Centerfield

So who wants to volunteer to become the centrist evangelist? :-)

I think it's a reasonable idea to write an occasional letter to the editor. I've done it before. However, be aware that if you do this regularly, your views are unlikely to get aired regularly. One letter= concerned citizen, but 2=crank. That means we need either critical mass or its appearance if we want regular representation on the editorial pages. So if your letter gets printed and then you feel the urge to write again, you might need a "beard" to get published.

Well stated LTTE, Ryan

I regularly write what I think are Centrist LTTE to publications in Austin and have the same experience as bk. Usually I try to point out the unconscious bias in the way news and opinion is framed such as Partial birth Abortion vs Late Term abortion, No child left behind, tax-relief,
compassionate conservatism.
But the publications have their preferences and can control rebuttal.
The internet levels the playing field somewhat; but 400,000 read the paper everyday here and absorb the spin unconsciously.
Meanwhile, I would like to see Ryan Somma's suggestion played out here on Centerfield, to present the partisan positions and then counter with a moderate point of view.

What if an individual's views are all over the map, like mine? I just read two editorials this week on the Iowa GOP's plan to introduce legislation aimed at restricting government condemnation of private property for economic development; a clear response to Kelo vs. New London. Both the liberal Des Moines Register and conservative Cedar Rapids Gazette think it's bad policy because there is no history of such condemnations in Iowa, when in fact there are very recent examples. I'm a Democrat and was dismayed at the court decision and am further dismayed that only GOP legislators seem to want to do something about it.

Then, I read separate editorials in both newspapers that condemned the Maryland legislature's passage and veto override of health insurance requirements aimed at big businesses in the state, particularly WalMart. While it may not be the best policy, and is unlikely to be passed elsewhere, I viewed it as an expected turn of events in the health care wars. State governments are now starting to spend more on Medicaid than public education, partly because employers are unilaterally reducing health care coverage while increasing employee costs and the Federal government continues to fiddle while Rome burns. The states have to do something.

I have a feeling two such letters to the local papers would get me black-balled pretty quickly.