The Editor, Sir:

I visited yournorth coast last week for the second time, spoke with many people and read your May 9 paper's commentary and was struck by the similarity of our political divisions. Your PNP sounds very similar to our Democratic Party, promising free services that the government can't afford, unless they tax the economy to a stand-still. I have always believed that a job trumps every welfare benefit.

Free markets with low taxes (along with strong rule of law and property rights) will result in more business creation and higher paying jobs, as we have seen everywhere it's been tried, but no more vividly than in Ireland. Before cutting taxes and business regulation in the 1980s, they were one of the poorest of all western European countries. Thirty years on their economy is the fastest growing and their incomes rival ours. Conversely, populism has never grown an economy for the long haul nor lifted living standards. Witness the high unemployment in France and the poverty in Cuba.

I love your country and pray that you can have a similar turnaround experience. At that point however, I may have to find a more affordable place to vacation!

I am, etc.,

JEFF HUNT

Jh7237@bellsouth.net

Orlando , Florida