Re: “Party all the time” and “The worrying rise of purity politics in Olympia” (Dec. 14, Opinion):
In all your reporting and editorializing decrying partisanship, ideology and tribalism, you seem to always assume that voters discontent with the Legislature want it to be more moderate, willing to compromise and focused on practicality instead of ideology.
That isn’t necessarily true. Some of us want more pushing for what we see as basic values, not less. When compromise is necessary to get incrementally better measures passed, I’m fine with compromise. But when it’s possible to pass a more progressive measure without compromising our values, I’m all for it.
Elections have consequences, as the national Republicans have taken glee in saying. If moderate voters are discontent with progressive legislators, it’s up to them to vote them out — just as it’s up to progressives to vote out conservatives.
Chris Nielsen, Shoreline
