We need FDR’s ‘tired’ New Deal

Re “Democrats may need a Trump of their own,” Opinion, April 10

Jonah Goldberg suggests that the Democratic Party should “reform” itself in some “fresh” way, as the Republicans did with President Trump.

He forgets that “fresh reform” is not always for the better, as Trump has shown. What about Trump’s fresh start for bigotry and misogyny? For authoritarianism? For making our nation a global laughingstock?

The Democratic Party should ignore Goldberg’s odd query if it seeks to really improve the country. While imperfect, that party still provides the better hope for restoring some semblance of humanity and sanity in America.

I find it quite difficult to endure Trump’s “fresh reform” of misbegotten madness. Joseph L. DeVitis

Rancho Mirage

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s policies, which Goldberg labels tired, were good for the people of the United States.

We still need to regulate banks so they don’t victimize their customers. We ought to provide better and affordable healthcare for all Americans, improve education in our schools and provide vocational training for a new job market.

These might not make people scream at rallies and incite admirers to commit acts of violence, but they are what this country needs. We’ve had enough of this president’s shoot-from-thehip policymaking. We don’t need another media darling.

I hope the electorate recognizes that we now need to get back to the boring business of maintaining a government that works for the people. Linda Bradshaw

Los Angeles

True, the New Deal is 80 years old, but the Democrats return to it because it is a good idea.

It’s just as good as women voting (98 years old), emancipating the slaves (155 years old) and the Constitution (229 years). And don’t forget democracy itself, which at a few thousand years old is still the best game in town. Brad Kay and Suzy Williams

Venice