MARIE JORDAN, OAK PARK, ILL.

To the Editor:

The varying Russia scandals are difficult to follow even for well-informed people spending a good deal of their time on the multiple threads. They are confusing and — for many voters the Democrats need — beside the point. Let Robert Mueller do his business and support him throughout. Otherwise restrain yourself. There may turn out to be not much there. There certainly aren’t many votes.

ERIC WEINBERGER

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

To the Editor:

As a progressive member of the party who has consistently felt dismissed and belittled by mainstream Democrats, I would strongly recommend that they treat the progressives as though we matter, and that our opinions and positions have value. To disregard or ridicule our interests and then to insist that we must vote Democratic is demoralizing. We have enough trouble motivating people to vote without treating them as though their only importance to the party is pulling the Democratic lever.

It’s true that both sides of the party need to compromise and work together in order to win, but so far “compromise” seems to mean “progressive people, do as you’re told.”

T. COLE, BOSTON

To the Editor:

I have been a registered Democrat since being able to vote, and I come from a very progressive family. Nonetheless, the Democrats’ persistent pushing of identity politics has made it nearly untenable for me to vote for my party in 2018 — yes, even in the face of Trumpism. The Democrats need to ease off the “cis white male bashing” and foster a narrative not based on identity politics, lest they lose their centrist base to appease a vocal radical fringe. Continuing doing what the party is currently doing is not convincing any middle-class and poor Rust Belt voters that we are the party that is best for them. We can’t afford another “deplorables” gaffe in 2018.

MARC GRIFFIN

ST. GEORGE, UTAH

To the Editor:

The Democrats need to focus on a positive, inclusive and simple issue. I would suggest “fairness,” which strongly resonates with most people, including with many Trump voters who constantly complain that the system is rigged. Many people on the right feel that they have been left behind while others (immigrants, minorities, “welfare queens,” etc.) are cutting the line and unfairly using the government to their advantage. This anger needs to be redirected toward the real source of unfairness: the rich who take advantage of the poor and the middle class. The Democrats should above all explain as clearly as possible the causal link between the Republican tax cuts (very generous to the rich) and the Republican budget (very cruel to the poor and middle class).

PATRICK SINGY, NISKAYUNA, N.Y.

To the Editor:

When I was growing up (I’m 71), the Democratic Party was a bold, brash big tent of diversity representing the working class, bursting at the seams with a plethora of viable and colorful candidates. It was the party that conceived Social Security, Medicare and the Civil Rights Act and was willing to fight for those programs, damn the consequences, because they were right and just. Flash forward to now.

The Democratic Party needs to begin by replacing the likes of the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, and the Democratic National Committee chairman, Tom Perez, with new, exciting, dramatic figures. It needs to persuade young Democrats to run for leadership roles and national office. It needs to fully re-establish itself as the party of the working class and the forgotten, willing to pursue its ideals, damn the consequences.