DEAR EDITOR:

The editor’s Jan. 29 column titled, “What Happened to Good and Robust Debate,” brought up a timely question of whether our ability to debate and differ civilly still exists. Those, like conservatives and Christians, who’ve been censored and reviled by big tech companies would say no. But the editor made this great point: “Strong discourse and robust debate are critical parts of making important decisions affecting our present and our future.” Bravo.

Unfortunately, she went off the left end after that, claiming that a third of Ohio House Republicans conspiring with all the Democrats to elect a speaker that two-thirds of the Republicans did not favor was OK, just compromise in action. Seriously? What they did would be like a third of Ohio State’s team helping Michigan beat them.

Robust debate is good, but conspiring with the party most conservatives believe is trying to destroy our country is reprehensible. And we all know the Democrats would never make that deal in reverse. So the RINO faction of the GOP makes us look like the stupid party. Again.

By the way, there is credible reason to believe Ohio House Democrats agreed to elect Stephens if the 22 Republicans and Stephens promised to kill a bill that would have put a constitutional amendment question on the ballot requiring a 60 percent vote to pass a constitutional amendment. The Democrats strongly opposed the measure; they want it to be easy to pass constitutional amendments that have narrow and emotionally-laden support.

As for her mockery of Rudy Guiliani, who as Mayor of New York during the 9/11 crisis did an admirable job, why? Because he served President Trump, and was one of many to point out the documented 2020 election wrongs committed by liberals in some states? And isn’t it ironic that it’s actually the Republicans today that allow and encourage robust debate, while the Democratic Party does not tolerate any dissent on major policy issues, punishing nonconformists with a vengeance?

What happened to robust debate, Ms. Editor?

JAMES DUNLAP

Mineral Rid