Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

To the Editor:

Re “A
Tea Party Without Nuts” (column, March 24):

Thomas L.
Friedman makes a plea for a grass-roots movement to empower independents
and centrists to promote reforms that move us beyond the current
hyperpartisanship. That movement has recently taken root in the Coffee
Party.

At the first meeting of our local chapter, the term
“radical center” was raised several times, as was the concept of
alternative voting. Progressive initiatives were also discussed.

This
is not just a party of radical centrists or liberals but rather a
nonpartisan group working toward solution-centered, civil discourse. The
idea is to help government move forward democratically to respond to
the needs of the majority of citizens.

By taking a “civility
pledge” that requires openness, civility, honesty and respect, the
Coffee Party can weed out the “nuts” and lead by example.

Ann
Summer
Princeton, N.J., March 24, 2010

Note from KBJ: Each of those "nuts" has a vote. You have to be nuts to call them nuts.