Business Letters

Re: “Netflix agrees to 28-day delay in renting out Warner movies,” Jan. 7:

I’ve been a Netflix subscriber since 2001. Though I’m disappointed that Netflix essentially lay down and let Warner Bros. walk all over it, I can’t say I’m surprised.

If that studio (and any others that may follow its greedy lead) wants so desperately to withhold its DVD rentals, then I’ll simply withhold my moviegoing dollars by avoiding Warner Bros. films when they’re playing in theaters.

Will Campbell

Los Angeles

Americans get worked to death

Re: “Satisfied at work? It’s a rare benefit,” Jan 6:

Of course Americans are unsatisfied at work! They are underpaid, work too many hours and get the least vacation time of any civilized country in the world.

Perhaps we would not have alarming rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension if given more reasonable time to de-stress.

Carolyn Rios

Venice

On regulating the banking industry

Re: David Lazarus’ consumer column “Banks take revenge for new consumer-protection rules,” Jan. 6:

By moving our money to community-based banks or credit unions, maybe we can begin to remove the stranglehold these international banking behemoths have on the banking and financial industry worldwide and make them more responsive to the concerns of their depositors.

Anthony Balderrama

Eagle Rock

::

As an executive of a small community bank, I have no love for the big banks.

However, let me point out a simple economic concept that is driving the changes in fees, charges and rates.

In effect, the government has chosen to place price caps of sorts on various banking products. Any time a price cap is initiated, the effect on the supply-demand curve is simply to reduce the supply of that commodity.

It’s somewhat fashionable in this day and age to point a finger at the evil bankers, but understand: Healthy and profitable banks are necessary. A sick bank isn’t good for anybody, whether that be customers, shareholders, employees or taxpayers.

Blake White

Crestview, Fla.

::

It was the government that forced many of the solvent banks to take bailout money, much of which has already been paid back.

People don’t have to use credit cards and shouldn’t if they can’t understand the terms or manage their own finances. As long as the government tries to meddle in some parts of private business, free markets cannot function. People should stop whining and take some personal responsibility.

Glen Schnablegger

Fullerton

Libertarian ideas caused the crisis

Re: “Ron Paul’s ideas no longer fringe,” Jan 2:

Ron Paul blames the economic crisis on the Fed, but it was run by fellow libertarian Alan Greenspan. Greenspan has been quoted as saying he could have stopped the bubble in a minute, “but who am I to tell the market what to do?”

It was libertarian ideas that brought us the current economic disaster, and Keynesian ones have stopped the free fall of the economy.

Emil Lawton

Sherman Oaks

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