Multimillionaires

To the Editors:

It was a relief to read "Making a Mint Overnight" [Jan. 23]. Thanks for turning from hunger, war and poverty to remind us of excellence and its rewards.

Russell Small Euclid, Ohio Investors like Arthur Rock prove that America is still the land of opportunity.

Sammy Tonga

Boca Raton, Fla.

As one of a new generation of venture capitalists, I find that helping entrepreneurs is enormously satisfying, regardless of the financial reward.

Daniel H. Case III, Vice President

Hambrecht & Quist

San Francisco

Some of those greedy entrepreneurs and vulture capitalists are merely money-changers in the temple of life.

John Joss

Los Altos, Calif.

I cannot understand the compulsion that drives some individuals to amass fortunes far beyond what they need for their comfort and security.

Donald Draganski

Evanston, Ill.

Kissinger's Advice In the Kissinger commission's report on Central America [Jan. 23], it is clear that human rights are irrelevant in the grand scheme for Central America. Here we go again with guns and money as the simple solution to extremely complex problems. This is a recycled version of the policy we used in Viet Nam.

Robert L. Schlosser

Seattle

Our leaders seem to believe that a large infusion of dollars into areas susceptible to "Marxist revolution" is the only answer to Central America's problems. Historically, aid in this form has led most nations to increased corruption as well as economic and military dependency. John M. Goeke Charleston, Ill. The annual $1.6 billion in economic and military assistance proposed for Central America is not an enormous sum. The figure is less than the amount currently given to Egypt each year.

Richard H. Ebright

Boston

Even the wisdom of the Kissinger commission ignores the key problem in Central America, a runaway birth rate too great for the countries to absorb. Until that situation is brought under control, Marxism will continue to appeal to the hungry, illiterate masses.

Naomi W. Higginbotham

Phoenix

The recommendations in the Kissinger report remind me of the attempts by the Alliance for Progress to solve Latin America's problems. The Alliance failed despite the expenditure of nearly $10 billion. In all likelihood, the Kissinger suggestions will also come to naught. Unfortunately, the Kissinger panel does not demand basic structural changes in Central American institutions, changes that could prevent more military governments from coming to power and that could reduce the gap between a rich minority and an impoverished majority.

E. Bradford Burns

Professor of Latin American History

University of California

Los Angeles

Death on the Border Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger's outrage at the killing of an American soldier in Honduras [Jan. 23] is disingenuous. If we send soldiers into a combat area, some are going to be killed. Thomas C. Reber Austin The loss of our helicopter pilot near the Honduran-Nicaraguan border should serve as a lesson for us: if you don't want the fruits of sin, stay out of the orchard.

W. Ward Fearnside

Wellesley, Mass.

Vatican Exchange In attempting to justify President Reagan's nomination of an Ambassador to the Holy See [Jan. 23], some people argue that an exchange with the Vatican is no more objectionable than the diplomatic recognition we extend to the Soviet Union. However, there is a considerable difference. The Roman Catholic Church has 50 million adherents in the U.S. In certain international situations, the Ambassador from the Vatican could make demands sub rosa on the President. What other diplomatic representative could threaten to invoke the support of 50 million Americans?

Robert Griffith

Brattleboro, Vt.

An ambassadorial relationship does not imply agreement or union between the two parties. There is no more reason to fear Vatican interference in U.S. affairs than Soviet influence in running this free and religiously unbiased country.

Michaer Ehreth

Berkeley, Calif.

Why is it that when the U.S. sends an Ambassador to the Vatican, the country is in an uproar over the "separation of church and state," yet when the Rev. Jesse Jackson runs for the presidency, nobody says a word?

Donald R. Schindel

Chicago

As a Protestant, I find Ronald Reagan's diplomatic relations with the Pope far more reassuring than his "nonofficial" communion with Jerry Falwell.

Donald Elser

North Lima, Ohio

Zhao's Visit

During his visit, Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang [Jan. 23] stressed that the Taiwan-mainland conflict is "China's internal affair." If France had believed a similar argument by England in 1776, where would the 13 colonies be today?

Taiwan is no more an internal affair of China's than the American Revolution was an internal affair of England's. The real issue is freedom from tyranny.

Gregory Delaney

Los Gatos, Calif.

Wasteful Ways

Congratulations to Chairman J. Peter Grace and his task force of corporate executives for pinpointing hundreds of examples of wasteful Government spending [Jan. 23]. Senators and Congressmen who are reluctant to comply with the solutions proposed by the Grace commission should swallow their home-town pride and consider the big picture.

Peter Cincotta

Tuckerton, N.J.

It is startling that the Government would pay $91 for a screw that normally costs 3-c-. But it is even more startling that the Government would pay $320,000 for a four-month study that concludes that rampant hunger does not exist in the U.S. I am more willing to pay the $91 for the 3-c- screw. At least I get something for my money.

Clentin Martin

Greensburg, Pa.

The Government should not have to take all the blame for paying $91 for a 3-c- screw. Shouldn't the businessmen who charge those prices accept some of the responsibility for the waste?

Karen R. John

Arlington, Va.

Trains and Trolleys

As your article makes clear, public transportation is not a luxury but a necessity [Jan. 23]. Our love affair with the automobile has caused many problems ranging from dependence upon foreign oil to trapping the elderly and disabled in their homes. Perhaps more than anything else, public transportation can help make cities livable again.

Lisa B. Team

Mobile, Ala.

Your article said nothing positive about New York City's subways and buses. This system operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, is the most extensive and moves the largest number of people of any in the U.S. Only after taking these factors into consideration can you then compare it with the newer, less far-reaching systems of other cities.

Helen B. Probst

New York City

Solitary for Amy

Who can remain unmoved by the courage, however misapplied, of young Amy, who refused to testify against her stepfather for molesting her [Jan. 23]? Had Judge John DeRonde succeeded in breaking her will, he might have caused psychological harm more devastating and lasting than any caused by the alleged molester. By putting Amy in solitary confinement, the judge may have "acted within his rights," but he showed a monumental lack of compassion, not to mention common sense.

Norma S. Hass

Sleepy Hollow, Ill.

Tube Rock

As a rock deejay, I wonder how many of the letter writers who put down rock video [Jan. 16] are aware of how much they sound like their parents. Perhaps these naysayers will remember how their mothers and fathers complained when they stood on the corner singing doo-wop, grew long hair and went crazy over the Beatles. Change is the essence of life. Those who refuse to change are doomed to decay and middle age.

Bob ("Bob-a-Loo") Lewis

New York City