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McCook Gazette
Editorial

Left, right share fault in tone of political discourse

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Two of mccookgazette.com's most prolific bloggers are back online this week after a short hiatus for things to cool off. Too many users were violating the site's rules.

As a refresher, they include:

* Do not disrespect the privacy and views of others.

* Do not post obscene, profane, sexually explicit, libelous, slanderous, defamatory, harmful, threatening, illegal or knowingly false information.

* Do not post blatant expressions of bigotry, racism or hate.

* Stick to the topic of the article or blog.

"If you can't live by these rules, you won't be allowed to play," users are reminded on the Gazette's Web site.

We hope bloggers and users can stay inside the boundaries and continue to enjoy the lively discussions that take place there.

One of our print columnists recently decried the nasty tone of political discourse and swore off the topic for a while. We'll see how long he can resist the temptation.

We have to agree about the tone of debate. Those on the right, in particular, will do their cause more good by making cool-headed, reasoned arguments for their position than by resorting to name-calling and demogoguery. Those on the left should keep an open mind as well, and avoid exhibiting different versions of the same prejudice they decry in others.

If those in power will at least acknowledge the loyal opposition, perhaps it would help counteract the distrust of government that is growing in red states.

An extreme example of that distrust came this week with the discovery of the body of a part-time Census worker, going door to door in Kentucky.

Bill Sparkman, 51, who was white, was found hanged near a cemetery at the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky. The word "Fed" was scratched in his chest.

An Eagle Scout, he had moved to the area to work for the Boy Scouts of America and had worked as a substitute teacher.

Killing a federal employee while he is on the job is a federal crime. In this case especially, it's also an outrageous attack on our civilization itself.

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  • "If those in power will at least acknowledge the loyal opposition, perhaps it would help counteract the distrust of government that is growing in red states."

    Right there you're condoning the hate, bigotry, and violence of others by pinning the blame on the government.

    Good call, Gazette.

    -- Posted by billyjb on Thu, Sep 24, 2009, at 2:21 PM

  • Let me see, the state government has

    Medicaid for low income persons:

    *Pregnant women

    *Children under the age of 19

    *People 65 and over

    *People who are blind

    *People who are disabled

    *People who need nursing home care

    The Federal government has

    Medicare for:

    *People 65 and over

    *People of any age who have kidney failure or long term kidney disease

    *People who are permanently disabled and can not work

    Private Insurance companies take the healthy rest for a profit.. The government is already paying for the expensive part of the equation.. Why shouldn't the government be able to take on the healthiest pool to reduce the overall cost to TaxPayers..

    -- Posted by mickhaney on Fri, Sep 25, 2009, at 2:38 AM

  • TO THE GAZETTE PUBLISHER AND M.E.,

    The previous problem was not primarily with responses in many instances with Sam's site, or with the Principle Blogger with Mike's spot.

    Sam's common sense got hijacked somewhere, because his responses to critics became inappropriate.

    Mike then, and now, never forgets his role.

    The new blogs are much more productive.

    All parties are actually presenting positive ideas.

    As a frequent responder, all I have asked any of the Conservative bloggers is --

    DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH!!

    Simple matter of record -- Limbaugh and Beck were less than great Disc Jockeys.

    Neither has had any applicable training in political science or economics or international relations or public admistration or education or any of the other areas where they expound at length.

    I haven't bothered much with researching Hannity, Coulter or Savage. Having seen The Thavage in action in San Francisco, I really don't require a great deal of research, beyond his broadcasts.

    As one old editor and publisher, who regularly reads, the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal, Barrons, The Economist, Nation's Business, Business Week, Washington, NYC, Denver, Chicago, Salt Lake, Dallas, Phoenix and L.A. newspapers, in print and on-line versions -- and yes, the MCCOOK DAILY GAZETTE -- Plus GOOGLING and WIKIPEDIA-ing constantly -- I do my own research, as I have for more than 60 years.

    Which primarily is why, "Opinionaters" who pontificate with non-existant FACTS, garner NO RESPECT from me for those views.

    Back in 1958, in a front page byline feature for the GAZETTE, I basically wrote, "Ah, the High Plains of Kansas and Nebraska, the only place where you can stand in knee-deep mud and have dust blow in your eyes."

    The Republican Valley skies go on forever, the horizon seems limitless from a high point and the people are still the best out on the High Plains.

    -- Posted by HerndonHank on Tue, Sep 29, 2009, at 10:50 AM
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