Gates Shows Market Potential

To the editors:

It did not particularly surprise me to see letters disparaging Kaustuv Sen's remarkable editorial in defense of careers in the business world (Dec. 3). I did, however, find these letters particularly amusing in light of a large picture in the very same edition of The Crimson, a shot of Bill and Melinda Gates at a press conference announcing the creation of a $100-million fund to provide vaccinations for children in third-world nations.

Lest we forget, Bill Gates is the world's richest entrepreneur, who made his fortune in the free market. Capitalism is not, per se, a force for good, but the good it enables is immense. Anyone who doubts its unmatched power to finance good works should bear that image of Mr. and Mrs. Gates in mind. KEVIN A. SHAPIRO '99-'00   Dec. 3, 1998