OPINION:
As we celebrated our country’s 249th birthday last week and observed some political discourse, I thought back to the 1950s, when I first became interested in politics and politicians. I recall the Eisenhower-Stevenson campaigns, both of which Adlai Stevenson lost.
I didn’t doubt that Stevenson and the Democratic Party truly sought the best for America and its citizens. Of course, the candidates and parties had different themes and claims about what was best for the country and how to achieve that outcome. But I believed, perhaps a bit naively, that both parties were always sincere in their efforts to provide better government for America
Current Democratic Party leadership seems to have abandoned the strategy of promising a better government than the opposition. Not offering positive alternatives, the modern Democrats have dramatically narrowed focus to one negative theme. It can be simply defined. They loathe President Trump, everything he stands for and does and believe it must all be opposed.
When considering this attitude, I am reminded of comedian George Gobel, also from the 1950s, who offered an expression of disapproval of actions by a group or organization. He would ask “Is this any way to run a railroad?”
DANIEL P. MCKIM
Springfield, Virginia
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