Opinion: Democrats need to be more than the anti-Trump party if they want to win elections

To the editor: With all the money spent in the Georgia special election, the defeat of the Democratic congressional candidate Jon Ossoff was no surprise. Ossoff is a nice guy, but he does not live in the district and is perceived as an outsider. The Democrats ignored the most basic principle: All politics is local. (“After bitter Georgia loss, Democrats struggle to chart a course,” June 21)

Furthermore, the Democrats keep attacking President Trump with the idiotic allegation that his relationship to Russia won him the election. This insults American voters by accusing them of obeying the instructions of a foreign power.

The Democrats ought to attack Trump instead by offering something positive like a proposal for a single-payer or Medicare-for-all healthcare system, either of which would be cost-effective and efficient and take away the dreaded “preexisting condition” threat. Offer a major public works program to reduce unemployment. Offer a free college education.

If the Democrats do this, they will start winning elections.

Aris Anagnos, Los Angeles

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To the editor: As disappointed as I am in the defeat of Ossoff in Georgia, what really upsets me is the amount of money spent by both parties on an election for a House seat. The Democrats threw money away on one seat when they should be gearing up for the real challenge in 2018.

Thinking of how many hungry mouths could be fed, how many children could get healthcare or how many addicts could get help with the $60 million spent on this race should concern everyone. No other country wastes the amount of money we do on campaigns.

It is time to bring down campaign spending to a reasonable level.

Debbie Cassettari, Chino Hills

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To the editor: It should come as little surprise that a mostly affluent Republican district in Georgia did not turn blue. But it should be a wake-up call to Democrats that a heavily Republican district in South Carolina made up of mostly working-class whites living in rural areas almost flipped on Tuesday.

It seems that working-class and rural Americans are ripe to return to the Democratic fold. Democrats would be wise to give them reasons to do so.

Michael Olson, Pasadena

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