Ideological platitudes

Professor Charles Kesler’s piece Dec. 2 is full of ideological platitudes such as identity politics. Kesler falsely portrays liberals and progressives— who do want justice and voting rights for all—but with many other concerns as well.

Liberals want a better shake for the working person. The biggest issue in the recent election was health insurance. They think ahead to coming generations, and worry about existential threats such as nuclear war and runaway climate change. Liberals have a track record of defending freedoms listed in the Bill of Rights. Contrary to Kesler, they do not consider white males “the enemy.” I personally know scores of white males who call themselves liberals. Often they are vets, blue-collar, even hunters.

Kesler identifies himself as conservative, but what does that word mean in the Age of Trump? Does free trade imply tariffs? Is fiscal conservatism about putting the country in debt to benefit corporations? Is limited government about sending military to the

border for show?

Of course we have a living Constitution, which the founders wisely intended by setting up an amending process. Do “originalists” think that technologies like computers, cloning, and space travel do not change society? Or that growing from 5 million people to 325 million won’t make any difference? In 1800, 83 percent of the population farmed; in 2017, 11 percent did.

Blathering about states’ rights or Woodrow Wilson is not relevant to the issues of today. Let liberals and progressives speak for themselves. CORALIE KOONCE Fayetteville