Please reconsider retaining Roger Gitlin as a columnist. In my opinion his writing is an embarrassment both to your paper and as a “voice” of conservatism.He frequently relies on name calling, hyperbole, and other emotional appeal techniques to present his views, rather than deliberate, reasoned argument supported by facts.Several times now I have read his column where he does present useful information, and then jumps to his opinion without any clear logical link between the information and his opinion. (Examples: Deputy is shot, the criminal is convicted and sentenced > Santa Clarita City Council not enforcing federal border security. County budget facts > welfare is unwarranted and excessive.) #placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');The traditional tenets of conservatism (minimal government necessary, emphasis on personal responsibility and community action, maximum citizen freedoms, caution in embracing change, and good stewardship of resources) are important values to bring to public discourse. They need to be expressed clearly, rationally, and with integrity. Unfortunately, Mr. Gitlin seems unable to do so. While he is able to express his feelings clearly in plain language, it often reveals divisive contempt, which does not serve his cause well. Nor does it serve the reader’s interest, nor the public’s, as it does little to inform, enlighten, unify, or solve our common problems.When the Triplicate affords him about twice the column length to say half as much as his colleague Kevin Hendrick, and you have to amend his column with editorial remarks, it suggests either an intentional editorial bias or editorial weakness, and I hope neither is the case. Either way, it severely undermines the intended message of the column.Surely there must be a writer in Del Norte County who can articulate and reasonably express those essential conservative values in a more constructive way. If you can find one, the public’s interest will be better served and your paper will appear more balanced. If you cannot, it doesn’t speak well for the state of our current conservative thought.Perhaps Mr Gitlin’s rhetoric does sell papers by purveying outrage and division. That is a common problem with many contemporary media outlets. Roger NiesenCrescent City Editor’s note: Some say more with fewer words. Some march to their own drummer. Some have the courage to speak up, even if what they say is not popular. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });