Economists don't seem to have a Plan C

(PNI) It is all very scary, the world financial situation. Is it all really on the verge of collapse, and what to do?

The left says follow Keynesian theory and continue to spend. The right says Friedrich Hayek is right: sacrifice and pay our bills.

Modern economics mavens Paul Krugman on the left and Milton Friedman on the right tout their respective solutions or disaster is certain. How can they both be right?

Or can they both be wrong and there is, in fact, no chance for world financial survival with either solution? No Plan C for the independent.

Perhaps it would be best to have our children and grandchildren forgo their dreams and aspirations of space exploration, scientific discovery, art, literature and business and just concentrate on learning homesteading to survive the coming chaos.

It's enough to give us average Joes the willies.

--George Weitzner, Mesa

Don't harm defenseless children

Another abused child, 4-year-old Toryn Buckman of Phoenix, has died.

What is going on in this world? How many children will die or constantly be abused by mothers, fathers, mothers' boyfriends, caregivers, etc., before something changes?

Please, if you can't handle the pressures of raising children, give them to a family member or put them up for adoption. There are many couples who desperately want children and can't have them.

Young children are defenseless. They can't tell anyone what's going on. The Arizona child-protection system is so overburdened that these cases can't be adequately handled. Many times, these abuses aren't even reported and the child suffers in silence.

Please don't take your anger out on a child. More importantly, use birth control!

--Judy Felicetti, Phoenix

Open primaries will favor liberals

The push for an open primary in Arizona is quite alarming. Like every other "red state" with an open primary, it would allow liberals and independents to have a say about who will be representing the Republican Party.

This desire to have the Republican candidate molded by the liberals and independents is completely insane for the Republicans, as it will greatly increase the chances that a "moderate" will be opposing a liberal and, in that situation, a liberal will win.

In order for a Republican to defeat a liberal Democrat, there needs to be a strong contrast between the two ideologies. This stark difference will not be achieved through an open primary.

The open primary could serve to eliminate the most viable candidate, which would be a true Reagan conservative, and put the weakest candidate in his place, such as a McCain liberal Republican.

I am a registered Republican. However, philosophically, I am more closely allied with the Libertarian Party platform.

That being the case, I can't see why true moderates such as Libertarians would want a liberal Republican running against a liberal Democrat.

The only moderates wanting an open primary would be liberal "moderates," as this would ensure that a liberal would be elected regardless of which party won. There would really be no opposing voice in Arizona.

--James Brandt, Surprise

We need to shift high court to left

Regarding "Super PACs hijacking system" (Another Voice, Friday):

The letter writer from Sun City pleads for Sen. John McCain "to do something for the sake of our democracy" in regards to the obscene amounts of money being blindly dumped into our elections with no accountability or transparency.

She is foolish to think McCain can do anything to right this wrong perpetuated on the American electoral process by our current Supreme Court. Only "We the People" can fix this problem by electing a president who would alter the court away from the conservatives such as Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and their ilk.

Our next president will most likely have two appointments to the Supreme Court during his term, as the court currently has four justices out of nine in their mid- to late 70s. Mitt Romney, being self-proclaimed "severely conservative" would certainly shift this court further to the right. That, in itself, should warrant the re-election of President Barack Obama.

--Stuart Epstein, Scottsdale

Let's elevate elections, end muck

As political campaigns heat up alongside our summer mercury, their integrity dips.

On KJZZ's "Here and Now" public-affairs radio show, high-profile political strategists confirmed that negative campaigning prevails over promoting a candidate's positive platform. If that is the case, the reflection is on voters.

The ones who remain standing in the political arena are responsible for magnetizing policies that guide our enlightened society. I believe most of us want to live peacefully, with more ease and less anxiety. Contentious conditions cannot herald greater tranquillity.

As temperatures rise, let's elevate our elections with cool-headed voting conduct.

--Deanne Poulos, Phoenix

We survived without Facebook

Facebook was off-line for over two hours on Thursday. How did we survive?

There was no chaos in the streets. There was no coup d'etat anywhere in the world. No government was overthrown. The world was not thrown off its axis. The world economy did not come to a halt.

So, don't sweat it, people. Ignoring your Facebook account for a few minutes or hours while you are in a car, a meeting, a movie or enjoying a meal with your family or friends is not going to kill you. We all functioned fine before 2004, when it was invented.

--Jerry Manning, Mesa

Unicorn should be born in the U.S.

Regarding Dana Milbank's column ("Romney must prove he's not secret unicorn," Opinions, Thursday), requesting proof that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is not a unicorn:

I find nothing in the Constitution that would preclude a unicorn from being president, provided he was born in the United States.

--Mike Trapuzzano, Chandler

Enough praise for Trump, Arpaio

Who takes the prize for old men looking for more publicity? Donald Trump? Joe Arpaio?

Do they really need to get more praises from the crazies? I guess they do.

--William Johnson, Phoenix

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