Fear-Mongering Ad

I was absolutely flabbergasted by your Oct. 20 editorial, “A Hard Sell on Fear in L.A.” The editorial rightly denounces the fear-mongering ads that have been running in support of Measure A [a sales tax increase for more police in L.A. County]. But astonishingly, the objection seems to be not that the ads are vile, but that such a ham-handed approach will cause voters to go get the facts on the issue. And informed voters won’t vote the way The Times wants them to. I guess when The Times says tax increases need a “good, strong sell,” it really means you’d prefer the fear-mongering were more subtle.

Eric Rapp

Los Angeles