Agreement is no fairy tale

Re “Obama’s real fairy tale,” Opinion, Jan. 15

Jonah Goldberg seems to dismiss Barack Obama’s articulating hope. He claims it is a “fairy tale” that this nation can get beyond disagreement, and that democracy is about disagreement. Is Goldberg oblivious to the polarization that has thwarted the legislative process? I don’t think Obama wants us to join hands and sing “Kumbaya,” but he does want people to work across the aisle to resolve crucial issues. In striving to achieve that, we may again be inspired about who we are as a nation, where now so many of us are disillusioned. Is it not possible for conservatives, liberals and moderates to agree on the economy, Iraq, the environment and education?

Arnold Pomerantz

Franklin Hills, Calif.