Miami Vice   I always enjoyed Carl Hiaasen’s humorous writing about the corruption in Miami, but I thought he was exaggerating. After reading Ken Silverstein’s “Miami: Where Luxury Real Estate Meets Dirty Money” [Oct. 21], I realize that Hiaasen has understated the level of corruption.   Nell Farr elk grove, calif.

Hillary Fever

Richard Kim provided a refreshing note of dissent regarding the premature anointing of presidential candidates [“It’s Not Hillary’s Turn,” Oct. 21]. I share his lack of enthusiasm for being stampeded into accepting Hillary Clinton, or anyone, until there is an understanding of a candidate’s position on the issues that face America. Kim’s call for vigorous debate on these issues (e.g., “the yawning gap between the rich and everyone else”) to help determine the best person to lead us forward provided me with one more good reason to renew my subscription: the hope of finding that debate continuing in The Nation.

Dave Johnson yuba city, calif.

I admit that “It’s Not Hillary’s Turn” was not as frightening as its headline. Kim made some valid points, but I believe Hillary Clinton, like this president, understands the inequality plaguing this country.

Cathey Dayton sevierville, tenn.

If you print another piece as rebarbative as Richard Kim’s sexist assault on our former secretary of state, I will cancel my subscription. Meanwhile, when I walk my incontinent schnauzer I will take with me the pages containing Kim’s ugly words.

Joel Conarroe new york city</p>

I already have an I’m Ready for Hillary bumper sticker on my car. Vera

I want Hillary for president because she knows how Washington runs, she knows where the bodies are buried, she knows everything and everyone, and she is tough. Elizabeth Warren is great, and I hope someday she’ll run for president, but she is too new to the game right now.

Elaine Hendrie bellport, n.y.

I agree with Richard Kim. I’m afraid Hillary Clinton would be the same old, same old in drag.

Gayle Voeller carmichael, calif.</p>

What’s needed is a hard-ass moderate-lib politician with clout, insider connections and a sure win just to keep the lunatics at bay. Hillary is likely the closest we have to that. Guest

Hillary is not a moderate-lib. As Bill Maher astutely observed, the Democrats have moved to the right, and the right-wingers have moved into the nuthouse. Hillary is a warmonger in Dem clothing. Mass Independent

Fight the Power!

Joshua Clover, in his October 21 “Pop & Circumstance” column, tells us protest songs are in decline. But there’s quite a lot of protest song-making these days, maybe more than in the 1960s. There are star performers (Tom Morello, Springsteen, Ani DiFranco, Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Ry Cooder, John Legend, Neil Young), and there are movement minstrels who sing to and for the grassroots movements, what might be called the Guthrie/Seeger project—for example, Sweet Honey in the Rock, David Rovics, Charlie King, Si Kahn, Emma’s Revolution and Holly Near. A four-disc compilation of Occupy songs is evidence of these current protest songs. Or give a listen to the radio show I’ve been hosting for thirty-two years—Culture of Protest (kcsb.org).

Richard Flacks santa barbara, calif.

Our New Look

Just wanted to let you know that I very much like the redesign you unveiled in the October 21 issue. It makes the entire magazine a much more engaging publication. Well done!

Ted Gostomski cable, wis.

I don’t like the new look. The pages are too cluttered and busy, with too much tiny print. And why is there no masthead?

William Blackwell ithaca, n.y.

Well, thank goodness you left the crossword page alone! The smaller print is hard to read, and the many sidebars (in color, yet) are confusing to the eye and distracting. But then you don’t really care about the older readers, do you?

Joyce Parkhurst long beach, calif.

The newly redesigned front pages of The Nation, with their sidebars of tweets and factoids, remind me of Time magazine (and that’s not a compliment).

Jim Rudolf minneapolis

I remember when Newsweek was a fairly serious newsmagazine. Later, the opening page resembled an AOL or Yahoo homepage, cluttered with crap, tiny factoids, etc. I don’t read The Nation for little factoids or crap. One of its great features is its substance.

Tim Withee los angeles

I understand why you wanted to look less gray, but you went too far in the other direction. The layout is too busy. And you went wildly overboard on the Letters page. Web comments are OK if the writers are properly identified; anonymous posts have no place in the print version. Worse yet are tweets, for chirping out loud. Oscar Wilde could say pithy things in 140 characters; most tweets, as illustrated in the October 21 issue, are tripe. I’ll be twerked if I’m going to waste precious seconds on Twitter litter.

Fenwick Anderson takoma park, md.

The new look is too cluttered, too busy and visually distracting.

Joseph F. DiBlanca highland, n.y.

I think the new design makes The Nation more up-to-date and more readable. It is more inviting (although I suppose some will prefer a more stodgy appearance). Keep up the good work.

James Teske tampa

None of your other redesigns have fazed me, but this one goes beyond mere presentation. The Nation has sacrificed substance in the interest, presumably, of attracting “readers” inured to distraction and intimidated by a page of uninterrupted text.

Jon Reinsch seattle

As a longtime reader of, and a sometime contributor to, The Nation, I am so happy with the recent covers of the magazine. They are smart, colorful and spirited.

R.O. Blechman ancram, n.y.