Letter to the Editor the Daily Citizen 7/16/10
Dear Editor,
Someone has said, “If it is dark enough, one candle is plenty.” In the midst of numerous, spot, flood, and flashing neon lights, it is not dark enough for the lowly candle to command much attention.
Such is the case of a letter to the editor in the Daily Citizen. The first test is that it must be 250 words or less; these 250 words must express ideas that compete with 550 to 900 words allowed the predominantly conservative columnist, often two each day, along with a 20 column-inch Vic Harville editorial cartoon. (By-the-way 250 words occupy only about 6 column-inches).
Following the size disparity is the “Local Interest” dilemma. Are National political issues of local interest? What about State issues? Are we stuck with commenting on Searcy’s attempts at resolving the A and P tax fiasco?
Conservative columnist Kathryn Lopez’s 756 words disparaging even moderate liberals must be of local interest. What about toy store manager and conservative columnist Daniel Kline’s 570 words degrading the President or Steve Brawner’s 582 words about nothing in particular.
Albeit angry the electorate faces serious choices in November; serious enough to require thoughtful consideration of what’s really going on, not just exposure to more and more right-wing fluff and misinformation. The question is, will we stick with that which is working or go back to the policies and politics that put us in this situation to begin with?
Charles Prier
501 279-9469