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Keep ideologies straight
Robert McKinney (Letters, Jan. 17) tells Mr. Brookbank to move to North Korea, Cuba or China if he is so committed to socialism. I’m not necessarily a fan of complete socialism in our country, but I am rather fond of Social Security and Medicare, both socialist-type programs.
But the purpose of this letter is not to argue the pros and cons of the two systems, but rather to point out to Mr. McKinney that the countries he is recommending Mr. Brookbank move to are not socialist countries – they are communist, which is not the same thing at all.
Parties with a democratic socialist viewpoint are today in control of the governments of Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Israel; have important representatives in the coalition cabinets of Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Finland; and are supported by strong delegations in the parliaments of Belgium, France, Western Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada – all countries with pretty contented populations.
If you are going to recommend places for people to live, at least try and get the facts correct.
Phil Bergin
Spokane