MS NOW welcomes letters from readers who want to respond to our journalism, add context, raise a thoughtful disagreement or share a perspective that may help other readers better understand an issue. Please review our submission guidelines. Then use this form to send us your letter.

To the editor:

Regarding the Aug. 5 news analysis, “What El-Sayed’s primary win in Michigan means for the Democratic left”:

I find it strange that people consider “radical” the idea that Americans want to earn a living wage, afford groceries and health care, purchase a home, and send their children to college. Isn’t that what most Americans want? If that is radical, we need to rethink what it is to be an American. These are ideas that make a society better for all people. This really should be considered mainstream. That Abdul El-Sayed won favoring these ideas should be celebrated.

Mike Tiktinsky

Concord, California

To the editor:

It’s said that Democrats never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity — and the Michigan results seem to bear that out. 

When Republicans had their MAGA revolution, Democrats laughed. But many voters will see Abdul El-Sayed as an extremist in the other direction. And what serious Republicans and independents will vote for left-bubble candidates? Tell me, what is the extreme left’s answer to balancing the budget — with a war in progress and the United States desperately in need of the expensive, slow-to-build missiles whose supplies are rapidly depleting?

What are the realistic answers to housing issues, medical expenses, deteriorating infrastructure and antiquated rail systems — and future electricity and water shortages between the Mississippi and the West? 

The unessential lights need to go out now. The nation needs to start learning the realities we all will be sharing. What is the Democrats’ plan? When mindless, shortsighted thinking is being displayed, winning the primary but losing the general will be the result.

Terry Forsyth

Friday Harbor, Washington

To the editor:

It is refreshing to see an impressive fellow with a remarkable bio and career establish himself as a cheerful politician in, as you put it, “a divided state.” As well as Democrats recognizing his skills.

Claire Bannerman

Panama City Beach, Florida

To the editor:

Despite all the ballyhoo, Abdul El-Sayed’s nomination does not mark a new era in Michigan of progressive Democrats. In 2016, Sen. Bernie Sanders defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Michigan primary in what was then called a “stunning upset” (more ballyhoo). In 2020, then-President Joe Biden won the primary, but Sanders still received more than 36% of the vote.
What we are seeing is less a “new era” than a new generation of progressive Michigan Democrats. Obviously, many factors brought us to this moment. But they have less to do with the proverbial “kitchen table” than the awareness by young Michigan voters that we are at war: against the massive corruption, cruelty and incompetence that undermines their, and our, future.

Henry Greenspan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

To the editor:

Regarding Max Burns’ Aug. 4 opinion column, “Win or lose, El-Sayed’s campaign in Michigan has forced a Democratic reckoning”:

Thank you, Max!

This article states the reasons many longtime Michigan Democrats are not donating to state and national parties — they aren’t listening to us.

I can’t speak for all Democrats 60 or older, but those I know are done with centrists and “party politics.” We lived through the 1960s; we care about our neighbors, the poor, people of color — and we have seen politicians’ ups and downs. We are looking for better. We support candidates who are progressive because that is what we need. We donate to candidates directly for the same reason. I have little use for the strategists cited in the article, James Carville and Jaime Harrison, because I find them condescending and out of touch.

The Democratic National Committee needs to embrace the “big tent” idea. There will be factions that disagree. It is called democracy. If the Dems really want to win, they should listen to and trust their voters. We know what we want. Don’t treat us like kids.

Mary Weed

Ypsilanti, Michigan 

To send a letter to the editor, review our submission guidelines and use this form.

The post What Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary win really signals appeared first on MS NOW.

From MS Now.