An Open Letter to the Washington Post

laurie love
Aug 26, 2017 · 3 min read

Dear Washington Post,

This morning, for the first time, I was able to read any story I wanted.

Every story I wanted.

Why is that?

I mean, I know what your banner said, you suspended that two article a month thing because a huge hurricane is rolling over Texas, but so what?

How many of the people that are impacted by that storm are actually looking to print news for updates?

It’s been my experience, and I live in Florida, that during a hurricane the TV and radio are the most important things in the world; information wise.

So why would you extend the hand of generosity now?

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the show of support for a concerned country…..

……but.

Why that level of concern now?

What is your end game?

I’ve always loved the idea of journalism.

The pure kind.

People with the job of digging up facts that the rest of us can’t get to and then having that information shared so that we can all make informed decisions.

I love it.

What I don’t like is the traditional application.

During our last hurricane, it was like looking for a fresh peach in winter to find a news station that was giving accurate information about our local area; most of them hyped it so much that it was beyond ridiculous because that’s the end game; manipulate your content until your ratings are the best.

And I get the game, ratings matter; you have to make money to continue doing your job. But do they matter more than truth?

So, while I love pure journalism, I traditionally don’t like ‘the news’.

Until this election cycle.

When my fear overwhelmed my dislike of celebrity gossip and I frantically searched for facts, I found you.

Or at least, I found your headlines.

And the sad little blurbs beneath them.

Because that’s all I can afford to read.

I did ask you to lift that restriction so the poor of our country could have access to some real news for a change but you didn’t oblige.

So why is it that you decide to lift your subscription rules during the hurricane?

Is it because you think you might bring some comfort to people by sharing what you know?

You may be right.

But if that is your goal why not continue that generosity to the whole country?

Always?

Can you honestly think of a time in our history when the people of American needed you more than now?

Or maybe you think that your particular light should be reserved for only the chosen few?

The intelligent.

The educated.

The hardworking people making America great.

After all, that’s what our founding fathers thought.

Wealthy, white, men who didn’t think that the poor and uneducated could make safe decisions for themselves to such an extent that they created the electoral college to protect us from tyranny.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

The darkness that threatens democracy remains as long as even one person is not allowed into the light.

Thank you for lifting your prescription rules during our time of difficulty.

It helps.

Now, please, take the next step and make this comfort the norm.

Thank you for your attention,

Signed,

hardworkingly poor and intelligently uneducated

)
laurie love

Written by

colorado native, florida resident, prolific tweeter / RTer, & photobomber. and ma to 2 of the world’s most phenomenal human beings.