So much for ‘good cheer’

Re “Politics? We’ll take good cheer,” Opinion, Dec. 25

Jonah Goldberg’s columns always seem like contempt in search of excuse. The only consistent thread is his disdain for something. This time it is politics and political pundits and “the smallness of their trade.” As usual, Goldberg creates a straw-man connection as a reason for his derision. This time the connection is the political establishment’s supposed confusion between the importance of politics and the other aspects of our lives. Goldberg tells us that during the holidays, only those not “remotely normal” would spend more than two minutes pondering candidates’ proposals on healthcare, border security and other matters.

I can’t speak for most Americans, as Goldberg believes he can, but I suspect that we are not confused. Everyone, including politicians, understands how to compartmentalize politics and our thinking about it, especially during this holiday season. Too bad Goldberg couldn’t.

Mario Mendez

Rancho Palos Verdes

Goldberg contradicts the harsh truth that millions of people all over the world live in shacks and survive on dump scraps. Good cheer is hard to come by in places where governments and corporations have little or no concern for the poor and exploit poverty.

Of course, Goldberg promotes our typical nonpolitical attitude in this country -- and that is part of the poverty problem. The U.S. uses about one-fourth of the world’s energy resources, which doesn’t leave enough for others. Yet even here, thousands are jobless, homeless, in mismanaged prisons or suffering because of inadequate healthcare. Christmas is meant to remember these people, not just the thin minority on top who “expect their life to improve in the next five years” and who, Goldberg says, “have their priorities in the right place.”

Jean Gerard

Los Osos, Calif.