Two-party system is a blessing

In his Aug. 26 letter, “Fox News focuses on opposing Obama,” Chad R. Steele accuses Fox News of brainwashing, a claim with which Al Sharpton, James Carville, Juan Williams and other prominent Democrats would no doubt disagree because they appear on Fox News to argue their opinions in debates.

Fox's enemies ignore this truth, apparently because they do not wish independent voters to be exposed to both sides of an issue. They must be afraid that they will not win every argument.

This must have been the case with Steele's young friend who ignored politics for 13 years until he began to watch Fox News, and then took a position of which Steele does not approve.

I wish he were proud of his friend for taking an active interest even though they disagree. The current two-party system has existed since 1854 when the Republican party was founded to fight slavery and promote emancipation. The system has been a blessing to our country, because it prevents either party from becoming too powerful.

I say thank you to Fox News even though it leans somewhat to conservatism. There are enough media outlets where you can hear the term “right wing” applied to Republicans, but never “left wing” applied to anyone.

Jack Beck

Iowa City