For the Democrats to use Democratic socialism as a strategy to defeat President Trump and his “Do-It-Alone” nationalism by tweet is a political folly. It is as foolish as the PPH’s July 30 political cartoon on page 4.

Democratic socialism strolls much too close to the extreme left, just as Trump is teasing us to cross the line of the extreme right. Shouting from the opposite ends of the football field gains nothing but cluttered noise.

Bernie Sanders and those who follow him are leading them over a cliff like lemmings.

Cynthia Nixon had created her own pied piper following.

Barry Goldwater proclaimed, in 1964, “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.” His words have rung across the past 54 years, warning against political parties approaching too close to the edge of fanaticism.

If the Democrats believe they have an opportunity to win the 2018 House of Representatives, then tinkering with something called Democratic socialism is a dead-end path.

Trump has acted as if he is unaware of the consequences of his tariffs, his saying one thing but meaning something else, his exaggerated embellishments and his threats. This provides the clear advantage Democrats have to hold over the Republicans who so willingly have obeyed a leader on the edge of the risky right.

Democrats will do better by staying just left of the center in 2018, avoiding the extremes we have suffered under the current administration.

The Rev. Dr. James M. Young

Retired pastor, United Methodist Church Portland

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