Letters: ‘A Gloomy Dawn’

David Cameron's 'progressive conservatism' sounds strikingly similar to George W. Bush's 'compassionate conservatism.'
Werner Radtke, Paderborn, Germany

A Tory victory is likely at the next British general election not owing to the party's ideological appeal, but because New Labour, with Gordon Brown at its helm, is totally discredited. David Cameron faces challenges in succeeding Brown similar to those Barack Obama faced post–George W. Bush: a domestic malaise, an unprecedented economic downturn, an engagement in two increasingly unpopular wars, and a diminishing role for his country on the world scene. Like Obama, Cameron is not an ideologue but a pragmatist who wants to get things done. Britain might be in for "a gloomy dawn," but that is probably the very reason why Cameron will likely be elected.
Karl H. Pagac, Villeneuve-Loubet, France

'What You Don't Know Might Kill You'
The American health system can treat cancer, but it's all about being treated by the right doctors that makes the difference. Wouldn't it be more convenient to have a centralized health system in which hospitals direct patients, depending on their illness, to specialized facilities that can save more lives? Mexico's health system, which gets a bad rap, sends patients for such care.
Alma Ríos, Mexico City, Mexico

'The Recession's Real Winner'
Leave it to a communist China to show us how to run a capitalist economy.
Muslim Mullick, Canyon Country, California

'Europe's Central Disappointment'
I must object to Paul Hockenos's description of Fidesz as a far-right party. It has no "far-right stances" whatsoever. In fact, Fidesz is a full member of the European People's Party (EPP), and its chairman, Viktor Orbán, was reelected vice president of the EPP. Fidesz has distanced itself from existing extremist sides in Hungary. This year our party unanimously adopted a resolution stating that it will offer no coalition to any extremist parties in Hungary. It defined its strategic goal as the strengthening of cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries.
Peter Szijjártó, Fidesz chief of Staff, Budapest, Hungary

CORRECTIONS: In "Underqualified for the Overrated" (Oct. 19) we should have stated that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, not the high commissioner himself, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and again in 1981.

Paul Hockenos writes that Hungary's ultranationalist Jobbik party won 18 percent of the vote in the June 2009 European parliamentary elections, when it really won some 14 percent. NEWSWEEK regrets the errors.