The problem with politics.

Concerns voiced in your brief editorial ["Why Do Some Politician Still Not Get It?", March 2008] are well-founded. Not one of the paltry choices vying for the U.S. presidency has ever sat in a CEO or COO chair, nor dealt with the survival and growth of a commercial enterprise. So it is not surprising that none are promoting changes to the tax code or recommending reductions in either personal or corporate taxes, both of which would act as an economic catalyst, as has been demonstrated in administrations past. However, all have offered criticism and some level of government interference in private sector industries and markets with onerous proposals inclusive of price controls, additional burdensome regulation, and tax increases to support a plethora of government-controlled entitlement programs.

All have at least alluded to, if not offered, outright control of markets, corporate interests and replacement of private sector functions with "government solutions." One only has to look at the out-of-control spending inside the 495 Beltway and the shabby state of programs like Social Security to realize the utter insanity of the arguments of these economic deadheads. Milton Friedman said it best: "Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." What he did not add was that throughout history those who promoted such government "solutions" in lien of capitalism and freedom were in reality broadening the power of the government to ultimately control the masses.

History does repeat itself. May God help us through this quagmire of political stupidity that seems to be upon us for the foreseeable future, regardless of who ends up residing in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Dennis A. Grahl

Founder and CEO

SEAS, LLC

You present a point of view that mirrors my own frustration with our modern day political process. Why can we not get some real constructive debate and discourse on the real issues facing this country? We face a competitiveness crisis, an education crisis and a health care crisis, as well as the others you mentioned, and I cannot find any serious discussions on real actions to address any of it. And to add to your list, what about the trillions we spend on the war? What if that money was applied to Social Security or health care?

Perhaps I am too young (just 60 years old) or maybe it is because I am not an avid student of history, but as best as I can discern, it seems we in this country are seriously headed in the wrong direction, and it has never been like this before in our 232-year history.

I cannot think of any CEOs or business executives who would be able to move along in their career addressing the challenges they face in the same fashion we, as a people, seem to allow our political leaders to do. In fact, the irony is that when business leaders make a fraction of the mistakes, or act with certain misconduct, they are sent to jail for 25-year prison terms.

I know that the game of politics is different than the game of business, and I do not even suggest that the two should be considered the same. Yet I have come to believe that to believe that leadership is leadership and good decision making is good decision making--period. And good decision making is not looking good in front of cameras with canned sound bites that, if said often enough, people will believe have substance.

Substantive discourse is what we need. Perhaps CEOs of this country can get together and do what we do best, solve real, live problems, even very complex problems, with very [practical] solutions.

Or maybe we are just destined to go the way of other former great powers --Spain, England, Rome--and cede power to a new force, which is looking more and more like China.

Hey, maybe if we relinquish our role of being the caretaker of the world and let China become the next superpower, we can focus on making this country at least competitive again.

Norman Wolfe

President/CEO

Quantum Leaders

Irvine, Calif.