Reader Feedback
I enjoyed very much the writing in the April cover story “Good Sex” by Jennifer Morse. TAE has consistently exceeded my expectations for quality of writing and timeliness of content. I sincerely applaud you for delivering a magazine without peer. But I must take issue with you over the inclusion of the photographs in this story. I believe Morse is right on with her observations and prescriptions with regard to this highly charged topic. Using some of her own argument, I believe your use of such photography, however “tastefully” done, classically illustrates the problem with making “public” that which ought to remain “private.” To quote her, “Either sex is a big deal, or it isn’t.” Her writing argues intelligently that it is. Your photographs argue visually that it isn’t.
John Viehweg
Eagle, Idaho
James Glassman’s latest column (April) suggests that the developing world could alleviate poverty by unilaterally lowering trade barriers. Interestingly, The Economist published an article in the same month depicting the unrest in rural China, testifying that free trade has not benefited the poor in that country.
In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith noted that China in his day was wealthier than Europe and had at the same time the most dreadfully poor masses. Thousands of years of history in China give evidence that there is no automatic connection that directs increased revenue generated by economic growth toward the alleviation of poverty. Smith had a useful understanding there, and The American Enterprise would do well to pick it up.
Stephen Madden
Virginia Beach, Virginia
I just read your interview with Shelby Steele (April). I agree that we African-Americans must take responsibility for our problems. We all know that if someone doesn’t take ownership of a problem, he doesn’t feel responsible for finding a solution. We cannot keep blaming white America. However, there is still racism, so I don’t agree with the elimination of affirmative action. But I do think that black people must persevere in spite of racism and not let it be an excuse for failing to do our best.
Georgia Lynch
Raleigh, North Carolina
U.S. preeminence in science and technology is more vulnerable than your stats suggest (INDICATORS, April). Our K-12 education system is, in large measure, responsible for weak U.S. science education. Consider one difficult position to fill: secondary-school physics teacher. The mean GRE score of applicants for graduate study in physics (1272) is higher than in any other area of study, while the mean for all education majors (984) is one of the lowest.
That’s the hard reality. An equally hard reality is that the great leveling monopoly we know as public education will not countenance differential pay for rare talent. One reason may be that the people in charge of our politically controlled education monopolies—education administrators—are on the far left side of the bell curve themselves, with a mean GRE of 950.
Tom Shuford
Lenoir, North Carolina
The articles by Karl Zinsmeister, Victor Hanson, and Lewis Sorley (March) constitute the best objective assessment produced thus far of our progress in Iraq. The entire issue should give everyone assurance than an Iraq free of tyranny will happen sooner than later if we don’t allow the enemy within to, as Sorley put it, “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”
Walter Skelton
Little Rock, Arkansas
I enjoyed immensely your feature by Bill Kauffman on Hoosiers (March). Angelo Pizzo is right on target in saying that the dismantling of the Indiana tournament has “ruined things.” It was not just a state championship that small schools coveted, it was the prospect of being “giant killers” in the tournament.
James Huston
Lynchburg, Virginia
I had a little down time in the ninth-grade civics class I teach, so I began reading to my students from the March TAE. They loved it! This is the first time I have introduced students to The American Enterprise, but from their reactions it won’t be the last. Keep up the great work.
Chris Billingsley
Decatur, Georgia
