LETTERS: MORE BALANCE SOUGHT

To the editor:

Amid the general fare of right-wing news and commentary presented by the Southeast Missourian, it has been pleasing to see over the last few weeks some voices of reason appearing in the letters column.

To coin a phrase, "Some folks know the cost of everything and the value of nothing." Protecting human health and our environment may have some cost, but these are items that have ultimate value, both for those alive now and for future generations. A claim to family values rings hollow indeed if we value neither human health nor planetary health. I would like to thank those contributors who have spoken to these values over the last few weeks and encourage the Southeast Missourian to broaden its world view a little and incorporate into its regular news and comment columns a greater diversity of news items and opinions. More potential readers might then find this a readable newspaper.

I recognize that the management of the newspaper, like the electorate in this community, tends to support the environmentally insensitive right wing. You should know, however, that there are many of us out here, Republicans and Democrats alike, who do not share your far-right view of the world but have more different attitudes and values. We would prefer a newspaper that concentrates less on serving as the voice of the Republican right and more on offering a balanced and complete array of news and opinions. Currently, we have to turn to the Post-Dispatch if we wish to see balanced and moderate opinions and news coverage.

EMILY McINTOSH

Cape Girardeau