To the editor:

Without looking at the calendar, a “local” can always tell what time of year it is by The Call Newspapers’ “Letters to the Editor” section. This year is no different. Political ads posing as “letters to the editor” are predictably appearing, which tells us that congressional and local/state elections, are nearing. 

These letters are like mushrooms popping up after a heavy rain: predictable.  The letters always accuse current elected official(s) of alleged transgressions, but no concrete examples of these alleged transgressions are included, just hyperbolic rhetoric, and then the letter writer touts who they’re supporting instead. One ad, oops, ‘letter to the editor”, accuses a local elected official of opposing raising the minimum wage.  In the same paragraph this person THEN complains of higher prices on groceries, housing, medical care, child care, etc.  Trad math means that higher minimum wages equals higher costs for… everything. One letter writer complains about the “Big Beautiful Bill” cutting Medicaid, food assistance and child care programs. Anyone reading the news would surely know about the billions (trillions?) of our tax dollars wasted or outright stolen from these programs. Does anyone remember the “Learning Center?”  Theft of our tax dollars is rampant and every government program should be audited — but that’s not mentioned by the letter writers.

Wouldn’t it be refreshing if these letter writers actually contacted the offices of these elected officials to have a rational conversation about their concerns, instead of predictably planting these hyperbolic summer/fall “letters to the editor?” But it’s doubtful that a phone call will happen because, for years now, these “expected” summer/fall “letters to the editor” are really political ads. Can’t believe The Call is not charging ad rates.

C. Witzel

Mehlville