Letter: Third party offers valid alternative
State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) speaks at the Republican Party Convention in Rye Brook on Thursday, May 15, 2014. Credit: Craig Ruttle
It's interesting that New York State Senate co-leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) described the Working Families Party as "radical" ["Contentious for Cuomo," News, June 1].
For the Republicans of New York State and the country, middle-class issues that the Working Families Party actively supports -- good jobs, fair pay, affordable college tuition and housing, fair taxes and good schools -- indeed are radical ideas!
The norm for Republicans seems to be tax cuts for the wealthy and big business; frozen salaries and reduced benefits for workers; reduced school aid; voter suppression; privatization of Social Security, Medicare and veterans services; and the elimination of the Affordable Care Act for the millions of Americans without health coverage.
I've been a Democrat for more than 50 years, but I no longer know what my party stands for. I now must turn to the Working Families Party, and progressive candidates on the local, state and national levels, to fight the battles that need to be fought for the middle class.
Julian Esposito, Levittown
