Talking politics with people of all political stripes

Re: “Surviving the political hell known as Christmas dinner,” Dec. 24 Jon Caldara column. Jon Caldara, The Denver Post’s in-house voice for unleashed libertarianism, neatly defines the spectrum of beliefs embraced by progressives to conservatives to libertarians in a manner which keeps each safely in its own box. Ah, if life were just that simple, but alas it isn’t so.

I’d ask Caldara to bridge the complexity of homelessness. The libertarian might defend the right of people to sleep under bridges, but must feel a pang for them on frigid nights and be moved to “do something.” A conservative could resent a beggar confronting customers trying to enter their business and wish they’d just get a job, but would gladly contribute to organizations devoted to offering shelter. A liberal would worry themselves sick over humanity reduced to such primitive levels of survival, and champion treatment and care. Funny thing, all three are aware and moved. It’s not selective blindness, but a debate over means which define them.

It’s just that they all love America and wish it nothing but a bright road ahead, a path best found by following their precepts. Harry Puncec, Lakewood ●●●

Jon Caldara is right. We are all fighting different wars with constantly changing rules of engagement. We are all selfish and will never walk in another’s shoes. Concentrating on “liberty to coercion” vs. “civility to barbarism” vs. “oppressed to oppressor” are three paths to nowhere. Notice there is no world peace yet. As long as mankind insists on living according to that famous list from which all daytime soap operas use as formulaic story lines — you know, adultery, lust, greed, envy, murder, witchcraft, hatred — better known as the seven deadly sins, which correspond to the seven commandments regarding man’s relationships to others — let’s not throw stones. Terri Garrett Mccarley, Denver

Jon Caldara polluted the op-ed section in last Sunday’s Post with 15 paragraphs of garbage about how to get along talking politics at the Christmas dinner table. My late wife, who suffered no fools at her dinner table, could have written his piece in one sentence. Talkers of political garbage and smokers were banished to our back deck regardless of the weather. Even Jon Caldara could have understood that op-ed piece. Roy Legg, Highlands Ranch