Check your columnists

Newspapers strive to present the news accurately and without bias, which is proper. The Bangor Daily News does a fine job in reporting the news. Letters to the editor are another matter in that the writer can express his or her opinion almost without limit. This limit seems to have been exceeded in Molly Ivins’ column of Dec. 17.

She started off very well on a subject of interest to me, which is being generous at Christmas to “those most afflicted by fate” and “those who need it most.” Up to this point I admired her column. Then she went on to mention many charities she thought the reader should consider, all of which were political action organizations.

I tried to e-mail her to explain that she was out of line, but the listed site was not in service. I wanted to explain to her that the “charities” she suggested were not charities recognized by the Internal Revenue Service, and contributions were not tax deductible. Also the contributions she suggested would not help those down on their luck who need it the most.

If the Bangor Daily News wishes to be considered a well- balanced newspaper, then it should constantly review the voracity of its columnists.

Sheldon G. Mader

Stillwater