, Alan," Up Front, Dec. 25/Jan. 1). Many people feel that Greenspan is the greatest thing to happen to this country since TV. First, I would really like to be able to understand his speeches. Second, he may not have understood the dot-coms and hence considered them a big part of his "irrational exuberance" problem to be corrected. Unfortunately, Greenspan slowed a good economy and hard-landed the stock market for 2000, taking with it a big chunk of many people's 401(k)s.

Thomas E. Davis
Edmond, Okla.

Invest--but Don't Throw Away the Taxpayers' Money

While I agree that investment is necessary for future economic growth, the reality is that much of governmental investment ends up as a waste of taxpayers' money ("To preserve the boom, you've got to invest money," Economic Viewpoint, Dec. 25/Jan. 1). The private sector's investment record is far superior and in fact played a big role in producing the current surplus.

David J. Varnerin
Chicago

An E-Lancer's Ode to a Steady Paycheck

I haven't gotten a pink slip, but I'm feeling the "Pink slip blues" (News: Analysis & Commentary, Dec. 25/Jan. 1). As an independent Web-design contractor, I'm starting to count the incoming jobs in singles rather than dozens. Independent contracting--the work-at-home luxury job of the past few years--is becoming more of a pain than a freedom. I have seen many of my peers migrate to stable jobs for the steady paycheck, and if this keeps up, I may be forced to do the same.

Mark Pimental
Woodside, N.Y.

Keep Global Warmniks Away from National Energy Policy

Reducing imported oil is a viable national objective, but excluding coal and nuclear power is shortsighted and assumes that natural-gas supplies are infinite--which they are not ("It's perfect weather to fight global warming," News: Analysis & Commentary, Dec. 11).

Power-system planning in this country has been screwed up by inept politicians, overreaching government agencies, and spineless utility reactions. We have plenty to do in righting this mess. But emission planning for global warming deserves zero space in long-range energy planning and national policy.

Ron Kilmartin
Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Axing the Oldsmobile: A Baffling Move

General Motors Corp.'s recent decision to phase out the Oldsmobile Div. is a big mistake ("GM: Out with the Olds' is just the start," News: Analysis & Commentary, Dec. 25/Jan. 1). Over the past 10 years, GM invested considerable resources in repositioning the brand--but then pulled the plug before the changes had a chance to bear fruit. Oldsmobile could have provided a great opportunity to attract young professionals into the GM family of cars. Will Buick now be the division to lure such buyers? I doubt that will ever happen.

Jeff Wajszizuk
Richmond, Va.


The current Oldsmobile models, Aurora, Intrigue, and Alero, are the only contemporary designs in the entire GM lineup and the only ones able to compete with Japanese offerings. How GM's management could sign off on a red-flag advertising campaign such as "not your father's Oldsmobile," watch the sales immediately plummet, and not fix the obvious problem is a total mystery.

Brian McKibben
Naperville, Ill.

Why the Net Is No Death Knell for Car Dealers

There have been predictions that the Internet would cut dealers out of the car-buying process ("Where's my dream car?" Industrial Management, Nov. 27). Even as build-to-order (BTO) and locate-to-order (LTO) gain momentum, consumers will still want to pick up their new cars at nearby dealerships and have a reliable place to get their cars serviced long after the sale.

Lloyd G. Waterhouse
Dayton

Investment Outlook Scoreboard (Cover Story, Dec. 25, 2000/Jan. 1, 2001)

In the Investment Outlook Scoreboard (Cover Story, Dec. 25, /Jan.1,), the correct Gannett Co. earnings growth for 1994 to 1999 is 19.2%.