Deseret News | Stifling dissent

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Readers' forum: Stifling dissent

Reason | 3:09 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Good letter. I agree.

out with the partisanship | 7:10 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

I don't agree with the fairness doctrine--that's the wrong approach, but I do agree that the talk show hosts Gale referred to are unhealthy at the least and destructive at the most to democratic conversation. Partisanship and the inability to talk intelligently with those of other political beliefs is destroying our country.

Kam Fong as Chin Ho | 7:29 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Rubbish. The Fairness Doctrine is not about stiffling dissent. That is right-wing paranoid drivel. The FD is about ensuring that the PUBLIC AIRWAVES are not dominated by one-sided corporate propaganda, as they are now. Want to hear dissent being stifled? Listen to how any caller who doesn't toe the right wing line is treated on Limbaugh's, Beck's, or Hannity's shows.

Comments continue below

michaelh | 7:54 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

I also agree. I listen to the shows that were named. Of my acquaintances those who listen are the most intelligent people that I know. The one that agree with Don are the least even those with post graduate degrees. They seem to be totally unwilling to utilize their critical thinking skills preferring to make decisions based on emotion rather than logic.

Anonymous | 8:14 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

How is forcing broadcasters who use the public airwaves to provide dissenting opinions stifling dissent?

RedShirt | 8:30 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

To "Linda Nelson" come on, haven't you learned yet? It is hate only if it is against the liberals. If all of your independant and original thoughts comply with the liberals, then you are ok. Just remember, the Democrats welcome all ideas, as long as they are the same as theirs.

To "michaelh | 7:54 a.m." you have just figured out the difference between liberals and conservatives.

@michaelh | 8:33 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Are you seriously suggesting that your subjective view about which of your acquaintances is "most intelligent" has some meaning? I would think you were smart enough to understand that your perception is colored by your bias. You think people who agree with you are smarter than people who don't. What a revelation!

Yes, logic | 8:48 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Like the logic used to support everything Bush did and said.
How did that work out?

Dwight Adams | 8:56 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

It's more likely, "michaelh," that the people whom you denigrate simply disagree with the axioms on which your logic resides. They are therefore unlikely to come to the same conclusions as you are. It's easy to say that those who disagree with you are illogical, but remember that you are referencing your acquaintances only. Even if your analysis of your acquaintances is correct, you would be hard-pressed to prove the validity of what you imply based on such anecdotal evidence.

In any case, if you can't find anyone who doesn't listen to the shows named who is more intelligent than the people you know and agree with, you need to get out more.

@Red Shirt | 9:13 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Your ideas have proven to be a disaster for our people and our Country.
Why should we want to hear more ideas that have put in such a horrible place?

"News" masquerading as comedy | 9:38 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

John Stewart doesn't call his show a "news" program. His show is carried on the COMEDY Central station. He is a comedian. And, if you were a regular viewer of Stewart's you would find he does criticize Democratic leadership at times.

Now if Beck viewers would admit Beck's show is a comical show meant to primarily entertain rather than inform then we would be in agreement.

The head of Fox, Rupert Murdoch said he agrees with Beck's statement about Obama being a racist and having a deep-seated hatred for whites. That says it all.

PINK BLOUSE | 11:47 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

8:30

Nice STRAWMAN.

Your rant could easily be turned back onto you.

Having an off day?

what? | 12:00 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

how is assuring all voices can be heard oppressing decent?

@redshirt | 12:36 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

right conservatives are good people that only get victimized by the big mean left, so sad..... Please give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous | 3:56 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

I have met intelligent people on both sides of this debate. But in response to michaelh I will point out that every idiot I know describes themselves as conservative.

An Observer | 4:40 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

HEre is WHY the fairness doctrine is bad:

Telling TV stations or radio stations what voices they must air,

is exactly like Having the government tell grocery stores what products they must carry and sell.

A grocery store is just as public as a radio station.

Do we really want a government DICTATING and controlling our business and even our personal lives?

Anonymous | 5:22 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Linda should learn what the Fairness Doctrine was, and is. As a result she parrot's right wing rhetoric. The airwaves are public property, and the demise of the Fairness Doctrine was, frankly, a disaster.

Anonymous | 5:22 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Observer' The fairness doctrine allows any radio or TV station to put any voice they want to on air.
They simply have to balance the time with someone of an opposite political voice to be heard.
Whats wrong with that?
It's not fair that mega money TV and radio owners only one point of view for hours on end.
Oh, and it works both ways.
Again, what wrong with fairness?

@5:22 | 6:22 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

because with the fairness doctrine no one listens to the whiney leftist and therefore the station is losing money and therefore, they go back to playing music and there is no discussion. Any one can call into these right wing talking head and take a shot at debating them. Good luck though, they have strong personalities and reason and common sense on their side.

RedShirt | 6:39 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

To "Anonymous | 5:22 p.m." the problem is that who decides if the opposite view has been given an equal voice?

Please explain how you measure "fairness" without involving somebody's opinion of what is "fair and bananced".

To "@redshirt | 12:36 p.m. " where have you been the past 10 months? I am not playing the victim, I am just stating fact. Just look at how partisan Washington has become, and look at the arrogance of the Democrats especially at how they have treated Joe Lieberman.

@redshirt | 6:56 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

I dare say who is using hateful speech and who is not is very much a matter of opinion and not fact. I think the truth is both sides have been very nasty.

Anonymous | 12:28 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I'm sorry what about RNC chair Michael Steele & the Real boss of the Conservatives (limbaugh?)

Big Dave | 1:00 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Obama is all about crushing descent. His (now defunct) communications director Anita Dunn tried (unsuccessfully) to sensor and silence Fox News but that radical insanity was even more than most liberals could tolerate and Obama had to back off. America is all about checks and balances in government. Obama is all about eliminating the checks and balancing things in HIS favor.

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