I agree with the point of the political cartoon (“Dial it back,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 27) that we need to dial back political rhetoric before it incites deadly violence.

However, I disagree with the cartoon’s scale of political rhetoric, which shows only two choices, labeled “Annoying” and “Deadly.”

The expectation that a political discussion will either be annoying or deadly is a symptom of the malady the cartoon addresses. It signals a closed mind that often leads to failed communication and divisiveness.

It seems to me that the scale should include a third type of political rhetoric that might be labeled “Informative.” We must expect and demand of ourselves rhetoric that seeks to inform, persuade and unite.

Thomas S. Dye

Chinatown

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