To the Editor:
Re “Join My Bewildered Liberals Book Club,” by Nicholas Kristof (column, Feb. 23):
I had beforehand learn the books advisable 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 school, but additionally 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 individuals.
Working women and men deserted the labor motion in giant numbers during the last 4 a long time partly as a result of their U.S.-based unions had been sick geared up to cope with low-cost, international competitors that eradicated so a lot of their jobs.
That competitors was fostered by offshoring promoted by U.S. company and political elites from each side of the aisle. However employees disarmed themselves politically and economically by too typically blaming and abandoning unions within the face of that competitors, as a substitute of utilizing the leverage that organizing gives to elect and affect extra native, state and congressional allies.
Elections have penalties, and till working individuals 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’d add to Nicholas Kristof’s “Bewildered Liberals Ebook Membership” listing the sociologist Arlie Hochschild’s two wonderful books about why low-income white individuals really feel shamed and abused by liberals: “Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Proper” (2016), based mostly in rural Louisiana, and “Stolen Pride: Loss, Disgrace and the Rise of the Proper” (2024), centered on Pikeville, Ky.
Her deep nonjudgmental reporting de-caricatures Trump supporters and permits us to see them as individuals.
Ross Reynolds
Seattle
To the Editor:
I take situation with Nicholas Kristof’s assertion that it’s Democrats who’re “oblivious” to the working class. It’s merely not true.
The Democratic Social gathering has constantly supported commerce unions, Medicaid and Medicare, the Reasonably priced Care Act (Obamacare), Social Safety, meals stamp applications (beneath numerous labels) and different measures to assist and advance the working class, typically in opposition to concerted Republican opposition.
As for Mr. Kristof’s e-book membership concept: I’m certain these are wonderful books we should always all learn, however they won’t assist us in our present predicament. America has a robust and well-organized civil society unmatched by every other nation. These organizations should come collectively and act in live performance (within the courts but additionally within the streets). And Democratic Social gathering leaders and their allies should converse out loudly, clearly and infrequently.
As soon as we’ve taken our nation again, there might 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 hearken to the complaints of blue-collar voters may need talked about the true, clear root of populist anger — greater than 40 years of steadily growing circulate of wealth to these least in want, compounded by relentless Republican messaging that stoked the anger of these on the dropping finish.
Listening to these sadly misled by the G.O.P. is not going to deal with their issues. What they really want is just not 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, develop reasonably priced medical 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 therefore clearly figuring out enormous blind spots in our Democratic Social gathering’s stance and mission, all of which contributed to our loss final November. So, sure, let’s start to hearken to those that have completely different views, wants and desires, so we’d higher perceive the underlying points and reply accordingly. Solely then can the US of America be really united. As for me, I’m listening now.
Sue Casey
Amherst, Mass.
