Fw: [Peace-discuss] Fw: Lou Dobbs is dangerous

[unionyes]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: unionyes 
To: LAURIE SOLOMON 
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Fw: Lou Dobbs is dangerous


It's not so much that ; Lou Dobbs, Rush Limbaugh, etc., have a demand for their shows from a large segment of the U.S. public, but instead is a function of what the corporate advertisers, the rest of corporate america and the wealthy right-wing foundations want and will pay for !

David J.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: LAURIE SOLOMON 
  To: 'Neil Parthun' ; peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net 
  Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 10:36 AM
  Subject: RE: [Peace-discuss] Fw: Lou Dobbs is dangerous


  Whether or not one is engaged in censorship in this case appears to depend on one's referent level being addressed.  Your point about Lou Dobbs, the person, may have some merit vis-à-vis the difference between censorship and access to the exulted platform of radio & TV; however if you move the level of reference up to the radio/TV station level, then one might be seen as engaging in the censorship of the station and its broadcast content.

   

  While no one guarantees the right to have a nationally televised show, no one guarantees anyone the right to prevent someone from having such a show or, for that matter prevents someone from having such a show.  In the case of radio/TV, the air waves allegedly belong to the public to license to actors for use.   The radio/TV stations and networks are among those actors; and within legally prescribed restrictions they are free to air whatever content they see fit,  independent of what the public or any portion of the public might desire although in this country that decision is driven by the market (audience share and advertising money).  Obviously, if one wants to alter the legal restrictions, one needs to go through the process of changing the legal framework , statutes, and administrative rules pertaining to the conditions of licensing.

   

  If one moves up a level to the ownership and control over the air waves, which belong legally to the public, then I am afraid that those who wish to see Dobbs shut down are going to lose for now and in the near future since they do not compose a majority of the public - or enough to force a change in the licensing requirements for the stations and their personnel as to the sorts of content that they can air and when.  Like the other right-wing talk commentators, his station and he appear to have strong national following that support and demand him be given air time and are willing to put their money where their mouths are.  That cannot be said for the progressives, the left, or even the moderate reformers.  If they comprised a significantly large population and if each contributed $5 or $10 each per year for purposes of buying advertising on the stations that carry Dobbs, they could probably use that as leverage to get the stations to either reel him and other in or take them off the air.  But it seems that the progressives, the left, liberal and moderate reformers would rather hold on to their money  or spend it elsewhere and exercise their lungs shouting and crying about him and his content instead.

   

  From: peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net [mailto:peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of Neil Parthun
  Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 10:13 PM
  To: C.G.Estabrook
  Cc: peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
  Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Fw: Lou Dobbs is dangerous

   

  Banning speech and requesting that such speech does not have a hyper-exulted platform to amplify it are two very different things.

   

  Nobody is saying Lou Dobbs doesn't have a right to say whatever he wants.  He has that right.  However, no person is guaranteed the right to have a nationally televised show to promote their views and perspectives on any topic.

  Solidarity,

    -N.

   

  Neil Parthun

    IEA Region 9 Grassroots Political Activist

    Writer/Facilitator for Champaign-Urbana Public i

   

  "Early in life I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise." - Malcolm X

   



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  Peace-discuss mailing list
  Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
  http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/archive/peace-discuss/attachments/20090815/e6a899be/attachment.html