Jerry Brown

Re “Jerry and the Archimedean Lever,” Al Martinez, June 12:

Martinez reiterates and continues the perception that Jerry Brown is some kind of whacked-out space cadet by focusing on the Oakland mayor-elect’s use of a perhaps not readily understood metaphor to explain his idea that genuine political change will be accomplished at the local level in the near future.

Brown has attracted criticism over the years for being a politician who actually dares to discuss social problems in other than the most simplistic terms. He unashamedly offers novel approaches to complex problems, challenges us to question our current political reality, and continues to remind us that large numbers of Americans have been left behind in the wake of our burgeoning economy.

Given the fact that many of Brown’s “spacey” ideas have recently become topics of serious political debate (campaign finance reform, environmental protection, meaningful tax reform), perhaps his image as a flake should be reconsidered. I’m sure the voters of Oakland think so.

CHRIS LANSDOWN, Pasadena