<p><strong>To the editor:</strong></p>
<p>Would you have published Sally Pipes’ column ("A better way to quality health care," Aug. 8) if the name of her organization was “The Pacific Institute for Far-Right Libertarian Biased Research"?</p>
<p>Today we have hundreds of propaganda think-tanks masquerading under objective-sounding labels — The Pacific Research Institute, The Heritage Foundation, The American Enterprise Institute, The Center for American Progress — the list is extensive and covers both conservative and progressive ideologies.</p>
<p>I have no objection to having their opinions published, but I believe that responsible journalism needs to make sure the reader, and the reporter/editor, knows the bias on which the opinion is based. I believe that it is not sufficient to merely cite the name of the author and his/her organization and let the reader guess at the bias or do their own research, which they seldom do.</p>
<p>“Just the facts” reporting is ancient history, since the facts are manipulated in very sophisticated ways — and sometimes just plain fabricated. Thoughtful and responsible journalism is the backbone of our integrity and our freedom.</p>
<p><p style="text-align: right"><strong>Donald A. Smith</strong></p>
<p><p style="text-align: right">Franklin</p>
