Sir,

The follow remarks are prompted by Lou Major, Sr. “Chat” column of June 21, ‘09.

I continue to be absolutely amazed at Mr. Major’s expressed view of the world and itsfunctions. In spite of what unregulated capitalists have just done to our country, he still insists that they should, along with the whole of industry, be allowed to regulate/governthemselves ... without government interference! Early in the 20th century, Mr. UptonSinclair wrote a very famous novel called “The Jungle.” The novel was fact-based fictionthat told such a compelling story that the Food and Drug Administration was formed as adirect result of its publication. The story is about the destitute employees of the Chicago meat packing industry at the turn of century, and how an unregulated industry not only abused them, but the unwitting consumers of their filthy products as well.

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For heaven’s sake, the FDA is about control only to the extent of attempting to protect the public from unconscionable producers, manufacturers and distributors. I well remember when soft drink machines were introduced on the high school campus in Bogalusa. As far as I know, and I followed the situation closely, not one dentist, or M.D.objected to placing the machines on the campus. There’s a saying that fits this particular situation, it goes like this: “To get along, go along.” At the time, a Coca Cola franchise was locally owned and operated.

I also think it’s worth recalling how government attempted, for years, to somewhat regulate the automobile industry, by calling for, and finally succeeding in establishing,modest increases in mileage: fuel /unit ... so what happened? The industry responded with the SUV, and then evaded the ratio by calling them trucks. So what happened to those once mighty names of manufacturing? What happened speaks for itself.

Since Mr. Major expresses his deep concern about the 18 legislators who voted to allow college students to carry concealed weapons on campus, then just imagine how the rest of the country feels about the 28percent of voters who continue to think that the amoral GeorgeW. Bush did a bang-up job as president.

Sincerely,

D.R. Sundberg

Bogalusa