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We can bend but not break our letter policy
The Oakland Press Opinion Page has received a number of letters in response to Gov. Rick Snyder’s controversial state budget proposal.
While I’d love to run them for you tomorrow or even yesterday, most will have to be run over the next week of so.
However, for letters such as these, that’s not a bad timetable. We do bend our policy a bit, if necessary.
Generally, we run letters to the editor on a first come, first serve basis. Consequently, if we receive a letter from you today, we will be able to publish it in one to two weeks.
But if the topic you’re writing about deals with a very current event or a circumstance that might change soon, then we do try to put a priority your letter.
The governor’s budget will no doubt continue to create much heated debate over the next few weeks. But because he might decide to change portions of it — possibly because of political or public pressure — before a final draft is approved by the legislature, we will try to be as timely as possible with budget-related letters.
Unfortunately, we do get letters that are outdated because circumstances surrounding their topic have changed.
For example, if a person writes in support of a particular piece of legislation and that bill has already been passed into law or was rejected, then his letter is pretty much useless.
Another example is during the election season. As I’ve written, we don’t run election-related letters or guest opinions a week before the actual balloting. So, if we get a letter for or against a ballot issue after deadline, then we just have to dispose of it because it won’t make any sense to run it after the election. By the same token, letters received a day or two ahead of the deadline we will put a special rush on to get them. If people are conscientious enough to meet our deadline, they deserve to have their letter published.
Generally, we’re quite proud of our ability to run almost every letter we receive in a timely fashion.
The first come, first serve policy really works and is the most fair, under normal circumstances.
While I’d love to run them for you tomorrow or even yesterday, most will have to be run over the next week of so.
However, for letters such as these, that’s not a bad timetable. We do bend our policy a bit, if necessary.
Generally, we run letters to the editor on a first come, first serve basis. Consequently, if we receive a letter from you today, we will be able to publish it in one to two weeks.
But if the topic you’re writing about deals with a very current event or a circumstance that might change soon, then we do try to put a priority your letter.
The governor’s budget will no doubt continue to create much heated debate over the next few weeks. But because he might decide to change portions of it — possibly because of political or public pressure — before a final draft is approved by the legislature, we will try to be as timely as possible with budget-related letters.
Unfortunately, we do get letters that are outdated because circumstances surrounding their topic have changed.
For example, if a person writes in support of a particular piece of legislation and that bill has already been passed into law or was rejected, then his letter is pretty much useless.
Another example is during the election season. As I’ve written, we don’t run election-related letters or guest opinions a week before the actual balloting. So, if we get a letter for or against a ballot issue after deadline, then we just have to dispose of it because it won’t make any sense to run it after the election. By the same token, letters received a day or two ahead of the deadline we will put a special rush on to get them. If people are conscientious enough to meet our deadline, they deserve to have their letter published.
Generally, we’re quite proud of our ability to run almost every letter we receive in a timely fashion.
The first come, first serve policy really works and is the most fair, under normal circumstances.
posted by Allan Adler at
3:23 PM
2 Comments:
To those of you whom voted for Rick Snyder, you got just what you asked for. He is a business man using the same old tactics any business man would use. Self enterprizing. His next challenge he is currently faced with is how to create an image of self positivity with the outcome of a successful business venture, hence, getting the state back into the black. Unfortunately, it will be at the expense of every man, women, and child within the state of Michigan. Business and politics do not work the same when it comes to finance. If the people of the state are not prosperous, the tax coffers will not meet expenses. Don't let this guy dupe you into thinking that people of the state are an untapped source of tax money that will lead this state to fiscal sustainability. And, do not give him the credit of saving the state on the backs of the citizens. He does not deserve that.
It was on the backs of the citizens that Jennifer Granholm held the reigns of State government and singlehandedly delivered the worst 8 years of prosperity the State has seen in decades. Least not forget the inheritence of ANY Governor coming in after that act. So you refer to what does Rick Snyder deserve? The opportunity to level the playing field for business and government to operate together, as Michigan use to lead. I do not believe Gov Snyder is so foolhearty to believe that there will not be sacrifice that have to be made by every man, woman and child. In fact, you won't remember, because you seemed to have followed another platform; but that was at the forefront of his campaign. No sacred cows, no stone that could or would be left unturned, no dollar left unaccounted for, and none counted until it was in hand. I agree with you that politics do not run the same as business, however the one fact remains that IS the same, and I'm certain you will agree, that no govermnent; national, state, county, city, etc,,, can run in the red for indefinate periods of time. And, it just doesn't fix itself, at least not these days. So maybe its time for the citizens of Michigan to man-up and woman-up to the significant challanges necessary to make the State of Michigan a great place to live and do business. It is foolhearty for the citizens to want change, without making change themselves, even if that means giving up services that can be dropped from government and found in the yellow pages. It might require cutbacks in personal income provided by governmental employment, or at last resort, higher tax support from the citizens & businesses, themselves. Look what's at stake, Michigan's livelihood, as if that were not enough. As the citizens deserve the representation of the very best, they must also face the sacriifices necessary when times are less than optimum. Sucess does not come free, as some would like.
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