A few weeks ago this page featured dueling commentaries on uranium mining by respected voices on both sides of the issue, Dr. Robert Bodnar of Virginia Tech (a mining proponent) and Katie Whitehead of the Dan River Basin Association (an opponent). Together they made their respective arguments for and against the Virginia Uranium/ Coles Hill mine project upstream from us in Pittsylvania County. Mostly, however, the conversation was notable for attempting to strike a properly civil tone. Which raises the question: Is such a decorous debate possible, or even desirable?

It’s a little too early and way too hot to be tumbling around lustily in the political weeds, but that hasn’t seemed to slow down an letter writing campaign on behalf of a certain Republican candidate for Congress that includes several entries that couldn’t possibly be the work of sentient human beings.

I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. In my e-mail account last week landed the following message from Fifth District Rep. Tom Perriello: