Web Letters: The Populist Moment?

The Populists didn't achieve governing power?! They elected governors in a half-dozen states. They controlled several state legislures and elected dozens of other statewide officials.They controlled hundreds of counties, elected thousands of local government officials that ran townships and small cities.

Anyone who studies history knows that they did, in fact, acquire a substantial share of political power in the nation.

Then they took over the Democratic party!

John D. Froelich

Upper Darby, PA

To have an American economy, political control of that economy must belong to Americans. This mean dumping "Free Trade," the World Trade Organization, NAFTA, CAFTA and other "Free Trade" agreements. As Alexander Hamilton taught us, development and national control of our economy occurs behind tariffs. It was his plan of an internal market of American farmers supporting an Industrial base that produced the finished goods. Anyone who wished to trade in that market had to produce in that market. This is how America became a major industrial nation, and working people acquired a middle-class lifestyle.

Development for any country occurs behind "Trade Barriers." It's no theory, but a historical fact!

Pervis J. Casey

Riverside, CA