Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

In her August 24 letter to the Gazette, Barbara B. Rivers quotes Thomas Sowell in describing what she sees as the negative aspects of re-electing President Obama. She ends her letter with a suggestion to think about Mr. Sowell’s words. So let us, indeed, think — specifically let’s think about the man who is the source of the quote.

Thomas Sowell is the same person who in 2010 compared the President to Hitler because Mr. Obama dared to create a relief fund for the victims of the BP oil spill — truly an action on a par with white supremacy, the promulgation of war, and genocide! Mr. Sowell, a libertarian who subscribes to strongly conservative economic views that have been eschewed by most mainstream economists, uses half-truths and deceptions to promote his extreme agenda. Hardly a reasonable voice about the upcoming election, he deliberately misleads the reader. His disparaging description of Mr. Obama is actually a perfect description of Mitt Romney! Mr. Romney advocates tax breaks for the wealthy (something for nothing) at the cost of more taxes being paid by the middle and lower classes. Mr. Romney and his party use patriotic and feel-good rhetoric to pander to low-information voters but avoid, at all costs, telling the truth about their plans. The Republican goals are all about enriching the coffers of the wealthy, squelching anyone who isn’t, limiting everyone else’s choices and opportunities and ignoring the future health and well-being of our country. Republican policies going back three decades have put us where we are today, and the GOP dearly wants Americans to follow them down this road to ruin.

Toby K. Ward

Edgartown

and Lexington