America’s echo chamber

Re “Talking to ourselves,” Opinion, April 20

It seems as though Susan Jacoby’s definition of “closed-mindedness” is “conservatism.” So much for objectively seeing both sides of a question. She exemplifies the problem of closed-mindedness quite graphically.

Frank Diani

Goleta

Jacoby is right on target. As a whole, Americans are the least well-informed voters when measured against other comparable democratic systems globally. And, of course, our electorate’s pathetically low turnout at election time is quite striking when one looks at voter participation in Western Europe and Canada. The intellectual lassitude of too many Americans directly leads to some profound disconnects regarding political ideologies and philosophical issues that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson confronted at the beginning of this republic.

Certainly, the broadcast media are not without fault in helping to dumb down our citizens. But ultimately, the people of the U.S. have to take responsibility for their own ignorance. Perhaps a little less focus on “American Idol” and taking time to read about our history and politics would do.

Bob Teigan

Santa Susana, Calif.

Jacoby observed that the public’s tepid interest in the substance of Gen. David H. Petraeus’ testimony was in contrast to the huge public response to the 1973 Watergate hearings. Of course it was. Watergate’s outcome was unknown and would have a tremendous effect on our lives. Petraeus’ testimony was not news. Everyone knew that no matter what the general said, it would not change George W. Bush’s war policy, and members of Congress would do nothing no matter what they heard.

Citizens are interested in what’s happening in their government and society, but foregone conclusions are not interesting. I would be willing to bet that ratings would go through the roof if networks were to televise President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney’s impeachment hearings.

Bob Suddaby

Torrance

With her own writing, Jacoby gives an outstanding (if unintentional) example of her own thesis. All of the examples she gives in her article are cases in which (in her view) conservatives behaved badly to liberals (Cheney, “Swift boating,” Barack Obama), or to other conservatives (Bush), or were not questioned thoroughly enough (Petraeus). Could it be that Jacoby is only listening to her own side? America’s echo chamber indeed.

Steve Schwartz

Los Angeles