To the Editor:
Re “Join My Bewildered Liberals Book Club,” by Nicholas Kristof (column, Feb. 23):
I had beforehand learn the books beneficial by Mr. Kristof in his column. I take from them lots of the similar classes he reiterates. I did discover, although, his “bewildered liberals” characterization insulting. Many people are annoyed, actually, however not bewildered.
As somebody who graduated from faculty, but in addition labored for 3 completely different unions over a 40-year profession, I’ve had firsthand expertise with the travails of working women and men. However I half firm with Mr. Kristof in laying a lot of the blame for President Trump’s rise on misguided, liberal “elites,” who supposedly disdain or dismiss working folks.
Working women and men deserted the labor motion in massive numbers over the past 4 many years partially as a result of their U.S.-based unions have been unwell geared up to cope with low cost, international competitors that eradicated so lots of their jobs.
That competitors was fostered by offshoring promoted by U.S. company and political elites from either side of the aisle. However employees disarmed themselves politically and economically by too usually blaming and abandoning unions within the face of that competitors, as an alternative of utilizing the leverage that organizing offers to elect and affect extra native, state and congressional allies.
Elections have penalties, and till working folks vote in their very own pursuits once more, aspiring despots like President Trump and Vice President JD Vance will win elections and employees will lose them.
Doug Allen
Truckee, Calif.
To the Editor:
I might add to Nicholas Kristof’s “Bewildered Liberals Guide Membership” checklist the sociologist Arlie Hochschild’s two wonderful books about why low-income white folks really feel shamed and abused by liberals: “Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Proper” (2016), primarily based in rural Louisiana, and “Stolen Pride: Loss, Disgrace and the Rise of the Proper” (2024), targeted on Pikeville, Ky.
Her deep nonjudgmental reporting de-caricatures Trump supporters and permits us to see them as folks.
Ross Reynolds
Seattle
To the Editor:
I take difficulty with Nicholas Kristof’s assertion that it’s Democrats who’re “oblivious” to the working class. It’s merely not true.
The Democratic Get together has constantly supported commerce unions, Medicaid and Medicare, the Inexpensive Care Act (Obamacare), Social Safety, meals stamp applications (below varied labels) and different measures to assist and advance the working class, usually towards concerted Republican opposition.
As for Mr. Kristof’s ebook membership thought: I’m positive these are wonderful books we should always all learn, however they won’t assist us in our present predicament. The USA has a strong and well-organized civil society unmatched by another nation. These organizations should come collectively and act in live performance (within the courts but in addition within the streets). And Democratic Get together leaders and their allies should communicate out loudly, clearly and infrequently.
As soon as we’ve taken our nation again, there will probably be loads of time to learn.
Constance A. Nathanson
New York
To the Editor:
Nicholas Kristof’s column imploring Democrats to drop their condescension and truly take heed to the complaints of blue-collar voters may need talked about the true, clear root of populist anger — greater than 40 years of steadily rising stream of wealth to these least in want, compounded by relentless Republican messaging that stoked the anger of these on the shedding finish.
Listening to these sadly misled by the G.O.P. won’t tackle their issues. What they really want will not be a sympathetic ear however a rollback of wildly irresponsible tax cuts signed by Presidents Reagan, George W. Bush and Trump that render efforts to assist these left behind impotent. Step one on this course of is to cease the “carnage” and work with brave Republicans to extend the federal minimal wage, broaden reasonably priced medical health insurance and block the extension of 2017 tax cuts that serve the already wealthy.
Eric R. Carey
Arlington, Va.
To the Editor:
Thanks to Nicholas Kristof for thus clearly figuring out enormous blind spots in our Democratic Get together’s stance and mission, all of which contributed to our loss final November. So, sure, let’s start to take heed to those that have completely different views, wants and desires, so we would higher perceive the underlying points and reply accordingly. Solely then can the USA of America be actually united. As for me, I’m listening now.
Sue Casey
Amherst, Mass.
