We agree with James Wiedrick's assessment that the contributors to our series of commentaries on medicare reform (which ran May 28 through Aug. 20, 2002) were at least slightly to the left of Canada's political spectrum. And we understand how readers might draw the conclusion that this was the result of a deliberate editorial policy of selection. However, it was not.
In drawing up a list of possible contributors to the series, we took considerable care to achieve a balanced representation. Of the approximately 20 people who received an invitation and follow-up telephone call, about half would be characterized by most observers as being on the political right. Despite our prodding, only 7 individuals accepted our invitation, and we published the contributions of everyone who did so.