Free commentary: There are many federal policies that are affecting us at the local level, as we often report. Those stories feel political because they are tied to the federal government. If it’s “liberal” to hold the current administration accountable, then I’m not sure what to tell you — that’s what journalists do, and have always done, beginning with the founding of this country.
To the editor: Fifty years ago, when I was a young girl sitting around the kitchen table, our family would tune in to a program that asked listeners to weigh in on the pros and cons of different moral issues or legal questions. With that background and the fact that back then there were only a few sources of news, I was struck by a recent commentary in The Oregonian that felt parents should discuss with their children biases in today’s news and social media.
To the editor: I read with interest the Tuesday, Feb. 28, opinion piece, “Are media outlets now the enemy?” Kudos to you for being a media outlet willing to examine this challenge to your motives. The survival of our democracy requires the participation of an informed electorate, and as Burkhardt points out, a free press is essential to the informed part.
The Internal Revenue Service has been the object of jokes for decades. The one that sticks in my mind, because it's relevant, is Jerry Seinfeld's TV character talking about being called in for a tax audit.
To the editor: Thank you for the editorial called “A Matter of Propriety and Perception.” I, too, felt that Bill Dick was out of place to ask for more funding for the Discovery Center. He has been on that board since the beginning and should have put his talents into doing audits. Why did all those years go by with an employee taking money? And who is left to pay for all this? More tax dollars going for this mistake and Discovery Center has been a drain on all taxpayers.
