To the editor:

Kudos to Nels Kelstrom for his letter in Wednesday’s (Aug. 19) Record. I wasn’t sure at first if he was actually serious, or just baiting some conservative to fire back a reply. My wife and I are independents, and have concluded lately that we ought to fire everyone in Congress, regardless of party affiliation, and elect folks who will only listen to and represent us, instead of the lobbyists and special interests who keep getting them re-elected. Like lawyers in litigation, legislators keep getting re-elected, become wealthy and keep screwing up our country, while the American people are the losers.

I was also present at the Coupeville town hall meeting. There was one boisterous gentleman in the back, who was quickly silenced after a woman in the crowd offered to throw him out. Other than that, there were little more than passionate voices speaking out.

Mr. Kelstrom will surely remember the demonstrations of the ’60s and the angry crowds during the Bush Administration; a time when liberal legislators praised their dissent as “American” and “patriotic.” Now suddenly the shoe is on the other foot. Traditional folks as a rule don’t demonstrate; they are too busy working and raising families. Lately, a number of them have come out of their homes to town hall meetings, waved some American flags, wrote letters and sat at some tables asking folks to sign petitions. And folks like Mr. Kelstrom become apoplectically enraged, claiming “thuggery,” “bullying,” “belligerent” and “shameful.” Guess he’s forgotten about SEIU, ACORN and MoveOn.org. Is the Republican Party “dying”? Probably no more so than the Democrats when they lost to George W. Bush — twice.

So who wins and who loses?

Legislators win as long as they get to keep their lucrative jobs. The American people lose when the lunatic fringe represented by Kelstrom, et al, manage to seize the day. Those who preach “tolerance” and pray for peace need to behave as tolerant and peaceful themselves. Civil debate is all that will keep us from those who only want power for themselves. We the people only get the nation we deserve.

Arthur D. Angst

Langley