Privatization in Haiti

I was appalled by your editorial on Haiti (Oct. 20). You state that President Jean-Bertrand Aristide “must fully embrace privatization . . . in order to get at least $1 billion in foreign aid from the United States and other sources.” So much for democracy and freedom of choice.

A major pillar of U.S. foreign policy appears to be to make the world safe for privatization and to protect the profits of the wealthy elite. We seem to have a considerable fear of the possible successes of government-managed business and industry. No one is allowed even to remotely consider that there could be a better way than privatization. Is someone trying to brainwash us?

QUENTIN C. STODOLA

Redondo Beach

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* Thank you for highlighting an important process of democratization going on in Haiti. Witness for Peace has seen free and fair elections as an important prerequisite in this process.

However, I was disturbed about a comment in the last paragraph of an editorial that was for the most part quite reasonable. You state that the liberal followers of Aristide should not be allowed to hinder the process of privatization. Who would not allow the elected representatives of Haiti to decide matters of public concern? Would you also suggest that elected representatives of California should not hinder Gov. Pete Wilson’s plans to privatize many of California’s public functions as well? Democracy requires that people be allowed to determine their own course of action without outside interference.

KARL P. REITZ

Steering Committee Member

Witness for Peace, South West Region

Yorba Linda