Francis X. Barden’s May 20 letter to the editor is another case of a Republican view that is entirely out of line with reality. He goes to great lengths to promote the “poor me” attitude that our president exhibits when things don’t go his way.

Ironically, in every way, all of his comments against “the left,” as they like to use when describing Democrats, such as the remark about an overindulged self-appointed aristocracy, actually describe the modern-day Republican party. It is a party of exclusivity that has had the reins of power for far too long and accomplished literally nothing aside from enriching Big Oil and other large corporate interests.

When I hear of congressional sessions that are Republican-only it makes me cringe because that’s quite the opposite of the system of compromise and negotiation that our Founding Fathers envisioned. And you can quote the Bible all you want, but actions speak louder than words and things like gerrymandering to tip the scale in their favor are what make me completely disillusioned and, quite frankly, angry with the so-called right. They have no interest in governing from the center or compromising when appropriate, it’s entirely about winning.

Steve Owens

Lake Stevens