Which Party Treats Voters Like Children?

Re “The ‘We’re Smart, You’re Dumb’ Principle,” Commentary, April 29: David Gelernter’s assertion that “Democrats habitually treat Americans like children” made me laugh out loud. A hefty portion of the Republican base can be found in congregations where the members are told how to parent, how to vote, even what movies and TV shows to watch.

To many of these folks, the marketplace of ideas consists of Rush Limbaugh pontificating until someone identifying himself as a “dittohead” calls in to say, “Amen, brother!” Can you tell me again which party believes that its constituents can’t think for themselves?

Larry S. Israelson

Glendale

Gelernter’s hyperbole is appalling. My first thought was his writing must be tongue-in-cheek, but no. He appears to believe his own incredible illogic. Talk about the Dems treating Americans as if they were not-too-bright children; Gelernter’s patronizing contempt for anyone who doesn’t nod along with his spin on privatizing Social Security and providing school vouchers is beyond belief.

And has he really listened to President Bush’s recent “conversations” with the carefully screened audiences around the country? It sounded like preaching to a flock of dumbed-down sheep. Please! No more of this columnist.

Carol Hamlin

Irvine

Gelernter uses the example of Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue’s bill to require photo ID to vote as an illustration that “Democrats,” not further identified, regard people as dumb and needing to be put in their charge. He says these “Democrats” charge that the photo ID requirement will reduce voting by minorities, the elderly and the poor, but that, in reality, it just requires that somebody show up at a defined place and time, just like voting.

I live in Tennessee, much nearer to Georgia than Gelernter, and may be a little more cognizant of the local history involved. While Gelernter envisages, perhaps, photo IDs being handed out at the local Starbucks, I wonder how easy it will be to get such things in the rural areas in Georgia, where the photo ID issuers will not be as keen to encourage voting by minorities, the elderly and the poor as Gelernter imagines that they are, beating on his laptop there in New Haven, wirelessly.

John Hogan

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Here’s a compromise Gelernter will surely like, given his feelings about letting the taxpayers personally direct where their tax dollars go (it’s “their own money, dammit!”): In return for letting taxpayers decide how our retirement and education taxes are spent (private accounts and school vouchers), we’ll let the taxpayers personally decide how their defense and energy taxes are spent. If that happens, it won’t be long before the proverbial “if the Pentagon wants more bombers, let them throw a bake sale” becomes reality.

Barry H. Davis

Agoura Hills