In response to Larry Bargenquast’s comments (“Trash the liberal-created culture”) on your opinion page of April 10:
Mr. Bargenquast’s stereotypical and shopworn comments about the “evils” of progressive philosophy sound pretty much cribbed from the flaccid talking points of Hannity, Limbaugh, and the other incendiary and bombastic talking heads who seem to rule the day in modern conservative polemics.
At age 63, I have been a “liberal” since high school. I have known many persons who claim to be liberals. The vast majority of them have been rational, compassionate, and empathetic individuals who seek a better world both for themselves and for their fellow human beings. Yes, we do believe in general that we would rather see the vast resources of our wealthy and privileged society channeled into more humane endeavors than invading sovereign nations and stockpiling bombs. Call us crazy. But we should not be thought of as naïve or mentally deficient because our main goal in life is not always to look out for ourselves, but to sometimes consider the needs and problems of others.
I know: Conservatives hate government, and would like to see it shrunk into near non-existence. I get it. No rules, no regulations, and every dollar earned kept in your own pocket.
Unfortunately, this is a naïve and grossly impractical philosophy, one that has never proven effective in the past (unless, of course, Larry is pining away for the good old days of child labor, slavery, and robber barons …) and that ultimately leads to disequilibrium and unrest in society. The whole ball of wax just does not work if a handful of the wealthy reap all the benefits of society to the detriment of the rest of us.
As for gun control: We need it badly. There are simply too many guns in the hands of too many people with poor judgment, mental instabilities, and nefarious intents. Yes, it is a “complex 21st century problem,” as Larry states, but Britain and other nations that reside firmly in the 21st century have greatly reduced gun violence via sensible gun legislation. Google it, Larry: Their homicide rate by firearms was 6 percent in 2010 while ours was 67 percent.
Mr. Bargenquast states that liberal programs should be “abolished along with the intellectual left and their supporters.”
That, Larry, is not likely to happen if we continue to be a free and clear-thinking society. There will always be individuals who work for and believe in the concept that if we lift everyone up, then everyone in our society will benefit in the end. In my opinion, that is what government should help do, Larry. And fortunately for all of us, there are a lot of people who feel the same.
This article appears in Apr 24 – May 1, 2014.