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In Cindy Ihrke's letter on Feb. 17 regarding corporatism, capitalism and socialism, she states: "Socialist Europe wallows in impotence and poverty."

Really? Has she not heard of the European Union? She must be in a time warp viewing Europe right after World War II. The EU consists of 28 countries led by Germany, France and the United Kingdom. It is a formidable common market and currency that is a major trading power. I'm glad that the Union is an ally of the U.S.

Of course the EU has problems don't we also have some problems in this country? To call the whole European continent poor and impotent is ridiculous.

Major countries today are not purely capitalist or purely socialist. Successful countries have elements of capitalism and socialism in their economies. In the 1930s, the U.S. was in terrible economic shape with millions hungry and jobless. FDR injected socialist elements to our capitalist economy like Social Security and government spending in the private sector. We learned back in the 1950s that private plots in Russia were yielding better than the collective farms and eventually the pure Soviet Socialist system failed in 1991, leading to reforms that blended capitalism and socialism.

When I read the letters accusing other writers of being either capitalist or socialist, I view it as being rather grade-school-ish. Private economic incentive is important in all economies as is government intervention in the economy. It's all about degree.

VERN ZEHR

Fisher

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Most countries blend capitalism, socialism