media reform a shoe-in

[mred]

While OBAMA can just impose the much needed fairness doctrine by exec-order, broader media reform should be easy to pass in Washington as well. If the stimulus bill can make it, so can such a bill, since as others are pointing out, quite a few Republicans are fed-up with talk radio. Remember during WWII the government just told companies what to manufacture, and they had to do it or they would have them seized. And of course I alwauys hear "we are at war" ...on the talk shows.

 

[TheBigA]

I wouldn't call it a "shoe-in."

First of all, the federal government is prohibited from owning radio or TV stations. So they can't, as you suggest, "seize" them. There is a Constitutional issue at stake here. The government can't "impose" its will on the media. That would lead to propaganda and government control of the media.

Secondly, the people advising Obama on telecom issues aren't very interested in old technology. They'd just as soon "let the dinosaurs kill themselves," as one advisor said in her blog.

 

[mred]

During war they can take over any business, as long as they pay for it. In fact Teddy Rosevelt took over the coal mines back in his day during peace time. They also forced mergers of defense companies. They in effect took over banks, toxic waste sites, park and wilderness lands etc etc. They own the air waves.

 

[TheBigA]

During war they can take over any business, as long as they pay for it. In fact Teddy Rosevelt took over the coal mines back in his day during peace time. They also forced mergers of defense companies. They in effect took over banks, toxic waste sites, park and wilderness lands etc etc. They own the air waves.

I think you're allowing your imagination to run wild. We've been involved in many extremely long and painful wars, and the government NEVER took over the media. Remember that we have three branches of government.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

While OBAMA can just impose the much needed fairness doctrine by exec-order, broader media reform should be easy to pass in Washington as well.

Your proposal makes some assumptions that have yet to be demonstrated and proven.

Your proposal assumes that Democrats are all just alike, and they are all exactly what the Right-wing talkers accuse them of being.

I would propose that Mr. Obama and the Obama-supporters (hereinafter referred to as THEY) would like to see more civility in programs that specialize in political discourse. I would propose that "THEY" includes a lot of people who recognize that re-imposition of the Fairness Doctrine is NOT an appropriate methodology to achieve that.

Your proposal assumes that THEY are anxious and willing to see government seize everything in site, willy-nilly.

Your proposal assumes that what happens on the radio is so important to life that THEY will give fixing radio priority over the economy, national defense, terrorism, crumbling infrastructure, education, fixing Social Security, fixing Medicare, fixing deregulation in cases where it has failed to prove that it is better, immigration, abortion, gay rights, what to do in the future with people we come across in the same circumstances as those now in Guantanamo.

I know that the opposition has painted Democrats as pretty loathsome people, but I have trouble seeing the issues we commonly refer to as "the Fairness Doctrine" ranking at the top of the problem inventory.

 

[gr8oldies]

It certainly won't be a top priority, or even a medium priority, but make no mistake, those who are pushing for it don't want "civilized discourse", they want the opposition silenced.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I think "just silencing my opposition" would be a mistake and a travesty in the use of power.

I would not support legislation designed simply to silence some group.

That having been said, silencing some of the tripe now on talk radio would significantly raise the level of civility in our little part of the world. ;D

 

[Tom Wells]

As for the US government owning or not owning the airwaves, note that during WWI and II, the government silenced radio amatuers and if
I recall correctly, during WWI it actually required amatuers to TURN IN their equipment. But these were declared wars, unlike all wars since that time which have been classified as other things, like "police actions".

I would be VERY surprised if there were not an exective order languishing somewhere which allows total government control of airwaves if
such action were deemed necessary.

I'm not in favor of any changes which might be devised to silence any particular group or opinion.
Along with GRC, I am in favor of raising the level of civility and responsible adult behavior on radio, at least in matters where
important issues are concerned.

This should not be construed to mean that I wish to keep the "morning zoo" guys from being irreverent, imbecilic, and funny.