To the editor:
Regarding the Nov. edition of the Courierand Mr. Tony Magliano’s column, ‘How can the U.S. let people live in poverty?’
Mr. Magliano asserts that deregulation and free markets are to blame for the current economic crises. In order to claim such nonsense one must be either disingenuous or wholly ignorant of the topic. The U.S. economy and financial sectors are anything but free markets, and have only seen more regulation since 2000 (e.g. Sarbanes-Oxley legislation).
Mr. Magliano also appears to be calling for an increase in the size of the welfare state and wealth “distribution.” The practice of forcibly taking property from its owners and giving it to those to whom it does not belong has a name: stealing. As a columnist for the Catholic News Service, I would expect him to know that Catholics in particular — and Christians in general — are against theft (see the seventh and 10th Commandments). Private charity on the other hand is an admirable practice.
Despite Mr. Magliano’s assertions, poverty is best eradicated via free markets, strong individual liberties, and property rights, not theft.
Chris Meisenzahl
Rainbow Lane
Lima
