Comments on: Balanced broadcasting is “undemocratic” wails US fundie http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/ The voice of atheism since 1881 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:48:54 +0000 hourly 1 By: Robert Stovold http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/comment-page-1/#comment-11137 Robert Stovold Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:01:56 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=3658#comment-11137 The fairness doctrine sounds like a good thing at first - until you realise that religious people already seek to use it (or something similar) to indoctrinate others. "You've taught the evidence for Evolution in our schools", they cry, "so teach the evidence for Creation! Teach the controversy!" Of course, the two sides don't merit equal airtime here, for the simple reason that Evolution is supported by lots of evidence and Creationism has been blown out of the water. Going by an evidence-based approach, it's not fair to teach Creationism. Going by an "equal airtime" principle it would be, though.... The fairness doctrine sounds like a good thing at first – until you realise that religious people already seek to use it (or something similar) to indoctrinate others. “You’ve taught the evidence for Evolution in our schools”, they cry, “so teach the evidence for Creation! Teach the controversy!”
Of course, the two sides don’t merit equal airtime here, for the simple reason that Evolution is supported by lots of evidence and Creationism has been blown out of the water. Going by an evidence-based approach, it’s not fair to teach Creationism. Going by an “equal airtime” principle it would be, though….

]]> By: DS http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/comment-page-1/#comment-11136 DS Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:35:05 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=3658#comment-11136 Jack... exactly. Imagine if the Fairness Doctrine was forced upon this blog? For every article calling a religious nutjobber a religious nutjobber, you'd see a post from someone(s) representing a church telling us all how we're going to go to hell, and that man is man, because that's what their god decided man would be. Jack… exactly. Imagine if the Fairness Doctrine was forced upon this blog? For every article calling a religious nutjobber a religious nutjobber, you’d see a post from someone(s) representing a church telling us all how we’re going to go to hell, and that man is man, because that’s what their god decided man would be.

]]> By: Newspaniard http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/comment-page-1/#comment-11129 Newspaniard Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:24:36 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=3658#comment-11129 Another argument is "Who is to decide what is balanced?" Do we start counting the number of words or seconds that each side has used? What if there is a third or nth argument, who would decide if they should be considered in the balancing act. Although English, I have heard rational speakers of all hues say that the Fairness Doctrine is very bad. (Thought up by very, very naughty people) Another argument is “Who is to decide what is balanced?” Do we start counting the number of words or seconds that each side has used? What if there is a third or nth argument, who would decide if they should be considered in the balancing act. Although English, I have heard rational speakers of all hues say that the Fairness Doctrine is very bad. (Thought up by very, very naughty people)

]]> By: Jack Lacton http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/comment-page-1/#comment-11127 Jack Lacton Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:35:22 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=3658#comment-11127 A lot of ignorance on display on this topic. Liberal thoughts dominate the education system and the mainstream media be it printed or televised. Every study by universities shows a 90%+ left wing bias in the media. The only area that the left does not dominate is talk radio. In order to eradicate the possibility that people hear an alternative viewpoint the Democrats are looking at reintroducing the Fairness Doctrine in order to provide 'balance'. Should the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Guardian, Melbourne Age, PBS, ABC, BBC, CNN etc etc also be forced to be balanced? Should arts faculties be forced to provide balance? (There's a clear argument that they should, BTW). A point that is missed is that the left has tried to emulate the right's success in talk radio and have been hammered with Air America being a classic example. Why shouldn't people be allowed to choose what they listen to? It's not a religious argument (and there's not a religious bone in my body). In order to provide clarity to your thinking, would it be the same if the positions were reversed? If the Republicans had have tried to force the taxpayer funded PBS to be balanced then would you have agreed? The argument is the same (use of a public property - the airwaves) and the logic is the same. I sense that many of you would hop up and down about silencing dissent etc etc. The Fairness Doctrine should frighten all proponents of free speech. What can be used by the left against the right can also be used by the right against the left when the boot is on the other foot. Freedom is the loser. A lot of ignorance on display on this topic.

Liberal thoughts dominate the education system and the mainstream media be it printed or televised. Every study by universities shows a 90%+ left wing bias in the media.

The only area that the left does not dominate is talk radio.

In order to eradicate the possibility that people hear an alternative viewpoint the Democrats are looking at reintroducing the Fairness Doctrine in order to provide ‘balance’.

Should the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Guardian, Melbourne Age, PBS, ABC, BBC, CNN etc etc also be forced to be balanced?

Should arts faculties be forced to provide balance? (There’s a clear argument that they should, BTW).

A point that is missed is that the left has tried to emulate the right’s success in talk radio and have been hammered with Air America being a classic example.

Why shouldn’t people be allowed to choose what they listen to?

It’s not a religious argument (and there’s not a religious bone in my body).

In order to provide clarity to your thinking, would it be the same if the positions were reversed?

If the Republicans had have tried to force the taxpayer funded PBS to be balanced then would you have agreed?

The argument is the same (use of a public property – the airwaves) and the logic is the same.

I sense that many of you would hop up and down about silencing dissent etc etc.

The Fairness Doctrine should frighten all proponents of free speech.

What can be used by the left against the right can also be used by the right against the left when the boot is on the other foot.

Freedom is the loser.

]]> By: Ophelia Benson http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/comment-page-1/#comment-11119 Ophelia Benson Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:29:40 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=3658#comment-11119 Hahahaha - there goes the myth of the 'liberal media' - look, they've come right out and admitted that if programming were 'balanced' then the Limbaughs would no longer be viable. And yet I thought the media were all supposed to be latte-drinking volvo-driving elitist commOnists feminazi baby-eaters? No? Really not? Hahahaha – there goes the myth of the ‘liberal media’ – look, they’ve come right out and admitted that if programming were ‘balanced’ then the Limbaughs would no longer be viable. And yet I thought the media were all supposed to be latte-drinking volvo-driving elitist commOnists feminazi baby-eaters? No? Really not?

]]> By: Steve http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/comment-page-1/#comment-11117 Steve Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:11:42 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=3658#comment-11117 This really shouldn't have anything to do with fundamentalists or talk radio which certain individuals find to be offensive. It is simply about more government intrusion into what should be left to the stations themselves to decide on. Programming is funded by advertising and if the market share isn't sufficient, the adverts are pulled by the companies who buy them. Free market concepts, such as privately owned radio stations airing the programs that generate the most income, should not be meddled with by certain parties within the government who don't agree with the content. People who cheer on the government to intervene and stop something that they dislike will, at some point, be on the wrong side of the intervention. This really shouldn’t have anything to do with fundamentalists or talk radio which certain individuals find to be offensive. It is simply about more government intrusion into what should be left to the stations themselves to decide on. Programming is funded by advertising and if the market share isn’t sufficient, the adverts are pulled by the companies who buy them.

Free market concepts, such as privately owned radio stations airing the programs that generate the most income, should not be meddled with by certain parties within the government who don’t agree with the content.

People who cheer on the government to intervene and stop something that they dislike will, at some point, be on the wrong side of the intervention.

]]> By: Postman http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/comment-page-1/#comment-11116 Postman Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:11:26 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=3658#comment-11116 Unfortunately, the way the political wind is blowing here, it probably won't happen. For one thing, Pelosi has made herself somewhat infamous for backing down from any fight that liberal voters want her to take on. For another, the word around the water cooler seems to be that the issue is way down Obama's list. So look for just as much unchecked right-wing gobbledygook as always. Unfortunately, the way the political wind is blowing here, it probably won’t happen. For one thing, Pelosi has made herself somewhat infamous for backing down from any fight that liberal voters want her to take on. For another, the word around the water cooler seems to be that the issue is way down Obama’s list. So look for just as much unchecked right-wing gobbledygook as always.

]]> By: majii http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/comment-page-1/#comment-11115 majii Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:29:44 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=3658#comment-11115 A return of the FD would definitely shut down many conservative talk radio shows because then they would not be able to push their lies and propaganda unopposed. The internet and its' volume of readily available information is why conservative talk radio lies and propaganda did not work so well in the last presidential lection. A return of the FD would definitely shut down many conservative talk radio shows because then they would not be able to push their lies and propaganda unopposed. The internet and its’ volume of readily available information is why conservative talk radio lies and propaganda did not work so well in the last presidential lection.

]]> By: DS http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/comment-page-1/#comment-11113 DS Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:27:39 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=3658#comment-11113 Wait, what? Only Fundies think that the "Fairness Doctrine" is garbage? I think you fell off your rocker with this one. What the would-be law does is force radio stations to carry unpopular shows. Trust me, if Air America was the standard for radio, do you think the Dems would be pushing for this garbage bill? Not on your life. Granted the CCA is against it for all the wrong reasons. They are afraid that the would lose control over their stations. Of course, I'd love to see an Atheist's corner on a religious channel, but I don't want to force it in using the threat of gov't intervention. I cannot believe that this would be an acceptable solution for anyone involved. Wait, what? Only Fundies think that the “Fairness Doctrine” is garbage? I think you fell off your rocker with this one. What the would-be law does is force radio stations to carry unpopular shows. Trust me, if Air America was the standard for radio, do you think the Dems would be pushing for this garbage bill? Not on your life.

Granted the CCA is against it for all the wrong reasons. They are afraid that the would lose control over their stations. Of course, I’d love to see an Atheist’s corner on a religious channel, but I don’t want to force it in using the threat of gov’t intervention.

I cannot believe that this would be an acceptable solution for anyone involved.

]]> By: Alec http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/01/12/balanced-broadcasting-is-%e2%80%9cundemocratic%e2%80%9d-wails-us-fundie/comment-page-1/#comment-11112 Alec Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:54:13 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=3658#comment-11112 Are you sure that isn't a photo of Paul Gadd? ;>) Are you sure that isn’t a photo of Paul Gadd? ;>)

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