Bush and the history books

Regarding the Opinion page column "Mr. President: Some Friendly Advice," Oct. 16: I don't think that history is going to applaud President Bush for his role "in managing the breakup of the Soviet Empire." Rather, it will perhaps ask why he didn't do more to support the ex-Soviets in their struggles to establish democratic governments and market economies. The author states: "What knowledgeable person would swap the overall economic position of the United States for that of any other country?" As an Ameri can living in France, I submit that economic power does not automatically bestow satisfaction. How many Americans know that 1 percent of American families control 37 percent of America's wealth? Mass materialism did not used to be a part of our American heritage. Susan C. Billaudel, Paris

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