Partisanship has made Washington legislators less popular than cockroaches. Yet, come election time, most will be re-elected. That seems an anomaly.
Partisan politics has made Washington legislators argumentative and consequently ineffectual. Meanwhile, partisan media have substantially dulled and corrupted the open-minded, free-thought process of the electorate who are now excessively partisan as well.
The American media have the freedom to broadcast or publish any and all opinions. When they fail to do so, or in a partisan way favor one political party over another, our democracy suffers.
Democracy depends on an informed electorate to select candidates who will best serve America. A biased press almost guarantees that will not happen. When a democracy is subjected to partisan bias, bad things happen.
It is the responsibility of a free press to report "all the news" — the good, the bad, the blame and the praise.
That's the kind of information required for Americans to gainfully participate on issues as well as honestly evaluate elected and would-be representatives.
Members of the media should take pride in being a key part of our democracy and be more patriotically aware of the huge responsibility the founders placed on their shoulders as a cornerstone of democracy.
Elections aren't working well. A genuinely free press could be a remedy.
WALLACE J. HUGHES
Charlton