Of course. I have been what a socialist all my life. Most Americans are as well since after sixty five they accept social security and medicare. I came to this country from England breaking away from an engagement to someone who later became the Queen’s Private Secretary. I had met a group of anti-war activists, writers and painters from California in London. Together we started an alternative newspaper in 1973. Some of them then went on to start Mother Jones, while I began a career in the non profit sector, founding several organizations.

I have worked for social justice causes my whole life. I knew Caesar Chavez personally. When I retired several years ago I began to write science fiction novels. I have always been excited by the scope, the ideas and the tremendous possibilities for social criticism in that genre.

I admire your writing tremendously and agree with you about the failures of the Democratic Party. However it operates within a broken political system which until it is fixed will constantly disappoint. Biden lifted many children out of poverty, he has put in place some good environmental laws, he is raising taxes on the super rich. Progress is terribly slow and Trump and the Republicans, if they get elected again, will take us back to systemic racism, and worst of all a faith-based political system that has no place in modern American life.

I have a seven, five, two and three month old grandchild, as well as an immuno-compromised husband so I’m disgusted by the fact that some unqualified, unelected, twit in Florida is now apparently allowed to run the country’s health care system.

I love it that in the spirit of excellent, editorial journalism you are voicing such very important opinions. You are reminding us that when Americans complain about wearing masks they forget the people who struggle with long COVID and the millions of children who lost parents. Also the ones who were left in this world alone and the ones who sacrificied their lives because they couldn’t work at home. They are forgetting that what defines our humanity and distinguishes us is our ability to care for each other. Thank you Jessica for reminding us every day about this.