To the Editor:

Re “What Are Capitalists Thinking?,” by Michael Tomasky (Op-Ed, Aug. 6):

Thank you for highlighting the fact that capitalism itself “has made socialism look far more appealing, especially to young people .” And, as Mr. Tomasky notes, “The kind of capitalism this country has been practicing for all these years has failed most people.”

The only kind of capitalism I have seen across my 75 years presents a continuous assault on human health and quality of life, community welfare, political integrity and environmental safekeeping. Mr. Tomasky may have “mixed feelings about this socialist boomlet .” I, for one, am hoping for an avalanche!

Michael Katz

Washington

To the Editor:

“What Are Capitalists Thinking?” Why don’t you ask people from the former Soviet Union who have immigrated to the United States? There are tens of thousands of us. The majority are grateful to have had this opportunity and are appalled to see that socialism, which failed so spectacularly in our native land, is gaining popularity among the younger generation.

Yes , the ideas of equality and liberation espoused during the revolutionary days of 1917 were powerful and enticing, but the next seven decades showed the glaring weaknesses of the socialist economy. While we can debate the various policies and their effect on economic growth and opportunity, we must also teach our next generation about the spectacular failures of socialism.