Regarding Ralph Nader's "The Great Fannie and Freddie Rip-Off" (op-ed, Jan. 26): He has made a long and distinguished career fighting for more and more federal government intervention in the private sector. Now he is outraged that federal intervention in the home-financing industry has cost him money as a shareholder in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Does Mr. Nader know the meaning of the word "irony"?
Maurice Emmer
Aspen, Colo.
How ironic that a progressive who endorses a business plan fraught with risk, i.e., funding mortgages for the uncreditworthy, should now ask for exceptional treatment when that same business plan fails. Mr. Nader, the common shareholders of insolvent businesses deserve nothing.
If you want to preach about the unfairness of politicians picking winners and losers, save an op-ed for the GM and Chrysler bondholders. Those secured creditors had their wealth confiscated and handed to the UAW's pension and health-care plans.
Tom Ecker
Los Angeles
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 