To the Editor:

Re “Bernie Sanders Was Right Back When, and He’s Still Right Now,” by Elizabeth Bruenig (Opinion, April 9):

Yes, Bernie Sanders was right about most of the wonderful things he was asking for, but in our contentious two-party system just being right doesn’t get the job done.

In his years in Congress, the stubbornly independent-minded Mr. Sanders showed no inclination to join the party in which he was most likely to realize his bold ideas.

As his impoverished legislative history shows, as merely an ally of like-minded Democrats rather than as a full-fledged member of their party, he could turn very few of his ideas into legislation.

Frederic Golden

Santa Barbara, Calif.

To the Editor:

Brava, Ms. Bruenig!

At last, a fair perspective on Bernie Sanders, a remarkable human being and dedicated public servant, and his accomplishments. For the many progressives like me, your analysis and depth of understanding were a welcome and long overdue change from what we see as a pervasive bias against Mr. Sanders in The Times.