It was a delight to read William Smith’s elegant op-ed on the promise of trickle-up economics (Sept. 13), indistinguishable from democratic socialism, that made clear the differences between what we in this country have: extreme disparities in wealth and opportunity, and what we would enjoy with trickle-up economics. It is no surprise most of our politicians disparage democratic socialism; it is not in their interests.

On the other hand, the op-ed next door in the section, by Charles Todorich (“Western civilization is dying and Europeans don’t seem to care”), contained a number of mistaken assumptions and conclusions.

For example, Todorich says that a majority of Europeans are pessimistic about the future and believe life will be harder for their children. In the EU, 70% are pessimists; in the U.S., that figure is roughly 70-75%, not much different. It is interesting that in Denmark, with the highest taxes in the EU, only about a third of parents are pessimistic about their children’s economic future. After all, they do get something for the taxes they pay: universal healthcare, free university education, a highly developed social security and welfare system and a high degree of income equality.

Todorich, who seems to believe that the Crusades were a moral high point for European Christianity, expressed concerned about Muslim emigration to Europe, but seems ignorant of its cause: wars initiated by the Bush/Cheney administration in the Middle East destabilized the region and made life there unbearable; emigration to safety is the result. He also believes that concerns about global warming are simply mass hysteria. I could only shake my head in disbelief.

Jonathan Mitschele
New Gloucester