To the Editor:
I find David Brooks’s column disturbing. While its focus is how the Republican Party is slowly being taken over by right-wing extremists, he doesn’t acknowledge that the Republican Party is already there. Its knee-jerk fealty to “conservatism” sounds as if it is controlled by a dogma, even a religion, rather than being a broad-based political party.
Remember, there are only two relevant political parties in this country. Elected officials must represent all of their constituents.
Mr. Brooks ends with “it took a thousand small betrayals of conservatism to get to the dysfunction we see all around.” It took a thousand more for the Republican Party to change from a relatively inclusive political party to one that demands obedience to the religion of conservatism.
DAVID M. STOUT
Pittstown, N.J.
Note from KBJ: The letter writer has it exactly backward. It's progressivism, rather than conservatism, that has become a religion in this country. Moreover, the Democrat Party has has long since been "taken over by left-wing extremists." The Republican Party is simply trying to figure out how to counter these extremists. Think of it this way: David Stout and his ilk are driving a bulldozer through American society, destroying everything in the bulldozer's path preparatory to rebuilding society according to a progressive blueprint. Republicans are trying to figure out how to stop the bulldozer before it destroys everything. Here and there, they throw up an obstruction that impedes the bulldozer's movement. David Stout is so convinced of his rectitude that he views these protesters as extremists. "Why would anyone want to stop us? Don't they know that we are in the right? Don't they realize that we are trying to make the world a better place for all concerned?" The dogmatism of progressives is shocking and dangerous.
