The Star’s editorial “Don’t let others put words in your mouth” (11/23, Opinion) laments “the death of real debate in this country.” If with “death” you mean that you see partisanship as a recent development, you are mistaken, however.
In his well-researched book “Founding Brothers,” Joseph J. Ellis explains that our first president, George Washington, was at times viciously attacked in the press and during the first contested presidential election between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Partisan attacks were downright mean-spirited. Some lawmakers committed acts that today would land them in jail.
This then seems to have been an issue from day one, making it probably an intractable problem.
Other than that, I completely agree with the editorial. Citizens should form their own opinions and express themselves in their own words.
Jerry Bakker
Olathe
Acts such as larceny, fraud and treason.
Posted by: NoMoreMrNiceGuy | November 28, 2009 at 03:09 PM
The struggle for money and power has and will always be an ugly activity to witness.
Posted by: Ted | November 28, 2009 at 09:43 AM
Good luck getting people to be free thinkers. Most dont want to believe anything outside of thier party's propogated dogma.
Posted by: Stifled Freedom | November 28, 2009 at 08:44 AM