Reader Response
The Public is Smart
Boyd Parkinson: I would like to express appreciation for the synopsis of the day's news and issues that you provide. I am just a politically active citizen and I appreciate the opportunity to be better informed.

I also wanted to comment on Don Porter's editorial. He cites one example, Dave Thomas and Rob Bishop. I don't believe that the public is as naïve as he thinks that they are. There is a counter example here in Utah as well. In my opinion, about all that John Swallow did in his campaign was to try to vilify Jim Matheson as a Democrat and identify himself as a "Good Republican" (which I have no doubt that he is). The public obviously did not view that as reason enough to make a change. Perhaps the reason that Dave Thomas didn't stand a chance with Rob Bishop is that there was no perceived reason to make a change.

As far as the effects of the talk radio programs go, I believe that they are merely entertainment. O'Reilly is the only one of the bunch that is even handed enough to have any claim as far as fairness goes (yes it is clear that he leans to the right). He is also the only one I personally can stand to listen to for any length of time and this comes from someone who definitely leans to the right. Michael Reagan's show wasn't mentioned but he also is even handed.

When it comes to having political power, I believe that you can only have political power when your message has the ring of truth behind the sarcasm/humor.