A failure of leadership

I disagree with the Herald's editorial criticizing progressive Democrats that voted against the infrastructure bill. The bill - before it was split in two - was largely in line with Biden's campaign promises, which got him elected. Since then, concession after concession has been made in favor of moderates, yet nothing was changed in favor of progressives to the left of Biden. If anyone has taken a "my way or the highway" position, it's the moderates who clearly wouldn't vote for the bill until they got most of what they wanted while giving up nothing in return.

Compromise is supposed to mean that both sides give up something, so if Democratic leadership expects progressives to capitulate unilaterally, I don't blame them for voting in protest for being taken for granted.

The Herald is correct that the Democrats are in control by only a razor-thin margin, but if progressives in Congress are ignored, then many of their supporters (including progressive voters represented by moderates) may be too disenchanted with the Democratic Party to continue to support them.

If anyone is to be blamed for the no votes among the Democrats, it's the leadership that failed to ensure that everyone in their party received fair consideration.

Tim Murphy

Lisle