A response To “Democrats, what are your solutions?” (Jan. 26 Letter to the Editor).

A really important Democratic solution is to promote the clean energy industry. Clean energy is by now producing the most jobs in the energy marketplace. It is the wave of the future, economically and environmentally, and is being actively pursued everywhere else in the world except by this Republican administration.

Clean energy also reduces the pollution and toxic waste which harms us and our children, and it is a step forward in reducing the carbon and methane emissions of coal, oil, and gas that are already irreparably harming our human habitat — our air, our coastlines, our water, the species on which we, as humans, are interdependent.

Other Democratic solutions are to support a strong social network of inclusive health care, elder care, educational funding for our children, and reducing the vast wealth inequality, based on the understanding that as we attend to the collective welfare of our nation, people have a better chance to thrive and grow. Poverty breeds despair, anger, and drugs. It is for the benefit of all of us that we work to reduce poverty, invest in clean infrastructure to create opportunity, and strengthen our transportation and communication systems.

The Rev. Bonnie N Lawlor

North Bend