In his Puttin' Out the Bone column ("The Right Words Are Essential to Conservative Power," issue of May 4-10), Jene Galvin points to the fact that Democrats are starting to catch on to the power behind "framing arguments" and the relative strength it has lent the Republicans.
If the Democrats become willing to use the same tactic, what would keep them from using it to the same ends as Republicans — deceit, hypocrisy, etc.?
No doubt, Sen. John Kerry and the Democratic Party could have benefitted tremendously in recent politics had they been more concise and direct in their approach. This was a major downfall noted by many in the press.
To adopt conciseness, however, is a wholely different matter from adopting misleading language. I'm not certain of Gavin's preference, but the column cried out for attention to the distinction between these two widely different albeit effective uses of language.
Couching politics in euphemistic language is nothing new, yet the degree to which this practice recently has become orchestrated is quite alarming.
It's striking how often George Orwell's name is invoked these days.
It's a shame that the Republicans have taken the low road in politics. I dearly hope that the Democrats make at least some attempt not to follow.
— Christian Bennignus, Newport
City Bought Streets Before
The homeowners of Rockford Woods who have been trying to get their private streets made public ("Wary of CiTiRAMA," issue of April 27-May 3) should take heart from the example of the "Center of Cincinnati" shopping area in Oakley.
Cincinnati Ordinance 112-2005 pays that developer, Vandercar Holdings, $4.3 million for the road the developer built that extends Alamo Avenue to Sam's Club and for a couple other minor roadworks. These were done by the developer for his own benefit without any written contract from the city.
Now that the city owns them, taxpayers must pay for future maintenance including snow removal.
Based on that precedent, the homeowners of Rockford Woods can also expect to be paid by the city in order to turn their private streets into public ones.
— Michael Earl Patton, Oakley
Sign of the Times
The "best yard sign in Ohio" according to the Arts Beat column "Sin Cities" (issue of April 6-12) is the sign off of I-71 in the rural stretch of Clinton County that warns, "Hell Is Real." Every time I see the sign, I'm tempted to write below it, "Turn Left Next Exit."
— Charles Waite, Hartwell
Stop the Presses
I just read that Google, the largest search engine on the planet, is blatantly censoring conservative search term ads while allowing liberal ads to remain up! This is outrageous!
Are you going to report on this issue? Isn't this a news story — and aren't you supposed to report the news?
— Thomas Dietrich, Cheviot