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Old 07-24-2008, 10:04 AM
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The “Fairness” Doctrine: America In The Balance



The “Fairness” Doctrine: America In The Balance

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By: Christopher G. Adamo
Lurking in the gloom of the Democrat agenda is a resuscitation of the so-called “Fairness Doctrine,” which would allow the federal government, at the behest of liberal special interests, to selectively harass and intimidate radio stations whose broadcasting format it finds objectionable. Thus, the proliferation of conservative talk-radio and virtually all of the alternative media would be threatened with eventual extinction.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is unquestionably moving in such a direction once again. In only the past few weeks, she has castigated what she terms “right wing hate-radio,” while refusing to allow even for Congressional floor debate on a measure that would ensure political discourse on the radio, like all other forms of public dialogue, is protected from the specter of government regulation.
Even the most superficial understanding and regard for the critical importance of free speech and expression should generate nearly universal opposition to the “Fairness” Doctrine from across the political spectrum. After all, if the rights of any segment of society can be abridged, the rights of all others are threatened. And the contentious battle that ensued among the two major Democrats camps this past spring ought to convince both sides of their vital need to have a say if they are to have any hopes for a political future.
Nevertheless, forces are at work within the liberal political establishment, striving to achieve nothing less than a repeal of free speech, at the discretion of those in power. To understand just how tenuous is the current status of the First Amendment, consider the recent close call concerning the Second Amendment.

Admittedly, for the moment at least, the Supreme Court has conceded that it will uphold the Constitution and its guarantee of the inherent rights of the citizens to own and bear arms in its recent “District of Columbia v. Heller” decision. But while Americans can be somewhat reassured that no immediate federal plans are in the works to confiscate their guns, the decision to abide by the clear language of the Second Amendment, at five to four in favor, was hardly reflective of a general respect for the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
In essence, four of the nine Supreme Court “Justices” are comfortable with the concept of simply ignoring the clear language of constitutional law, and substituting their own perceptions and ideologies in its place. Liberal Justice John Paul Stevens, in his dissent, even went so far as to substantiate his arrogant attempt to seize power by scoffing at the notion that the Founders intended for the citizenry be able to defend itself and its rights.
Stevens unabashedly expressed his derision at the possibility that the framers of the Constitution would have made “a choice to limit the tools available to elected officials wishing to regulate civilian uses of weapons,” which any honest historian knows is exactly what they did. To offer such a disparaging commentary on the past two hundred years of freedom enjoyed by Americans, Stevens must perceive governmental power as the sole asset of the state.
In Stevens’ world, along with David Souter and Clinton appointees Stephen Breyer and Ruth Ginsburg, the power of the government does not derive from the consent of the governed (as stated in the Declaration of Independence). Rather, it is imposed upon the people from on high, at the pleasure of those possessing the wisdom, skill, and muscle to dispense it. Moreover, by this and other recent opinions handed down from the High Court, Stevens clearly considers his own office as proof of membership in the “ruling class.”
If a one-vote majority is all that currently separates a traditionally free America from a future in which its Second Amendment right of self-defense can be seized under some pretense of the “greater good,” is it beyond the realm of possibility that the First Amendment right to protest such an abysmal situation would remain unthreatened? If, as Stevens and the other dissenting Justices have indicated, the ultimate right to bear arms belongs only to those in high office, is it also their opinion that the determination over who can speak freely is the sole propriety of the state?
Clearly, the balance of power at inner circles of the Federal Government teeters between those who respect the constitutionally instituted boundaries and limitations on government necessary for a free society, and those who regard such boundaries and limitations as an ongoing nuisance that must eventually be eradicated.
During the past few decades, the liberal juggernaut that had once seemed destined to thoroughly dominate the future of the nation has been regularly thwarted by grassroots activism, itself inspired and motivated by loud voices of conservatism in the alternative media. An open discussion between “left” and “right” has all too often resulted in the derailing of grandiose liberal plans to reinvent America. And the left simply cannot abide an indefinite continuation of that situation.
So, among those who presume the governing of the “peasantry” to be their inherent right, and any accountability as merely a needless annoyance (as was inarguably the case with the dissenting Justices in D.C. v. Heller), efforts to encroach on all the other precepts of the Bill of Rights hinge on the government’s success in neutralizing and thus abolishing the First Amendment. Eliminate the ability of the general public to speak freely, and those in command can eventually negate any passage of the Constitution that they find problematic.
Americans beware of the innocuous sounding term of “Fairness” in this looming Pandora’s box. For any concept of “fairness” to be substantiated, some individual or cabal must hold sufficient power to arbitrate over which speech is deemed “fair” and permissible, and which speech is not. And those on the political left would gladly assume such control over the rest of society with no intention of ever letting it go.




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Old 07-24-2008, 11:47 AM
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But, How can this be??

The left believes in free speech......

At least, that's what they tell us every time they try to shout their opponents down.....
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Old 07-24-2008, 01:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Palangi View Post
But, How can this be??

The left believes in free speech......

At least, that's what they tell us every time they try to shout their opponents down.....
They are all for it as long as they agree with it.
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Old 07-24-2008, 01:45 PM
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The problem is that the airwaves belong to all of us, but are controlled by very few. Should this be?

If so, why is that good for our country? If not, what would you propose?
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Old 07-24-2008, 01:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt L View Post
The problem is that the airwaves belong to all of us, but are controlled by very few. Should this be?

If so, why is that good for our country? If not, what would you propose?
Don't like it? Buy it.
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Old 07-24-2008, 01:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt L View Post
The problem is that the airwaves belong to all of us, but are controlled by very few. Should this be?

If so, why is that good for our country? If not, what would you propose?
You have control of it. Don't like it? Don't turn to that channel. If enough people turn it off, they won't be able to sell ads and make bills and close up.
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Old 07-24-2008, 01:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Botnst View Post
Don't like it? Buy it.
The station? Are you implying that only people with money deserve to be heard?

Quote:
Originally Posted by aklim
You have control of it. Don't like it? Don't turn to that channel. If enough people turn it off, they won't be able to sell ads and make bills and close up.
I do have control of it, and exercise the control in this way. For this reason, I don't have a dog in this hunt, and don't care one way or the other if they try to resurrect the doctrine.
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Old 07-24-2008, 01:58 PM
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Quote:
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The station? Are you implying that only people with money deserve to be heard?



I do have control of it, and exercise the control in this way. For this reason, I don't have a dog in this hunt, and don't care one way or the other if they try to resurrect the doctrine.
I'm implying that we live in a free market society. Get used to it.

If you don't like what you hear TURN IT OFF.

B
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Old 07-24-2008, 02:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt L View Post
I don't have a dog in this hunt, and don't care one way or the other if they try to resurrect the doctrine.
You forgot the word "yet". What happens when you do have a dog in the hunt?
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Old 07-24-2008, 02:05 PM
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How about if we shut down the New Yawk Times,.......


In the name of "Fairness", of course.
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Old 07-24-2008, 02:07 PM
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Hmmm coming FROM the Federal Government it would be a GREAT thing if this passed. Once we control what you hear, read, and watch it will be short time before we repeal the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th amendments. After all we WANT an efficient government that will give us food and shelter and security, right? Can't have all those pesky rights getting in the way, can we
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Old 07-24-2008, 02:08 PM
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The current system caused the failure of the Air America experiment. People did not listen, and advertisers became scarce.
The Left wants to MAKE YOU LISTEN.
There is freedom of speech, and also a freedom not to listen.
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Old 07-24-2008, 02:08 PM
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And you think the Republicans care about our rights?
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Old 07-24-2008, 02:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MS Fowler View Post
The current system caused the failure of the Air America experiment. People did not listen, and advertisers became scarce.
The Left wants to MAKE YOU LISTEN.
There is freedom of speech, and also a freedom not to listen.
How are they going to make you listen? The same way that the conglomerates make me listen to Rush?
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Old 07-24-2008, 02:31 PM
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> Thus, the proliferation of conservative talk-radio and virtually all of the alternative media would be threatened with eventual extinction

LOL

Is there anyone here that actually believes this?

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