Bemoaning the Cost of Kenneth Lay’s Legacy

“Ex-Enron Chief’s Legacy Takes Especially High Toll on Smaller Companies” (James Flanigan, July 11) makes brief reference to the depredations of Kenneth Lay and the other managers of Enron, then goes on at great length to bemoan the fact that the very inadequate remedy that Congress applied will have costs associated with it.

How typical of this country’s economic philosophy these days -- that nothing must interfere with the making of money, not even to correct the monstrous evils of an Enron.

For me, the great obscenity of Congress’ action (enacted over the objections of the rapacious administration) is that nothing was done about the fleecing of Enron’s employees.

Some redress for stockholders, yes, but nothing for the ordinary Joes and Janes whose savings were wiped out.

Kelley L. Cartwright

Rancho Park

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I have no pity for the small business that must now adhere to the new Sarbanes-Oxley law.

In the 1990s, it was the un- controlled growth of just such “small” businesses (particularly dot-com companies) that were pushed by their venture capital sponsors and their own short-term view that spawned the excesses the law is meant to address.

Enron, Adelphia and MCI/ WorldCom started small and left their ethics behind during their explosive expansions.

I submit that well-run, long-view businesses will thrive despite the restrictions imposed on them.

Sidney H. Goodman

Calabasas