Fed Up with Ambiguities

Sir / Congratulations on your valiant attempt to penetrate some of the haze surrounding Senator McGovern's stand on various issues [June 26].

Senator McGovern had best realize that once he has taken a stand on an issue, he had better stick to his guns. The American people are fed up with the ambiguities, inconsistencies and glittering generalities so prevalent in our political system.

On most issues. Senator McGovern has exhibited about as much stick-to-itive-ness as Brand X denture adhesive.

RONTHEEL

Williamsville. N.Y.

Sir / Your article on George McGovern had an overall tone of "Who does he think he is?" Are Americans so obsessed with maintaining material wealth and so fearful of changing social attitudes that they are afraid of this mild South Dakotan? My guess is that we are ready for a change. Wallace supporters would agree that Government needs a "shakeup" and needs to be made more responsive to the average citizen. We need a new new deal.

CHARLES ANGERMEYER

Minneapolis

Sir / For a good many years, I was in an economic situation in which Senator McGovern's "redistribute the wealth" policies would have been a blessing if not a bonanza. Now I have managed to climb slightly above his $12,000 level, but it is hard for me to believe that it is my "wealth" he wants to redistribute.

DAVID L TRAVIS

Glassboro, N.J.

Sir / You took five pages to tell what McGovern would mean to the country. I can do it in just one word: disaster.

GEORGE KLEPACZ

Brook Park, Ohio

Sir / Re "What McGovern Would Mean to the Country": I can only conclude that Senator McGovern intends to add the American taxpayer to the endangered-species list.

MICHAEL BURTON

Aspen, Colo.

Sir / I object to the bad habit that people have of calling anyone they don't understand a "radical." McGovern's programs are being labeled socialistic and radical. No one seems to remember that in 1932 F.D.R. was called a socialist and a radical, too; yet he was elected President for more terms than any man in American history.

The whole trouble with this country is that the people are so used to the President's acting like he was made of Bell Telephone wire, some scrap metal and a couple of TV tubes that they think it has to be this way. When a statesman like George McGovern comes along and shows some one-on-one interest and some honesty, the people don't know a good guy when they see one.

TOM WASELESKI

Elizabeth, Pa.

Sir / George McGovern's tax proposals may be very good in a number of ways, because they are designed to make taxes more equitable. It is a well-known fact, however, that colleges and universities, for example, cannot function on tuition alone. If, indeed, incomes above $50,000 and inheritances were to be taxed as severely as McGovern suggests, who could actually afford to endow universities? Would financing have to be turned over to the Government in this area also? Would this not necessitate converting to a system in which only select students may attend college? Is this equitable?

ELIZABETH JENSEN

Kansas City, Mo.

Sir / You say, "Clearly McGovern's interest in domestic affairs transcends his concern for world events." It would make a refreshing change to have a President who is concerned mainly with the U.S.. rather than a President who is concerned mainly with the internal affairs of other nations.

LINDA J.BUNGE

New York City

Idiot-Proof Photography

Sir / I do not question that Edwin Land [June 26] is a genius and that his new SX-70 will yield tremendous profits for both Polaroid and its stockholders. Unfortunately, however, this entire concept of rendering picture taking "idiot proof" desecrates the art of photography.

Idiot-proof photography eliminates virtually all the challenge and the opportunity for creativity.

JOHN E.TURNER

New York City

Sir / Dr. Land's "voiced thoughts" to TIME'S Philip Taubman transfer cold type into an essay on humanity every bit as enriching as the most beautiful photograph. Had Dr. Land chosen not to invest his genius in science, he would likely have emerged as one of mankind's finer philosophers and writers.

JOHN ACKELMIRE

Indianapolis

Sir / In your article on Edwin Land you say: "This year the company reached a longtime goal of employing one black in each ten jobs, about the same ratio as blacks in the total population."

I am sure that there are many who would award Polaroid a gold star for this. However, what would they award a professional football team that limited its black players to one out of ten?

GARDNER C. DUNCAN

Eagle Lake, Texas

Sir / Re Mr. Land's dilemma of what to call his new SX-70 Polaroid camera: I suggest it be called the One-Hand Land, since the whole idea of the camera is, presumably, its compactness and ease of operation.

BRUCE KARP

Howard Beach, N.Y.

Sir / Since Edwin Land's SX-70 camera is capable of doing practically everything automatically, may I humbly suggest that it be named the OMNIMATIC-70?

DANTE N. ROSSO

Beverly, Mass.

Sir / I think Dr. Land should name Polaroid's new camera the Land Sakes.

(MRS.) M. ROSANN REESE

Glendale, Calif.

Reeling In the Police

Sir / The article about the destruction of John Conforti's house by agents searching for narcotics [June 26] was distressing but typical of a pattern in this country today. The forces of law-and-order have been granted the legal powers to search and wire tap homes for the purpose of eliminating crime.

When the men and organizations that were set up to protect us begin to turn on private citizens with such apparent vengeance, it is about time to throw out the hook and reel them in a bit. The original law-and-order movement has been corrupted.

JOHN HAYDEN TAYLOR

Springfield, Pa.

Sir / If the outlandish wrecking of a man's home goes without retribution by the responsible authorities, then may I suggest that we uniform our industrious law-enforcement officers with swastikas rather than badges?

PAT L. JOHNSON

Moore, Okla.

Sir / What has been destroyed along with John Conforti's house is the myth that George Orwell's 1984 could never happen in this country. It has.

CRAIG A. STARKEY

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

A General Raked over Coals

Sir / In your article on General Lavelle's unauthorized air strikes over North Viet Nam [June 26], you state that Senator Proxmire's remark regarding civilian control over the military was right. You are correct, but incompetent direction of the military by politicians--in the case of Korea and Viet Nam, not to mention Pearl Harbor --is also wrong. Apparently it is easier to rake a general over the coals than a President and his hot-shot advisers.

JOHN W.JONES

Houston

Sir / Re General John Lavelle's private war: you can't be almost pregnant and you can't wage an almost war. I say viva to a man with guts! I wish I were a member of the Establishment so these words might mean something.

MAURICE V. MORALES

Los Angeles

Lost and Found

Sir / You are so right in stating that something remarkable has taken place in Rapid City, S. Dak. [June 26].

When I jumped from the second story of our floating rectory in my night clothing, I was given clothes by the Seventh-day Adventists. I was fed by the Mennonite Brethren. I was given shelter and a home under Catholic auspices. The Red Cross provided glasses and other immediate necessities. I lost everything that I had in the flood, but I have found a shining example of the essential brotherhood of man in the charity of Christ.

(THE REV.) LAWRENCE EDWARDS

Rapid City, S. Dak.

Mini-Tops or Squares

Sir / I suppose the mini-tops [June 26] are very cute and wearable as long as a girl does not measure more than 32 minus A, but what are the designers going to do for us females to whom nature has been more than generous? We can't wear the current styles, so that makes us "squares."

JOTANNER

Fern Park, Fla.

Sir / Eric Meola's pinup-size color closeups of the new fashions were obviously meant to titillate your male readers. Perhaps you assumed that your female readers, inured to such insulting exploitation, would ignore them; but as women's consciousness of their human dignity increases, fewer women readers will tolerate this sort of affront.

MS. MARY E.COLLINS

Milton, Mass.

Sir / Maybe now I can get my son to show a livelier interest in current affairs.

PERRY CARRIEL

Gastonia, N.C.

Loaves and Fishes

Sir / After reading your article on the biblical amusement park, Holyland [June 19], I could only wonder if the refreshment stands will offer all the loaves and fishes you can eat for 390.

CHARLESW.PEARCE

Allentown, Pa.

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