On Coyne’s lament

Re: Conservatism, liberalism must make peace, Andrew Coyne, July 23

Why would anyone describe himself as a journalist? Why describe yourself as a writer of op-ed pieces? At one time, the public turned to the media for information about current events. Opinions were relegated to the editorial pages and letters to the editor. To be fair, Andrew Coyne’s piece is clearly labelled as “Comment” but, today we get a hefty dose of opinion in almost every article on each page of the newspaper. We’re not just given the facts but, we’re prompted to interpret them and to respond in a particular way.

Mr. Coyne seems to be lamenting the days when the various political factions were more alike. Unlike the divergence occurring within the political world there is a convergence occurring in the media world. And the media is not acknowledging the fact that there is a correlation between the two; the latter is, in part, driving the former. If the political divide is to be decreased, it is imperative that the public is not treated in this way. A recent study by Jonathan Haidt in the U.S. found that conservatives understand liberals better than the reverse. I believe that the media is partly to blame.

Mr. Coyne’s piece is another of the plentitude of articles that push Trump Derangement Syndrome to the public. It offers a truly unidimensional analysis of a multi-dimensional story. Its analysis of conservatism in general is equally as shallow. Of course Mr. Coyne and The Post have every right to air opinions in this way. I am fervently hoping that the media in general will also publish alternative opinions or pieces that offer a more in-depth, balanced analysis of the news of the day.

Robert Nicol, St. Catharines, On.