On March 4, I e-mailed to Reader Opinion a comment about editor Hansen’s note regarding our nation’s debt published March 3 in Reader Opinion.
Two weeks have gone by and either Hansen has misplaced my e-mail or chooses not to publish it.
Hansen is in charge of Reader Opinion and if he chooses not to publish my opinion, it’s like “the fox looking over the chicken coop.”
By the way, I was just reading Hansen’s opinion March 17 praising Wisconsin’s economy and bashing Minnesota’s. You note Wisconsin’s unemployment rate at 6.2 percent, however you fail to note the Minnesota unemployment rate. The latest unemployment figure I could find (12/31/2012) showed Wisconsin unemployment at 6.7 percent and Minnesota at 5.4 percent. Wisconsin Rep. Eric Severson said the Badger state corporate taxes are beginning to recede from a high of 7.9 percent to 0.4 percent over five years. Is it reasonable or attainable to reduce Wisconsin corporate taxes by 95 percent? Is reducing corporate taxes by 95 percent going to be accomplished by reducing education or raising taxes on the working middle class?
As vice president of audience development and editor you are doing a good job alienating half of your readers. Maybe you can expand on this by inflecting opinions of radio talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
Gregory Anderson
Brainerd
Comments (22)
Add commentSome nerve there, Hansen
Can you even imagine the gaul of Mr. Hansen not publishing Mr. A nderson's Email. Does Mr. Hansen think he's the editor or something?
You really think Keith would publish something contrary to" his"
beliefs ?
The Good News would be FACTS remain facts.
Hansen may suffer from buyers remorse that tends to cloud his statements. ( spin)
Mr. Hansen's negative impact
Mr. Hansen has had such a negative impact on the Brainerd Dispatch and the Brainerd community. His brand of yellow journalism and one-sided commentary is an embarrassment to us and is leading many readers to cancel their subscriptions. When will the publisher recognize this and make a change?
shad
Maybe when you recognize that not everyone thinks like you do. You let yourself be embarrassed by what is written in a paper? You are worried about cancelled subscriptions?
It is amusing to sit back and watch people be frustrated by Keith's writing. Many of us know what that is like, and for years. However, it didn't embarrass us and we didn't cancel our subscriptions.
Sadie, it's not embarrassing
Sadie, it's not embarrassing when someone doesn't take the same positions I take, but it is a concern when an editor produces one-sided arguments often with flawed information and sometimes from questionable sources.
However, I'm happy to know I've provided you with some amusement today.
Shad
"is an embarrassment to us" is what you wrote and what I reacted to. I didn't know how to take that statement.
As for my amusement, it's an ongoing thing.
I think we should look up the definition of an editor and journalist in general. Maybe later.
Good day to you Shad.
Journalism: occupation of
Journalism: occupation of writing for, editing and conducting newspapers and other periodicals.
Editorial: an article as in a newspaper presenting the opinion or comment of the periodical.
Yellow journalism: the use of sensational reporting and conspicuous display as a means of attracting readers to a newspaper or journal.
I stand by my original comment.
Just like
Yellow Criticism, right Shad?
Same guy, same....
S̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶g̶u̶y̶,̶ ̶s̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶s̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶a̶t̶t̶a̶c̶k̶s̶!̶
"̶Y̶e̶l̶l̶o̶w̶ ̶C̶r̶i̶t̶i̶c̶i̶s̶m̶,̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶S̶h̶a̶d̶"
oops, sorry, didn't mean to post that twice!
Same guy, same....
Same guy, same personal attacks!
"Yellow Criticism, right Shad?"
Mr. Anderson
Somewhat arrogant to think you are the only one who writes in and doesn't get published. Guess what? Many of us have and so what?
WI has 150,000 more manufacturing jobs than MN.
Manufacturing jobs have been hit harder than others.
WI is 10th in the nation, and MN is 14th.
473,760 manufacturing workers in WI
325,000 manufactoring workers in MN
You think half the readers are irritated , I disagree as I think many readers don't even read the editorials.
The rest that aren't irritated, have common sense and tend to look at issues through a wider lense.
It's actually educational for you to read things you don't agree with and research additional sources. Keep an open mind, and by all means be tolerant of others opinions.
Interesting info on WI manufacturing jobs
Interesting info on WI manufacturing jobs, Sadie, but I don't hear anyone actually defending the figures Hansen put out or refuting the figures Anderson gave.
Nor did I hear Anderson indicating that he is the only one who's letter to the editor wasn't published. The point he was making was that Hansen plays fast and loose with the facts.
Other metrics
Minnesota has 19 Fortune 500 companies; Wisconsin 9. Minnesota's per capita GDP ranks 14th in the country; Wisconsin's is 29th. There are other metics that could be used, but I can find none that would suggest Minnesota's economy is lagging Wisconsin's.
Then there's this
Far be it from me to defend WI but, I will just point out that the headquarters of many of the so-called Fortune 500 companies are in MN. That is not the same as all the employees as they are scattered all over the world.3M,
Target, GeneralMills, Cargill, Best Buy, United Health, C.H Robinson, Mosiac, Thrivent, all have employees all over.
I mentioned the manufacturing in WI and Mn as manufacturing is where most of the lay-offs were. Manufacturing took a big hit and may now be coming back ( I hope),
The total labor market in both states is actually close.
I hope both states do well, although,I think WI is trying to get some MN companies to move to WI. We will be able to thank Dayton for that.
The Ag business - MN does
The Ag business - MN does 65.8 billion.
WI does 3.8 billion and their ag business is mostly dairy.
MN ag business grain based which is much more employee intensive.
MN has a more diversifed employment than WI
You really can't and shouldn't compare the two states as they are different and have different jobs and so will recover at a different speed and in different ways.
I think that MN has more mining also.
Back to the point
but I still don't hear anyone actually defending the figures Hansen put out or refuting the figures Anderson gave. Wasn't that the point of the original letter?
What about the figures?
I don't know what the point of the original letter is/was.
One could read it and think "sour grapes". I once sent a letter in that was not being published and I called to inquire. The do make mistakes and there may have been a good reason.
Just ask in a polite manner not with a chip on your shoulder.
I never read Keith's original editorial. I usually don't read the editorials, by reading , I mean dig into them. I just glance through them. It is only when someone objects as it often happens that I actually read them.
You really can't compare two states with each other and as you know there is more to the stats than the numbers indicate.
So, as Mrs Clinton would say " what difference does is really make"?
I never read Keith's original editorial.
"I never read Keith's original editorial.", but I'll defend it anyway!
scary
I didn't read the original editorial therefore; I can't defend it.
What I can do and did, is respond to this writer and to Shad.
If you would read all the posts, you may be able to figure that out.
It is possible that you, scary, have reached your level of incompetence, as it is obvious that you have passed your highest level of competence. It is called "The Peter Principle".
FYI - I just returned from a shopping trip to WalMart and all was fine.
To Shad: I hope we can agree that both states do well.
After all WI just beat St. Cloud in hockey.
But hopefully, the Gophers hockey win tonight. WI BB team lost and Gophers play tonight.
I just returned from a shopping trip to WalMart and all was fine
"I just returned from a shopping trip to WalMart and all was fine."
You got to watch the republicon socialism in action! Good for you!
Way to be
A child scary, "Good for you"? Sounds like some playground comebacks.