Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I applaud Kathryne Thompson for so clearly expressing her political views (Readers Write, July 22, 2010, "Misinformation gets us nowhere"). She leaves no doubt as to her ideology. I also must apologize as it is apparent that I did not make several points sufficiently clear.

First of all, I do not advocate a democracy, capitalistic or otherwise. I also would like to point out that we currently have a progressive Congress and administration, my previous letter was prompted by that fact.

Progressivism took root in this country under Woodrow Wilson, who was the first president to speak despairingly of the Constitution and openly attacked the concept of inalienable rights. Progressivism has a long and undistinguished history and is but another term for rank liberalism.

To define the true intent of such philosophy, two quotes come to mind—first, Norman Thomas, an arch-socialist and a six-time Socialist Party candidate for president:

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until America will one day be a socialist nation without knowing how it happened."

The second quote is attributed to Nikita Khrushchev, premier, dictator of the now-defunct Soviet Union:

"We can’t expect the American people to jump from capitalism to communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of socialism until they awaken one day to find they have communism."

As to Ms. Thompson’s comment which she attributed to my letter, helping the poor as a distribution of wealth, further commenting upon my cold hardheartedness and un-American attitude, may I please use yet another quote to clarify my position.

"Money is the barometer of a society’s virtue. When you see that trading is done, not be consent but by compulsion … When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain the permission from men who produce nothing … When you see your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you … you may know that your society is doomed." —Ayn Rand, "Atlas Shrugged"

The decision to help the poor, to share the sweat of your brow with others is a moral decision made by the one who produces. It is not a decision to be mandated by government. Money is made possible only by those that produce. The government produces nothing.

Ms. Thompson also referred to my letter as a diatribe. One definition of a diatribe is a learned discussion; another is a bitter, abusive criticism or denunciation. Either definition is perfectly acceptable to me.

Progressivism’s yearning to fix America has become a religious crusade of tired, failed ideologies that belong on the ash heap of history.

Andrew Maggard

Port Haywood, Va.