In Clarence Page`s column, ”That `ol black mind-set has me in a spin”
(Dec. 10), Mr. Page writes about George Gilder`s view of the basis of poverty. This column on the ideology of Mr. Gilder is without a proper review of the economist`s book, ”Wealth and Poverty.” Again Mr. Page, as was the case in his column on the Vanessa William`s Playboy spread, is ignorant of his source material and has the proverbial egg on his face. Page either blatantly or ignorantly excerpted partial sentences from Mr. Gilder`s book and proceeded to state the economist`s views in an erroneous light.
Mr. Page writes: ”Gilder dismisses `the myths of discrimination` as a massive `persecution complex` by whining blacks and women who are staking claims in the `Klondike of bigotry.` ”
More accurately, Mr. Gilder`s chapter, ”The Myths of discrimination,”
in his book, ”Wealth and Poverty,” brings out his feelings that blacks have been the paramount victims of discrimination in America. The persecution complex Mr. Gilder describes is a standard psychological ill he sees every race and creed in our society suffering from. The Klondike bigotry Mr. Gilder sees regards the EEOC`s expanding inclusions to claims from ex-addicts and alcoholics, the aged, the young and an extraordinarily growing variety of interest groups beyond the limited minority market of blacks it was started to aid.
I find Mr. Page`s inaccurate publication of Mr. Gilder`s notions unconscionable, and it evidences the horrific bias regularly exhibited against the Reagan administration.
