Readers Write (Dec. 18): The middle class, faith in science, men in the workforce, Salvation Army bell-ringing

A Dec. 11 article (" 'Disappearing' middle class: Truth or myth?") stated that the middle class is slowly gaining in prosperity except for the rising costs of housing, health care, child care and college tuition. In other words, we in the middle class are going to be OK if we live in our cars, hope for an appointment at a free clinic if we get sick, don't have children, and if we have children already, convince them that working at McDonald's is fine because they can't afford to go to college.

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No, the middle class is not disappearing. What is disappearing is an old perspective, too ideological. As mentioned, the middle class still can afford and does enjoy the typical gadgets and appliances as always, from the rotary phone to a smartphone or a TV to a flat screen, which sell at rather modest prices. What the middle class cannot afford anymore are the obtaining a traditional four-year college degree, a typical 1,000-square-foot house, and the basic insurance for health care. These things eventually will fade away and be replaced by earning an associate degree or obtaining basic training from a trade school or even on the job; by purchasing what we see now as called "tiny homes" and eventually just living in a commune structure owned by the state and/or wealthy businesses, and by seeing health care break apart into smaller parts and options such as coverage for bones, cardiovascular entities, digestive tract, liver and kidney, or even just basic things such as a physical. Slowly, the future middle class will come to only know things to be this way and accept them as they are, seeing the way we lived as being old-time and primitive.

D.J. Tice's Dec. 11 column ("It's empirical: Americans just don't trust science") is intriguing as he discusses the Pew Research Center's recent study of skepticism among Americans about scientific research on climate and genetically modified foods (GMOs). This study brings to light some anticipated and some surprising perspectives by those with differing "politics." Tice reports that "Republicans as a group are stubborn anti-science skeptics … skeptical whatever the issue," while Democrats tend to support scientists on climate but doubt scientists on GMOs. He concludes: "But if you're looking for a group that can be suspected of trusting or doubting scientific expertise depending on what they may already be inclined to believe, Pew's circumstantial evidence points to the leftward end of the spectrum."

Tice's conclusion fails, however, to consider further data from this Pew study that reports 68 percent of those with "deep concern about GM food … reporting they follow news reports about GM foods very or somewhat closely." The Pew Report (with links to the research and investigations) notes questions raised regarding the role of food industry groups in GMO research, the independence of that research, and whether such studies tend to favor the industry. One could surmise that those less trusting of the science on GMOs may, in fact, have good reason for their doubt.

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A Dec. 15 counterpoint to Tice's column ("We don't trust science? I do, but not all of it," whose author "believes the science of climate change, but not the science of GMO") states that "climate science hasn't changed substantially in more than 50 years." Really? Is he aware that scientists first claimed "global cooling"? That didn't work out so well, and they switched to "global warming." Still wasn't really accurate, so they moved on to "climate change." Now there was a winner! No one could dispute that the climate changes, and it had the added bonus that they could blame it for any violent weather. Try to get a government grant to prove that the billions of (taxpayer) dollars we have spent will not have a measurable effect on changing the climate — too many people are making too much money to allow that research.

Guess what? Men do take care of their children when they are out of work. Men do take jobs in health services, education and nursing. Perhaps Stevenson needs to get out more.

Stevenson believes the traditional definition of masculinity is "working with big machines" and being incapable of "sitting, caring and communicating." It's no longer "a world where men can be men"; there's no need for strong men to do "manly jobs." "Those masculine jobs aren't coming back, boys," the headline writer chimes in.

Stevenson admonishes men for not getting with the times like women did back in the good old days of second-wave feminism, which she apparently (and regrettably for her) missed. Embrace "girlie" jobs, she says. Help with "cooking and laundry." She's here to redefine masculinity. After all, who knows more about what it's like to be a man in the modern world than a feminist?

It's enough to make me sympathize with men who were not keen on the prospect of a "feminist in chief" smugly lecturing them. Stevenson can blame men for Donald Trump's victory if it makes her feel better, but she can't blame this one — I voted for Clinton.

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I understand from experience how difficult it is to let go of a self-image that involves men doing masculine work for a living. In the years since I made my nontraditional career choice, I hope attitudes have changed and we as a society will support men who make choices to provide for themselves and their families, even when their work doesn't square with the idea of manly work.

I rang the bell for the Salvation Army next to their iconic red kettles for many years until two herniated discs, a balance problem and infirmities of old (80) age forced me to retire. I found it tremendously rewarding to watch donors put coins and cash into the kettle and to thank them and engage them in conversation.

I was saddened to read "Salvation Army in 'dire need' of more bell ringers" (Dec. 13). So if you are healthy enough and can spare some time, please consider enlisting in this army, which does so much good. Call 651-746-3519 to sign up. For those who cannot, please consider donating via check to the SA headquarters: 2445 Prior Ave., Roseville MN 55113, and drop something in those kettles you encounter in your daily rounds. You will be helping the poorest of the poor, and it will make you feel good doing so and warm your heart against the winter chill. Guaranteed.