We asked ...: In last month's up front column, publisher Ben Kinney asked readers to share their thoughts about the magazine.

• Position: READERSWRITE - Column

As a small (nine employees) business, we feel no one, especially government, listens to us. We have no clout, but collectively we do matter. I have read BNC for several years, and I feel that you are talking to me as much as to Bank of America or Duke Energy. If you could do more, it would be to address the shortcomings of our federal and state politicians on their voting record on critical issues such as our nonexistent energy policy.

Charles Bledsoe, President

CEA Inc., Winston-Salem

I wanted you to know from one of your charter subscribers that it is a highlight of the month to receive my copy of BNC in the mail. For the 27 years I have received BNC, I also have subscribed to Time, Sports Illustrated and Esquire. Others such as Forbes, Money and Rolling Stone at some point have occupied fairly long periods of my readership (and still get picked up occasionally at newsstands), but BNC and the other big three are with me for the long haul.

Bill Fulton

Director of Human Resources

Hog Slat Inc., Newton Grove

You produce one of the best business magazines in circulation by: respecting the reader and communicating clearly; allowing the reader to draw conclusions from raw data; providing analyis of said facts where you believe it's...