The nursery rhyme that opines that boys are made from snails and puppy dogs tails and girls from sugar and spice is cute. However it is nonsensical because its premise is not based on reality. I was reminded of this nursery rhyme while reading “Human nature is a balancing act,” a column by Rich Elfers (Courier-Herald, Nov. 4).

His column is also nonsensical. However, it is not cute. It is alarming. Like the nursery rhyme, his premise is not based on reality. His position that he and Democrats can perfect humanity is fallacious, self-serving and arrogant.

He touts the excellence and success of the Google management philosophy, then rambles and subtly congratulates himself for having taught high school for 40 years with the same philosophical style. He offers a two-part unsubstantiated theorem. Republicans, being conservative, view human nature negatively and that discipline, order and respect are only accomplished through punishment. Democrats, liberals or secular progressives, hope in the perfectibility of human beings through education to train, discipline and perfect the human mind to higher levels of proper behavior. Remember, he says he took advantage of this inane premise for 40 years while teaching our children.

Certainly he does not know or understand the conservative position. Does he really think that he and other Democrats have the key to perfecting humanity? It is highly presumptive and arrogant to think that you know how to and can in fact perfect your fellow man. Hubris is too mild a description of this attitude. This disturbing attitude is, however, the Democrat, liberal, elitist mindset.

I consider myself a conservative and identify as Republican. My personal belief is that God has the key to training and loving discipline for each of us and through Jesus, perfection of the human condition.

Lynn Kern

Bonney Lake