Why is it.................

[Fast_Eddie]

Originally Posted by Writewing

Child Labor also keeps things cheap at Walmart

What could be more American than cheap TVs made by children in China?

I notice you're dodging the issue.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by Writewing

Free Speech and Free Market is why. The idea being the Doctrine is that free market isnt good enough.

No, the idea is that the airwaves belong to the people and that, in exchange for the use of them, broadcasters have a civic responsibility to objectively inform the people. The Fairness Doctrine attempted to achieve that by requiring broadcasters to objectively provide us with more than one view of controversial issues.

NPR is funded by our tax dollars and most anyone understands its a Liberal driven model.

NPR simply lacks a strong right wing bias. That's enough to make it a "Liberal" network in the eyes of some. I hear every day something on NPR that makes me cringe. They're hostage to their underwriters so they're very careful not to step on any toes.

The Federal Government provides about 17% of the budget for NPR stations. That's a sizable chunk but it's not accurate to say that NPR is funded by taxes. What is accurate is to say that Congress has a great deal of power to influence content by threatening to withhold or reduce funding. This actually happened when Gingrich was Speaker but historically Congress has tried to practice a hands-off approach.

The Right is self funded and a success, the Left tried Air America and it failed miserably.

I've said this before but Fox News lost hundreds of millions of dollars in its first decade. The only reasons for its continuation were ideological. As a business venture it was a failure.

Air America is still around and still providing programming but the successful progressive talk shows aren't Air America shows.

I dont see how anyone can argue with a straight face that the Doctrines true intent is to squash the power of Conservative folks sharing information and ideas

What the Fairness Doctrine attempts to do is prevent one political party or one political point of view from dominating the airwaves. When it was in force it was pretty successful. There were no Fox News Channels to distort the news from the Right and there were no MSNBCs to do the same from the Left. Left and Right got a more or less equal hearing on all broadcast outlets and people were better informed, not propagandized. That's why we were so much less divided than we are now.

and it shouldnt be the Rights fault the Left cant find an audience or talent that is needed to support a profitable if not simply a viable business on radio.

It's not about talent. It's about money. The Right represents the moneyed interests in this country. Right Wing talk is successful because a number of very rich men are willing and able to pour obscene amounts of money into it. Another reason is the Right caught the Left flat-footed when Reagan did away with the Fairness Doctrine. They were ready and waiting with Limbaugh and Fox because that was the game plan. Meanwhile, the Left fidgeted and whined about how unfair things were rather than getting their own act together.

Sadly, by the time they did, 20 years later, Right wing talk was well established and <<sigh>> it was Air America that emerged. As a business it was a disaster, partly but not entirely because it didn't have Murdochs and Kochs and Scaifes and Reverend Moons to pour billions into the effort. One thing Air America did do, however, was prove that there was a viable audience for Progressive talk.

I can assure you if the Left was somehow able to actually dominate the radio dial with its message the Rights desire to squash that would not be something they would support.

I think the difference between us is that you're comfortable with one side dominating the airwaves as long as it's your side. I'm for nobody dominating the airwaves or the message.

So,what about my other questions. Let's start with "Net Neutrality".

John

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Writewing

Child Labor also keeps things cheap at Walmart

No offense, old chum, but I believe that you mean slave labor. With an AK-47 up your ass to serve as motivation.

Coming soon to a nation near you.

Chas

[Fast_Eddie]

Originally Posted by Charles

No offense, old chum, but I believe that you mean slave labor. With an AK-47 up your ass to serve as motivation.

Coming soon to a nation near you.

Chas

No problem. The AK-47s don't work because there was no regulation so they made them as cheaply as possible.

[piece-itpete]

Originally Posted by Boreas

It's not about talent. It's about money. The Right represents the moneyed interests in this country.

Strange how the Dems in Congress are far richer than the Reps, huh?

Must be all those poor folks they're helping

NPR isn't left? Then I suppose Gwen Eiffel and Tavis Smiley are centrists

Pete

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Writewing

The Right is self funded and a success, the Left tried Air America and it failed miserably.
There is one network that gives the Right a mouthpeice and like minded folks a place to get news and opinion from, there are more than one on the Left.

And if it was not for all of Murdoch's money FOX would not exist as it has yet to turn a profit, sorry chum you lose.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Strange how the Dems in Congress are far richer than the Reps, huh?

Must be all those poor folks they're helping

NPR isn't left? Then I suppose Gwen Eiffel and Tavis Smiley are centrists

Pete

It's Gwen Ifful, she is not a Parisian landmark for pete's sake, and frankly I find her and the rest of the newshour staff very independent.

[piece-itpete]

Ever seen any Gwen stuff outside the Newshour?

Pete

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by Boreas

NPR simply lacks a strong right wing bias. That's enough to make it a "Liberal" network in the eyes of some.

Exactly correct.
No differant than any self pitty group.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Ever seen any Gwen stuff outside the Newshour?

Pete

I don't give a rat's ass what she says outside of the Newshour, that is irrelevant just so she stays neutral during the Newshour and Inside Washington.