Eitan D. Hersh denigrates political campaign activism by labeling it as a “hobby’’ (“The most dangerous hobby,’’ Ideas, May 8). With a broad brush he accuses activists of merely seeking self-gratification. However, he overlooks changes in our society. Millennials now outnumber boomers. They are worried about the future, and many carry enormous educational debt. What’s more, ways to access voters have changed. The print industry is in retreat. Telephoning voters who are not personal acquaintances has become futile. Television advertising is losing power to the world of cable and streaming TV. And, of course, as always, those managing campaigns simply want to stir support and interest for their candidates. Thus we encounter an army of campaign activists who may come knocking at our doors.

It is disturbing to read Hersh describe campaign activists as “financially comfortable’’ dilettantes who are unwilling to practice good analysis of candidate policy. It is better to view campaign workers as interested citizens participating as they see fit in the great American experiment in democracy.

Finally, Hersh offers a muddled alternative to campaign activism, which he describes as promoting “civic duty.’’ He wants activists to chastise citizens for not being serious about voting. In Hersh’s ideal campaign, would activists knock on the doors of those who failed to vote and just tell them off?

George Embleton, West Roxbury