This is in response to letter-writer Peter Stathis’s critique of my previous comments.

The connection between capitalism and world poverty and death can be explained in one simple reference: Jean Ziegler, the Geneva sociologist and former United Nations Rapporteur on the “Right to Food” wrote in his book “Empire of Shame” (Editions Fayard, 2005) that about 36 million people die every year from hunger and malnutrition.

Even without going into details about the effects of global corporate rule, capitalism is responsible for those deaths by the very fact it is a world economic system that embraces all countries worldwide. Ziegler accuses the global corporations of maintaining (Third-World) famine, of destroying nature and of subverting democracy, and that these capitalist corporations extend their influence over the world.

If Stathis wishes not to accept Ziegler’s figures or accusations, then why not consider Columbia University Professor of Economics Jeffrey D. Sachs, who also is a special adviser to the United Nations secretary-general and consultant to a number of foreign countries in matters of international economics. Sachs authored “The End of Poverty” in 2005 and stated a more conservative figure of “eight million people who die of poverty and malnutrition each year, because they are too poor to stay alive.” Sachs reported that World Bank economists Shaohua Chen and Martin Ravallion estimated that roughly “1.1 billion people were (also) living in extreme poverty in the year 2001.” The economists added another 1.6 billion people, who were living as “moderately poor.” Sachs does not blame capitalism, nor does heabsolve it either. If one acknowledges that world economics is based on capitalism, how can this system escape responsibility?

As for Stathis’ question of why Cubans are fleeing their country for the U.S, it is because we have imposed an economic embargo on Cuba for 50 years and on other countries that wish to do business with the Cubans. This has caused Cuba and its citizens to struggle in its economic survival and to live in great poverty. Cubans have admirably survived, despite the unconscionable embargo conditions America has imposed on Cuba’s women, children and senior citizens. It is the monied interests of the Cuban-Americans in Miami, mostly Republicans, who have caused the Republican Party (and the Democrats as well) to kowtow to the Cuban-Americans’ selfish political and economic interests, at the expense of Americans and our country’s own economic benefits.

Yes, there is more freedom under socialism, because the citizens and workers set policy, retain authority and ownership and make all decisions for the community and workplaces. Under capitalism, all decisions are made by the owners of the companies or a small group of investors or an elite board, and the workers have no say in the matter. How democratic is that?

Granted, there may be more political rights in the U.S., such as free speech and assembly, but once again, that is because of the imminent military threat of the U.S. and its constant efforts to undermine Cuba’s government. Can you blame the Cuban government’s effort to protect its survivability when it experienced the Bay of Pigs attack, ongoing Radio Free America interference programs to Cuba, harassing plane flights and our numerous CIA efforts to assassinate its former leader, Fidel Castro?

You are the one living in denial.

Brian P. Moore

Spring Hill, Florida