Fairness Doctrine

I sent:

Big brother has come from the Left!

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., told radio host and WND columnist Bill Press yesterday when asked about whether it was time to bring back the so-called "Fairness Doctrine": "I think it's absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it's called the Fairness Standard, whether it's called something else – I absolutely think it's time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves.

Her website -- http://stabenow.senate.gov/contact.htm

My email to her -- "You have recently been attributed the status of newest supporter of this draconian measure, The Fairness Doctrine. Consider, you and everyone who globs onto to this nonsensical doctrine, will be seen throughout history much the same way John Adams is now for signing the Alien and Sedition Acts, and all of your reputations will suffer in perpetuity as his has."

This person replied:

Seems to me that all they're trying to say is "Great, the Right can use the airwaves to say whatever they want (via Rush, Hannity, etc,) but we also have to make room for opposing opinions on those same airwaves... Is this not fair/reasonable/American? -"hence, accountability to the airwaves"? I'm just wanting to become more informed re this issue.

My reply:

"We have to make room?" It is the free market system that will determine the success of shows, and anything other commodity in a capitalist system. Rush, Hannity, etc. are successful b/c they have millions of listeners. If the liberals want to be heard then they 'have to' attract listeners. Telling people they 'have to' listen is another matter, & telling radio stations they 'have to' carry unpopular shows is another matter. That is totalitarianism.

Besides, this was all already attempted with Air America (Al Franken, Janine Garafolo (sp), Whoopi Goldberg, etc. and they failed. The government cannot (for now) and should not FORCE these shows on the air, or on TV, or anything else.

Ask yourself this...if talk radio were dominated by liberals, do you think any of these politicians would give a damn about it? Liberals dominated the newspapers, and TV news shows, and still do, for decades. I know, radio is another matter. The principle is the same. Fox News didn't whine to the government and FORCE itself on TV. No, they dominate the ratings...that is why they are on, and their giving a voice to conservatives (as well as plenty of liberals) is why they have been number one for years.

I thought we couldn't legislate morality. Now we're going to legislate fairness? Who gets to determine what is fair? Even if the government paid to have a leftist show on the air (hmmm...sounds like PBS), what happens when their ratings pale in comparison to the right? Are we going to tell people they 'have to' listen, and force them to through legislation? If you think I am being too melodramatic here, then I suggest you read some history about China, the former USSR, East Germany, and Cuba...just to name a few.

JM