I read Jon Buss’ letter, directed to the paper and Richard Elfers (“Elfers — stop writing about Trump”, published Feb. 2), with amusement. Mr Buss used his 500 words to excoriate Mr. Elfers, who is both a teacher and a published author, for his recurring column in this paper. For this publication, Mr. Elfers often opines about the current state of politics, to which Mr. Buss takes umbrage.

Mr. Buss demands this fine paper only publish Republican, or right wing, opinions. The election of 2020 showed that Mr. Buss’ neighbors in 98022 voted 52-48 percent for the Republican Presidential candidate. That indicates that, 15 months ago, just over half of his neighbors agreed with him that The Former Guy was the better candidate. Just under half of his neighbors disagreed.

This week, the news reports that The Former Guy entertained multiple illegal ideas on how to overturn an election and allow him to remain in office. Previously, he and his closest advisors and relatives had enriched themselves at other’s expense (kids cancer charities, dog charities, bogus universities) and used the levers of government to spread death and disease as long as the wrong people were impacted. And let’s not forget the numerous accusations of sexual assault that have been reported and even bragged about on tape, for us all to hear. But Mr. Buss stands by his guy and will brook no criticism.

Mr. Buss apparently doesn’t know that the press is considered “The Fourth Estate” and is tasked with independent reporting so we can be a better informed electorate. Historically, the FCC required that the public airwaves follow the “Fairness Doctrine” and report both sides of news stories. With the proliferation of alternative (non-network) news sources, the Fairness Doctrine has fallen by the wayside, and the result is that Mr. Buss and those who agree with him can demand that they never have to contemplate views that they personally disagree with. Just change the channel, your preferred bias is out there.

This brings to mind that every fascist and authoritarian government that has arisen in history started with censoring thought. The Nazis burned books they disagreed with, and ultimately burned bodies that offended them. Putin’s spies have poisoned his critics both at home and on foreign soil. Here at home, books are being banned and burned when those in power take offense. We even have a local restaurant that has been pilloried for following State guidelines and attempting to keep their employees and the public safe during a pandemic.

I for one am glad to see Mr. Elfers continuing to challenge those of us who may never see “the other side.” And for the record, I do not always agree with his column, but I am challenged to think about my suppositions and perspective when I read him, and that is what a newspaper should provide to the community it serves.

Shawn Johnson

Enumclaw