With the 2022 midterm primary election behind us, we have a few months of relative normalcy while partisan nominees circle the wagons, recoup and prepare for the general election in November, which will be more frantic and more concentrated than the August primary.
But in the meantime while the politicos are pivoting to the general election — and trying to “un-say” all the outlandish and dumb things they said to win over the base in the primary that will turn off independents and moderates — we have breathing room to discuss normal issues.
Perhaps that’s a bit hyperbolic, but in any event, we are always eager for your letters to the editor to fill our opinion page.
School is back in session, the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided into a low-level spread like a bad flu, monkeypox is now a thing, inflation is devastating incomes, the “great resignation” is upending the workforce as businesses struggle to find workers, the lack of affordable housing causes paid for everyone, there’s a war in eastern Ukraine to which we are giving billions of dollars in weapons and munitions, Americans want an end to tribalism and partisanship and questions about what to do stretch from Capitol Hill to city and town halls to our own living rooms, so there are plenty of issues to address.
That’s just the big stuff. There are scores of local issues affecting our towns, cities and counties. We and other readers want to hear from each other about local opinions on all these topics. We run letters from all sides of the political spectrum and letters that disagree with my editorials, other letters, or public officials’ statements.
The rules for our letters are relatively simple:
⬛ Letters discussing a local issue or addressing a national issue in a local context take priority over letters solely addressing national issues.
⬛ Letters must be 300 words or less. Our word limit is a strict one. If letters are slightly over, we’ll cut them to fit, but if letters are more than 350 words, we’ll ask the authors to cut them and resubmit. Authors should determine which points they want to make rather than have us guess.
If you have a lot to say, break it up and send letters addressing different topics.
⬛ Letters must include the author’s name, street address and phone number, in case we have a question and to property include the author’s name and hometown at the end of the letter. Without this information, the letter won’t be published.
⬛ No personal attacks. You can address previous letters, but direct your commentary on the content of the letter, do not attack the author nor private persons.
⬛ Elected officials have less protection from criticism on their actions because of their status as “public figures.” While many government employees can be “private citizens” when off-duty, elected officials are never so. Elected officials are always “public figures” whether on the dais, speaking at a podium, at a grocery store, promoting themselves on Facebook or when standing on the corner.
When people criticize “the mayor” or “school board president” for his or her actions they criticizing “the chair” not “the person.” That said, remember that ranting against a politician doesn’t win readers to your side of an argument like a logical analysis about his or her behavior does.
⬛ If you spend the time writing to us, have the courage to put your name, address, phone number and email address on the letter so we can contact you if we have questions or need clarification.
No anonymous letters have been nor ever will be published in our newspaper. We don’t even read them, so don’t bother.
⬛ Guest perspectives are reserved for elected officials and experts in the field the letter covers. Guest perspectives are also reserved for people representing a government agency or organization making a official statement.
⬛ Letters citing facts must have supporting documents. Yes, we check. If you include statistics, attach the document or website link to it so we can double check your numbers. Likewise, if you quote someone or a document, include the email, website screenshot or website link so we can verify the quote you include. If you already found it, you can help us and streamline the fact-checking process.
Letters stating just opinions with no numbers, however, don’t need any documents.
If you make a seemingly wild claim, include a link to the news story. “Well, I heard at the grocery store …” or “well, I read on Twitter …” is more rumor than fact. If it’s true, you can prove it.
⬛ You can drop letters off at our newsrooms at 298 Van Deren, Sedona, in Uptown, or 830 S. Main Street in Cottonwood, or email them to editor@larsonnewspapers.com. We prefer email so we don’t have to retype your letter and possibly make an error.
Christopher Fox Graham
Managing Editor
