Democracy Starts at Home

As someone who believes strongly in democracy and who has spent his adult life working to promote economic development, I wish I could share Mr. Wisniewski's enthusiastic optimism ("Spreading Democracy -- Our Duty," April 4). I cannot. While I would agree that democracy can flourish in many different soils, I would argue that it succeeds when it strikes its own roots, not when it is imposed by force of arms or the inducements of financial aid. Building a democratic society is an arduous and difficult task, one that requires enormous courage, conviction and patience on the part of democrats. Sadly, today, our actions abroad and at home betray the very democratic values we claim to support.