To the editor:
The conservative propaganda machine is now in high gear, at least in Indiana.
I have many friends and acquaintances who are conservatives. As individuals they are kind, caring people who faithfully vote for their party. I wish collective conservatism was just as compassionate, but that is not the case.
Institutional conservatism is brutal, treating large segments of people as statistics — homeless, working poor, penniless seniors. The conservative agenda prioritizes money over people, citing affordability limits based on ideological guess-work.
Conservative pundits are presumptuous about what people want and what they might accept. Liberals can be equally presumptuous — both sides viewing the world through their self-constructed keyholes and unwilling to compromise to actually solve the problems of behalf of everyone.
What people deserve from both parties is non-political, compassionate budgeting and legislation. What people actually need is not segregated by politics. Revenues and expenses are not incurred differently by Republicans and Democrats.
In today’s environment people need a fair health system, a fair tax system and a fair labor system. Neither party is making those three needs a priority and that is the frustration people have with politics. Public relations spin and politician’s egos and pipe dreams take precedence over what people really need. So we muddle on.
Donald A. Smith
Franklin
