“Freedom of the press”—Actually limited to whom?

 

(Explanatory Note: The “below” is a copy of a Letter to the Editor submitted to our local newspaper, the Parsons Sun, on 05/13/2026)


To the Editor:

On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, NEWSMAXMoney, with reportedly a relatively significant digital audience, published an OPINION article titled “America’s Debt Crisis: $39 Trillion and Rising.” An advertisement-tailored article highlighting that America's national debt has officially crossed $39 Trillion, and for the first time since World War II now exceeds the entire size of our U.S. economy. Noting also that unlike the wartime borrowing of the 1940s, today's debt wasn't built to defeat fascism or protect democracy, but rather is the result of decades of bipartisan fiscal negligence, runaway spending, and a stubborn refusal in Washington to make hard choices. Irresponsible behaviors fostering a national debt that goes beyond some abstract economic debate in Congress and has now become a kitchen-table problem affecting inflation, interest rates, and the long-term security of retirement savings. While at the same time, traditional retirement portfolio strategies are reportedly being tested in ways not seen in decades, and as uncertainty builds, many Americans are rethinking how to protect their wealth, etc. A NEWSMAXMoney reporting that, in addition to its advertisement-tailored content, also duly and responsibly highlights a “growing concern” of an attentive many folks nationwide . . . that being a grossly out-of-control national debt dilemma that we so-called adults in the room keep passing on to future generations of Americans.

Yes, a very special and “growing concern” also expressed by way of a Public Mind article I, a longtime Parsons resident and Parsons Sun customer, have recently submitted twice to the Sun, on 04/20/2026 and again on 05/05/2026. A not yet published by the Sun Public Mind opinion-sharing highlighting a most shameful legacy—“Our” U.S. National Debt! One that as of this 05/13/2026 writing, now exceeds some $39 Trillion (i.e., over $114,000 per U.S. Citizen, or beyond $357,000 per U.S. Taxpayer)! An ever-increasing debt which the interest alone now exceeds some $1 Trillion.

A national debt the Parsons Sun apparently considers unwarranting of highlighting responsible attention to by way of the Sun’s ever-diminishing Public Mind inclusions on its Opinion Page. A clearly recognized Parsons Sun decline-to-publish prerogative of course . . . and one possibly founded in some fashion within the reality expressed by the following quotation often attributed to journalist A. J. Liebling: “Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.” —William James Moore   05/13/2026.

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Link to above referenced NEWSMAXMoney OPINION article: America's Debt Crisis: $39 Trillion and Rising | Newsmax.com