Re “Democracy in deficit” (Turning Points, Dec. 6): Former Prime Minister Tony Blair raises an interesting question: What is the relationship between economic growth and democracy? Mr. Blair sees the dearth of economic growth as evidence that something is wrong with 21st-century democracies. This strikes me as putting the cart before the horse. For 50 years or more, we have acted as if growth is a kind of heaven on earth that we must always pursue without question. We should at least have a conversation about what kinds of growth we want.

At present, what little economic growth we get is creating a vastly more unequal world, as finance and banking grow larger in relation to the rest of the economy. In the United States, democracy is directly threatened by this increasing inequality, as billionaires in finance and oil exert disproportionate influence on the government and judiciary. Inequality is the greatest present threat to democracy, it is the cause of the increasing polarization, and it is destroying people’s trust in democratic institutions.

Charles Justice Prince Rupert, British Columbia

Mr. Blair equates democracy with economic growth. But democracy isn’t an economic system; it is a system of self-governance. And it has been infiltrated and taken over by capitalism. In our capitalistic democracy, some votes are worth more than others. If we want democracy to be relevant, we must strive for a more perfect union of people acting together for common causes, not a union of corporate interests and endless economic growth at the expense of the people.

Daniel Newsome, Elizaville, N.Y.

Mr. Blair neglects to mention the main reason why democracy is almost dead. In the United States, it really does not matter who you vote for, or if you vote at all. The rich (like Mr. Blair) and powerful determine what the “elected” Congress will do anyway. For democracy to work, the effect of money on the election process must be eliminated.