Letters

In the May 8 issue, Barbara Ring of Hampton Bays wrote a letter titled “A New Low.” In it, she called out the Southampton Town Democratic Party for being filled with elitism and character assassination.

Although I agree with her assessment that the Democratic Party finds itself in a dark place, Democrats are people who are passionate about doing good. Unfortunately, they have strayed off course.

The Democratic Party is like a busload of do-gooders with many different agendas. What has happened is that those in the back of the bus, who have long advocated for make-believe ideologies over reality, have taken over the bus.

I know this firsthand, as, before coming out east, I was an elected officer of the Chelsea Reform Democratic Party in New York City. I often volunteered to go on Democratic protest bus trips to Albany advocating for many causes, including public and affordable housing, rent control, senior centers, and for New York State Assembly member Richard Gottfried’s dream of universal health care.

During one particular bus trip, a large group of college students in the back of the bus were exchanging strategies for protesting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget cuts toward SUNY. When the bus drove through the Bronx, and past Yankee Stadium, their dialogue moved to Derek Jeter’s new $12 million contract. The group collectively agreed that most of his salary should be used for social issues, and that all baseball players should make a flat salary.

Being a Yankee fan, and a believer in capitalism, I asked the group, “What would be the incentive for a Derek Jeter-like talent to become the great player that he is?” They answered, “For the love of the sport!”

We argued.

Years later, those Democrats in the back of the bus are driving the bus — and it’s veering to the far left.

I got off when I could no longer trust the driver. But it’s still a busload of do-gooders.

Donathan Salkaln

Center Moriches