George Mathews (letter to the editor, Jan. 19) wrote, “How about getting the government off the backs of people and giving the free enterprise system a chance. It works.” This, despite the obvious fact that improperly regulated capitalism does not work, as witnessed in the Great Depression and in the beginning of the 21st century’s depression. Both of these depressions were caused by GOP deregulation of financial institutions and the nurturing of a deregulated economy.

I wish the government would get off people’s backs. However, the GOP keeps on adding police agencies, increasing the number of people incarcerated, increasing the funding for the police state, and the GOP has never seen a weapon system or an act of war they didn’t love.

Winston Churchill said, “Capitalism is the best choice of an economic system taken from a list of bad choices.” Capitalism only works when properly regulated. It is the job of the federal government to protect workers and consumers from the excesses of improperly regulated capitalism.

Judson R. Duncan, Monmouth