Re: “What does the Democratic Party stand for?” [Opinion, July 25]: That’s way too simple to answer. Democrats stand for nothing.

A country song once said, “You’ve got stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” But in fairness, they are very proficient in obstructing and chaos.

— Mike Chamberlin, San Clemente

Work for working people

Growing up, my parents were Republican, so in my early adult years I called myself a Republican, mainly because of my parents’ influence. As I got older and started paying attention to policies and practices of both parties, I switched to voting for Democrats but call myself independent.

I think the Democratic Party stands for the working people and families helping with fair wages and benefits we all need. They also protect our environment by not letting big companies pollute without regulation.

All I see from the Republican Party is tax breaks for the rich (that don’t need it) including big companies. They represent big banks, taking donations from big oil people like the Koch brothers then voting in a man with no government experience but a catchy slogan (Make America Great Again) mired in unethical scandals and firing anyone who stands up to him or disagrees with him. It makes no sense to me.

The Democrats have to show the people that they stand for working families and the little guy — not big business and special interests that pollute our air, water and soil. The choice is clear to me but not everyone looks through the same pair of glasses.

— D.L. Marshall, Orange

The anti-party

Today’s Democrats stand for socialism, deception, corruption, fake news, open borders, lawlessness, government rights over individual rights, individual non-responsibility, the political class, garnering votes by any means, abortions, the breakdown of the family unit, rewriting American history, the indoctrination of our youth, anything anti-white, anti-religious, anti-First and Second Amendment; and of course anti-Trump!

— Jim Porterfield, Brea

Trump hate

It is hard to say what the Democrats stand for. It is much easier to say what they stand against, which is President Donald Trump, his family and anyone who ever has supported his election and policies. Their negative and seditious attacks through character assassination and slander have created an atmosphere of hatred toward the elected president.

Despicable hate speech, threats and the depiction of the severed bloody head of Trump in the style of terrorist. There was even a public play in Central Park where the actor dressed to look like the president was assassinated by knife. The list of the Left’s hate speech, which in other circumstances they would call a crime, continues.

This has gone way over the line of debate in a democracy and turned into violence as was witnessed recently when Republicans were targeted on a baseball field by a supporter of Bernie Sanders. As President Obama reminded us when he was in office and controlled the House and the Senate, the election gave him the power.

The Democrats have refused to accept the election and there has never been such drama and hate.

— Frank Householder, Huntington Beach

Obstructionists

The Democratic Party stands for doing everything possible to obstruct the Trump presidency while showing no concern for the welfare of the American people in the process. Talk about sore losers, the Democrats had one of the worst candidates for the presidency this country has seen in 200 years.

Now it’s time to put that behind them, act like adults and find a way to work with the Republicans.

— Rodger Clarke, Santa Ana

Stop the Trump bashing

“A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages.” That message seems very much like a component of the Republican agenda, but restricting it to jobs. We also know that goal is not attainable at any level that would impact society.

They need to message: Safety for our citizens. Reducing the size of the federal government. Working in alignment with the Constitution and retracting from those areas of government where the expansion is not authorized by the Constitution.

The Democratic Party brings no value to the table at this time because messaging is all about dumping Trump and it is a negative. In my opinion, they need to stop the Trump bashing and begin working with the rest of Congress to get things through and they need to show where they are cooperating.

— Sharon D. Brimer, Lake Forest

Not the party I remember

As a life-long Democrat, I have found myself unable to vote for any candidate the Democrats have put up for election in many years. I see their agenda is to promote big government, taking freedoms away from the public, and increasing taxes to an unbearable level.

Their single-payer health plan scares the heck out of me. It would be nothing more than an uncompetitive HMO run by untrustworthy politicians.

— Larry Bremer, Laguna Hills

Party of ‘we’re not Trump’

I can tell you what Democrats used to stand for: The working guy, the middle class, entrepreneurs, civil rights, women’s rights, voting rights, unions, ending poverty, providing a safety net for those who didn’t have one.

Today they stand for “We’re not Trump.” Just as the Republican Party continues as “We’re not Obama.”

Regarding California, Democrats represent an oligarchy whose mission is to spend, tax, regulate and make it impossible for anybody who’s not rich to live here.

— Alan Graner, Anaheim

Looking out for people

The Democrats I know stand for a world where we are all treated equal regardless of our gender, sexual orientation, age and the color of our skin. Equal pay for woman.

We believe in providing opportunities to those who have fewer resources and need the help through funding for early childhood education and ample funding overall for the public school systems. Assistance for childcare for those parents who want to work, single mothers, housing for the homeless.

I support Obamacare! I believe improvements can be made to the system. Don’t throw it away — improve it. I work full-time and my husband does as well and we have insurance but not everyone is so lucky. Our daughter who is a graduate student just lost her insurance when she turned 26 and now is covered under Medi-Cal. We are thankful for that.

I and many of our Democrat friends believe that universal health care is a right for all regardless of ability to pay. The corporations that rarely pay their fair share of taxes can pay more to support universal health care.

— Linda Scotton, Huntington Beach

Care about people

Politicians from both sides of the aisle are all promises and no action. Now the Democrats want us to believe they have a new agenda. Is it a coincidence that it sounds a lot like President Trump’s agenda? The only difference is that he is living up to his slogan even as the obstructionist, “resist” movement continues.

The Democrats need to start relating to all of their constituents. The politicians still haven’t figured out why President Trump won. It’s because he listens to the people and acts like a “real” person. He speaks to all the American people — not just Republicans.

In 1988, Oprah Winfrey asked Trump if he would ever run for president. He said he would only consider it if he really thought the country was in trouble. Well, we were in trouble. Partly because politicians don’t care what the people think anymore. They believe they know better than us.

President Trump is listening to us and responding to our wishes. The swamp has lost sight of what their function is. They are so afraid that President Trump is going to reveal their greed and take away the power they have enjoyed for so long, so they resist.

This is a new American revolution and the Trump administration is fighting it for us. I don’t need to yell at the television anymore during the evening news because President Trump is there speaking for me … finally someone is there. God Bless our president.

— Ronald A Fante, Seal Beach