NO NEED FOR ELITES

I strongly disagree with Ramesh Ponnuru (“Reform School,” November 17) when he writes the following: “Any sensible politics includes an important role for elites. Developing policies and strategies is necessarily an elite pursuit.”

I voted for Ronald Reagan for California governor and U.S. president. I believe his strengths were in his firm beliefs and grasp of principles. Similar things could be said of Margaret Thatcher. I have read a considerable amount about both of them, and I am not aware of their needing elites for developing policies and strategies.

I believe Sarah Palin has that same character and ability to learn quickly, as evidenced by her ability to fight corrupt Republican politicians in Alaska. She was obviously a quick study as governor, as evidenced by her very high approval rating.

Jim Davidson Stilwell, Kan.

Ramesh Ponnuru Replies: Does Mr. Davidson imagine that Reagan came up with supply-side economics by himself? Reagan and his aides didn’t feel themselves diminished for learning from Wall Street Journal writers, academic economists, and Washington think tankers.

ROADWAY SOCIALISM

In “Toll Talk” (November 17), Robert VerBruggen proposes congestion pricing as a way to manage traffic on our nation’s highways, and responds to the criticism that variable tolls are unfair to the poor. One of the solutions he suggests is to charge the poor lower tolls.

If the thought of linking tax returns to license plates for progressive congestion pricing doesn’t send chills through your carburetor, it should. Do we really want to see toll collectors morph into IRS agents?

Also, if the misuse of handicap-parking placards is any guide, we’ll just see Mom jumping in a car registered under Junior’s name (and low-bracket tax return) to head to work. Let’s stick with fees based on traffic levels, not income.

Kristina Rasmussen Alexandria, Va.

Robert Verbruggen Replies: Legitimate points both. But regarding the first, I believe it’s worthwhile to trade some redistribution for a far more efficient transportation system, especially considering that breaks for the poor are already so common in government services. All sorts of fees — including, already, tolls in some areas — are lower for the poor. It’s not exactly a sharp left turn down the Road to Serfdom.

Regarding the second, that is a potential problem, but one that can be ameliorated in several ways. It’s possible to limit discounts to one car per person, especially in systems that use license-plate recognition instead of transponders. (It’s easy to move a transponder from one car to another, but not practical to switch license plates every day before work.) One should also require proof of employment — if Junior has a job, Mom won’t have access to his car that often. If he doesn’t have a job, he’s exactly the kind of person who should be rescheduling his trips to avoid peak fares instead of getting a discount. And of course it’s important to levy high fines on those caught defrauding the system.