Blame Congress!

[scottwmro]

Everyone has a grip or a complaint; they want the FCC to do something about it. The FCC is tied in so many knots right now, they can't help! If you want to BLAME somebody, BLAME CONGRESS. The FCC is under the Department of Commerce, and Congress has push the heck out of them to raise regulatory fees on broadcast stations, raise rates on filing fees, etc. This money is supposed to help the economy and fund the military in Afghanistan.

This is what has hit the large corporate groups and down to the small independent "one station" owner to cut staff. Some of you may not see it, but they are taxing us to death, and health care, I'm not going to get on that subject.

We elect these people to represent us in Congress and none of them agree on any resolution to help the economic situation we are in. AM Stations, and yes some FM's are going broke, and going dark, the music industry feels that it's been raped by the consumer, and this causes jobs to be cut. The FCC themselves has had to cut jobs! Federal, State, and Local jobs are being cut everyday!

Last week, Citadel Media (was the ABC Music Format) did a major cut in jobs, and is shutting down one of their formats called "Timeless". More of this is going to happen in the Radio & TV Media industry, as well as other industries.

It's NOT former President Bush's fault, not is it President Obama's fault. I blame it on Congress and how they have handle relations with the Third World Countries. The U.S. Dollar is not worth much to other countries as it once was.

We need to do something about Congress! They run the show! This is the over all picture I see! Stop blaming the direct one's that let you or your friend go and lose thier jobs. It you're in this business or not, lets get on the Big Boys in D.C.! Congress!

 

[jetfli]

Some spelling aside, there's a lot of wisdom in Scott's post. Far too many people want to blame the guy at the top, and Congress loves that smokescreen! Maybe they believe there's safety in numbers because sometimes it is hard to point at any single one of them (and at times it's rather easy), but there are whole states of voters who are to blame for the fat cats they continue to elect to office. The only problem is, we can't step into other states to vote 'em out! Now, Scott, when are you going to start that talk show!

 

[scottwmro]

Some spelling aside, there's a lot of wisdom in Scott's post. Far too many people want to blame the guy at the top, and Congress loves that smokescreen! Maybe they believe there's safety in numbers because sometimes it is hard to point at any single one of them (and at times it's rather easy), but there are whole states of voters who are to blame for the fat cats they continue to elect to office. The only problem is, we can't step into other states to vote 'em out! Now, Scott, when are you going to start that talk show!

Hi Jetfli,

My mistakes in spelling must be caused by MS Word. I run all my posting through MS Word to check grammar and spelling before my post. Sometimes, I forget the spelling of a word, so I have to rely on Good Ole MS Word to help me out.

It's not just the radio industry, but many industries are in trouble, and jobs are getting cut. One man or woman cannot solve the all the U.S. problems. That's what Congress is for. What burns me up is they know nothing about our industry, and forcing rules down our throats and screwing things up for the broadcasters and the consumers. They want to open an LPFM window before they open an FM Translator Window for the AM's to apply for FM channels, all because they have change the rules on third channel adjacent interference with LPFMs.

With the mess AM is in, it make more sense to open a window for the AM's that don't have a translator to apply for one. The majority of the AM's on right now are doing fair, but there will be many who will not get a FM Translator if we go with the proposed plan that Congress wants to do.

Where is Bart Gordon when I need him? The TAB and the NAB, along with letters from us broadcasters need to stop this LPFM filing window to happen and allow the AM's to have 1st option to file for an FM translator!

Don't get me wrong, I love the AM Band, and I grew up with it, but its closing time for AM Band. We must move AM Stations with no sister FM station to an FM Channel and turn off the AM completely! It appears that the consumer electronics industry cares nothing about AM, and wishes it would go away! Does anybody agree with this idea?

 

[jetfli]

Does anybody agree with this idea?

I definitely agree with this idea. I'm not an LPFM fan. I think a larger LPFM window will create for FM just as much of a mess as AM is in now. I would like every current AM station to have the opportunity to jump to FM, and then they can relicense AM for clear channels and "LPAMs" all they want. (Well, actually there are some AMs I'd just as soon see stay on the band.)

The only industry I think Congress knows much about is the Self-Perpetuating Political Machine Industry.

Please don't take my previous spelling reference so seriously. Please do take my previous talk show reference more seriously.

 

[mattthepm]

I definitely agree with this idea. I'm not an LPFM fan. I think a larger LPFM window will create for FM just as much of a mess as AM is in now. I would like every current AM station to have the opportunity to jump to FM, and then they can relicense AM for clear channels and "LPAMs" all they want. (Well, actually there are some AMs I'd just as soon see stay on the band.)

I doubt additional LPFMs will make much of a mess of the FM band than it already is, what with the amount of 'satellators' floating around.


-Matt

 

[scottwmro]

Matt,
You may be right, but we need an FM Translator bad. I could put 1 bay up on my tower, and with 10 watts, I could cover the city of Gallatin. That's all I want. Next year, I'm going to stream Magic 1560.

Best,
Scott

Oh, how's the board working and is Ginny still happy?

 

[mattthepm]

Oh, how's the board working and is Ginny still happy?

Quite well! We've had to do a little cleaning of the pots and some minor mods for our needs, but everybody seems to like it. I love it myself . . nothing like rotary pots and analog VU meters. . .


-Matt

 

[scottwmro]

Oh, how's the board working and is Ginny still happy?

Quite well! We've had to do a little cleaning of the pots and some minor mods for our needs, but everybody seems to like it. I love it myself . . nothing like rotary pots and analog VU meters. . .


-Matt

You got that right, my friend! That's why I use a rotary fader board! If the jocks will take care of that board, it will last you a long time, LPB built them boards like tanks, and parts are "off the shelf parts that will be around for a long time!

 

[Radio Dav]

If they can't fix the problems, they all need to take a pay cut or we need to have less members in Congress, by making each member do more.

 

[Tibbs4]

signalid: If they can't fix the problems, they all need to take a pay cut or we need to have less members in Congress, by making each member do more.


OH PLEASE NO! Those morons in Washington don't need to "do more." Why don't the American people demand
the Senators and House members take a $1 salary with no benefits until things are back on track (like that will
ever happen) or maybe hold the President accountable like he's held the CEO's paycheck hostage who took/stole
the bail out money. What a pathetic joke. And this has nothing to do with the FCC (yet)

 

[Silkie]

To address the weak dollar matter: The dollar is weak because of the claim that there is no inflation. Inflation results in higher interest rates, and higher interest rates result in a strong dollar. Of course heating your home, feeding your family and putting clothing on your back do not get figured into the inflation figures.

As far as blaming Congress, it is fine to blame them; however, placing blame without placing responsibility is to no avail; it is better to throw the rascals out. In 2010 435 House Seats will be up for grabs, and rather than one-third of the United States Senate being up for grabs this time, 40 seats are up for grabs.

As far as Congress dealing with third world countries foreign affairs are the domain of the Executive Branch of government, regardless of who that may be at any given time in history. Granted they could cut funding to some of those third world countries, because spending originates in the House of Representatives. The Senate could refuse to confirm ambassadors and other cabinet posts dealing with foreign affairs where a confirmation is required.

Just thought I would throw that out there in response.

 

[NashRadio]

here's my plan to save a TON of money from federal government spending:
(1) Implement a balanced budget amendment. (This is needed a whole lot more than telling people who they can or cannot marry. Or what their favorite color should be.)
(2) Cut the Senate in half. Every state gets 1 Senator instead of 2. (Of course, this would take 4-6 years to implement)
(3) Reduce the House to 250 members. (A mere 1 to 2 years.)
(4) Implement term limits. (The framers of the Constitution could not have imagined career politicians. They thought someone would come off the farm, or out of a business or practice for 2,4,6 years, then return.)
(5) Eliminate retirement pay. (Maybe some minor stipend per year of service.)
(6) Implement Lamar's idea: Make it a part-time position. "Cut their pay and send them home." (Although he may have changed his mind now.)
(7) Tie the amount of pay a Congress member receives to the average salary in his/her district.
(7a) Tie the amount of money which can be allocated to tax receipts, population and relative lack of wealth.

 

[Silkie]

here's my plan to save a TON of money from federal government spending:
(1) Implement a balanced budget amendment. (This is needed a whole lot more than telling people who they can or cannot marry. Or what their favorite color should be.)
(2) Cut the Senate in half. Every state gets 1 Senator instead of 2. (Of course, this would take 4-6 years to implement)
(3) Reduce the House to 250 members. (A mere 1 to 2 years.)
(4) Implement term limits. (The framers of the Constitution could not have imagined career politicians. They thought someone would come off the farm, or out of a business or practice for 2,4,6 years, then return.)
(5) Eliminate retirement pay. (Maybe some minor stipend per year of service.)
(6) Implement Lamar's idea: Make it a part-time position. "Cut their pay and send them home." (Although he may have changed his mind now.)
(7) Tie the amount of pay a Congress member receives to the average salary in his/her district.
(7a) Tie the amount of money which can be allocated to tax receipts, population and relative lack of wealth.

Can't implement a balanced budget amendment until a Constitutional Amendment is ratified by 38 states.
Can't cut the Senate in half without a Constitutional Amendment ratified by 38 states.
Can't reduce the House to 250 members without a Constitutional Amendment ratified by 38 states.
Term limits requires a Constitutional Amendment ratified by 38 states

Not saying I disagree, but I am a pretty strict Constitutionalist. The rest could be debated.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Can't implement a balanced budget amendment until a Constitutional Amendment is ratified by 38 states.
Can't cut the Senate in half without a Constitutional Amendment ratified by 38 states.
Can't reduce the House to 250 members without a Constitutional Amendment ratified by 38 states.
Term limits requires a Constitutional Amendment ratified by 38 states

Not saying I disagree, but I am a pretty strict Constitutionalist. The rest could be debated.

I'm not sure why a topic like this was started in this particular forum.... and not sure why it hasn't been moved to Take It Outside or somewhere. I guess because it has been a very well behaved conversation.

I'm really puzzled.... and sometimes a bit irritated that there is a mood in our country where everybody has a solution to the problem... and it always involves THEM... whoever THEM is, but NEVER involves US.

Blame congress. Blame a president you don't like. Blame a political party you don't like (some people just go ahead and blame BOTH parties.

I am amazed at the people who have this fantasy that term limits will take care of everything. California may be in the problems they are in today because they tried term limits. From what I remember here is what they learned... (Well, SOME of this were smart enough to learn) When everybody in the room was new and all had equal seniority, the process became paralyzed and dysfunctional. It was... it was... what else can I say: It was a Goat Rodeo!!!!

We have become a country so partisan that even the average Home Owners Association cannot manage itself.

The closest-to-home, smallest and simplest form of self government is the local public school system. We seem to be daily proving and reproving that we have become a people so lacking in social graces and understanding of parliamentary procedure and willingness to actually believer in representative government... that we can't successfully operated local public schools in this country. If we are really that incompetent at self-government, how do we have any hope of making state government work, or national government work?

No matter how many flags we salute, no matter how many "Support your troops" yellow ribbons we have on the back of our cars, we have a very organic problem. All men may be created equal according our constitution, but we demonstrate daily we don't trust our fellow man. We don't trust a president. We don't trust senators, congressmen, governors, state legislators or even school board members. Apparently when we say "All men are born equal"... we assume all men are equally stupid and crooked. Come to think of it, we don't trust judges, we don't trust policemen, and when you look at divorce rates, we don't even trust our spouse.

All these suggestions that we fire congress, have term limits, change the number of congressmen, change their pay is all useless window dressing. Freedom may require generous amounts of bravery, but it needs double-servings of trust and courtesy if it is to flourish.

Now. where can I stash this soap-box where no one will steal it.​

 

[Nate Wesley]

Can't implement a balanced budget amendment until a Constitutional Amendment is ratified by 38 states.
Can't cut the Senate in half without a Constitutional Amendment ratified by 38 states.
Can't reduce the House to 250 members without a Constitutional Amendment ratified by 38 states.
Term limits requires a Constitutional Amendment ratified by 38 states

Not saying I disagree, but I am a pretty strict Constitutionalist. The rest could be debated.

I'm not sure why a topic like this was started in this particular forum.... and not sure why it hasn't been moved to Take It Outside or somewhere. I guess because it has been a very well behaved conversation.

I'm really puzzled.... and sometimes a bit irritated that there is a mood in our country where everybody has a solution to the problem... and it always involves THEM... whoever THEM is, but NEVER involves US.

Blame congress. Blame a president you don't like. Blame a political party you don't like (some people just go ahead and blame BOTH parties.

I am amazed at the people who have this fantasy that term limits will take care of everything. California may be in the problems they are in today because they tried term limits. From what I remember here is what they learned... (Well, SOME of this were smart enough to learn) When everybody in the room was new and all had equal seniority, the process became paralyzed and dysfunctional. It was... it was... what else can I say: It was a Goat Rodeo!!!!

We have become a country so partisan that even the average Home Owners Association cannot manage itself.

The closest-to-home, smallest and simplest form of self government is the local public school system. We seem to be daily proving and reproving that we have become a people so lacking in social graces and understanding of parliamentary procedure and willingness to actually believer in representative government... that we can't successfully operated local public schools in this country. If we are really that incompetent at self-government, how do we have any hope of making state government work, or national government work?

No matter how many flags we salute, no matter how many "Support your troops" yellow ribbons we have on the back of our cars, we have a very organic problem. All men may be created equal according our constitution, but we demonstrate daily we don't trust our fellow man. We don't trust a president. We don't trust senators, congressmen, governors, state legislators or even school board members. Apparently when we say "All men are born equal"... we assume all men are equally stupid and crooked. Come to think of it, we don't trust judges, we don't trust policemen, and when you look at divorce rates, we don't even trust our spouse.

All these suggestions that we fire congress, have term limits, change the number of congressmen, change their pay is all useless window dressing. Freedom may require generous amounts of bravery, but it needs double-servings of trust and courtesy if it is to flourish.

Now. where can I stash this soap-box where no one will steal it.​

And the church said AMEN!

 

[Silkie]

Mark Twain said it best:

"There is no criminal class in America except in Congress".