Can I ask all you conservative people a question?

[mick67]

I'd love to see a Powell/Rice ticket, but it's not going to happen.

I'd love to see Powell, but he's gotta come clean on selling WMD's at the United Nations first. Either he was manipulated or he lied (and I don't think he lied). And he'd be better off with anybody other than Rice as a running mate.

 

[CherCrazy]

Public pressure is powerful and I think it's a right I cherish.
In the end, it's the group who makes their voice the loudest that often "wins".

I think our country is now in a dangerous position of losing our voice. I think we have become complacent in recent years after working so hard for the rights of our citizens. The loss of Howard Stern on the air is just one example of our loss of freedom of speech. The sugarcoating of the media and government of many important facts is another. Remember the WMD's that we were all led to believe existed? Didn't the media have a role in putting this misinformation out to the public?

One of the biggest supporters of the constitutional right to free speech was Ronald Reagan. He made it clear in his administration and by law that the radio stations in this country were to be limited in the amount of stations/markets any one company could own. Reagan's fear was that a large corporation would come in, take over many markets and put on programming that was of just one viewpoint. Under the Bush administration, those fears became reality. The FCC was watered down, laws changed, and Bush supporters are currently in charge....Colin Powell's son I believe. Today, a huge portion of our country listens to radio stations that are owned by ONE company that is religious based, conservative, republican. (Look them up. I don't want to use their name, my post might get deleted. In my area, they have billboards all over the place with religious messages on them. And yes, I find religious billboards to be just as offensive to me as the people who come knocking on my door trying to save my soul.) You only listen to what THEY want you to hear in those markets. Ronald Reagan had the foresight to know that this was wrong.

Now the FCC/Bush is going after Sirius radio too? Why? Just in their quest to get one man? It is crazy. Like the OP said, if you didn't like Howard Stern, then just change the channel. How hard is that?

For the record...I'm way over 40 and every now and then I'd listen to Howard too. I actually agreed with him on many subjects...not all, but many. I really believe that many people would agree with him if they actually took the time to listen to what he had to say. Yes, he had his off the wall days, but a lot of the stuff was interesting, day to day commentary.

 

[Free4Life11]

Like the OP said, if you didn't like Howard Stern, then just change the channel. How hard is that?

It's not hard. But some people don't buy into the "look the other way" philosophy, me included. Too many instances in history where people have looked the other way or simply not cared because "it's good for them."

 

[Ziva]

I like Powell,but not Rice

Me too,

McCain/Jeb Bush or McCain/Powell or McCain/ almost anyone....would be a ticket I'd vote for. I'm registered with no party affliation in the state of Florida. But if McCain runs, I'll switch and register as a Republican in a heartbeat!

 

[CherCrazy]

It's not hard. But some people don't buy into the "look the other way" philosophy, me included. Too many instances in history where people have looked the other way or simply not cared because "it's good for them."

If you don't like the program, the song, whatever it is, whatever channel, don't you just change the channel? It's not a "look the other way" philosophy. It's just a choice, a personal preference. Did you make a statement to the TV station when you saw the Dr Phil and Oprah episodes that you found offensive? Or did you just change the channel?

Unfortunately, Howard Stern became the scapegoat for an administration. There are a hundred other Howard Stern wannabe's out there on the air right now somewhere. I guess the FCC's a-coming after them too. It's sad to me, because I really believe Freedom of Speech is one of our most basic rights in this country. Hey, I'm not saying that I would have wanted to hear Dr. P talking about that sex stuff at 4pm if I had little kids around the house. But our Freedom of Speech allows him to say that stuff and our Freedom allows you (and me) to change the channel. Simple as that. Choice

 

[Free4Life11]

Yes, I can change the channel. I can also call the station and make a comment. If the station gets enough comment and decides to makes some changes, that's their right too. Power to the people I say. Guess it's just the "Circle of Rights." Also, freedom of speech is not without consequences.

 

[DisneyTarheel]

I could just turn off the TV or change the radio station and ignore it, but what good does that do?? I have the right to call a station and tell them I don't agree with it and make my voice known. And OTHER PEOPLE have the right to call a station and they ENJOY it. Public pressure is powerful and I think it's a right I cherish.

i.e., let the market sort it out without government involvement.

 

[RobinMarie]

I think our country is now in a dangerous position of losing our voice. I think we have become complacent in recent years after working so hard for the rights of our citizens. The loss of Howard Stern on the air is just one example of our loss of freedom of speech. The sugarcoating of the media and government of many important facts is another. Remember the WMD's that we were all led to believe existed? Didn't the media have a role in putting this misinformation out to the public?

One of the biggest supporters of the constitutional right to free speech was Ronald Reagan. He made it clear in his administration and by law that the radio stations in this country were to be limited in the amount of stations/markets any one company could own. Reagan's fear was that a large corporation would come in, take over many markets and put on programming that was of just one viewpoint. Under the Bush administration, those fears became reality. The FCC was watered down, laws changed, and Bush supporters are currently in charge....Colin Powell's son I believe. Today, a huge portion of our country listens to radio stations that are owned by ONE company that is religious based, conservative, republican. (Look them up. I don't want to use their name, my post might get deleted. In my area, they have billboards all over the place with religious messages on them. And yes, I find religious billboards to be just as offensive to me as the people who come knocking on my door trying to save my soul.) You only listen to what THEY want you to hear in those markets. Ronald Reagan had the foresight to know that this was wrong.

Now the FCC/Bush is going after Sirius radio too? Why? Just in their quest to get one man? It is crazy. Like the OP said, if you didn't like Howard Stern, then just change the channel. How hard is that?

For the record...I'm way over 40 and every now and then I'd listen to Howard too. I actually agreed with him on many subjects...not all, but many. I really believe that many people would agree with him if they actually took the time to listen to what he had to say. Yes, he had his off the wall days, but a lot of the stuff was interesting, day to day commentary.

Wanted to PM but couldn't ... nice post!

 

[froglady]

Yes, I can change the channel. I can also call the station and make a comment. If the station gets enough comment and decides to makes some changes, that's their right too. Power to the people I say. Guess it's just the "Circle of Rights." Also, freedom of speech is not without consequences.

I have no problem letting a company know that I am offended by their programming, product, advertising, etc. and that I will not buy or listen to their product.

However, I also believe in letting the marketplace/public decide. I'm of a generation where doctors and nurses actually smoked at the nursing station in hospitals! When the dangers of smoking became more public, nonsmokers became more vocal, (because now it was more than an etiquette issue) and smokers' behavior became less and less tolerated by others. The same is true of drunk driving, insulting remarks about anyone who is "different", discrimination based on race/sex/ethnic background/disability, etc. The public distaste of certain actions fueled the government intervention. Interestingly, it seemed as if the "liberals" were the voices leading the outcry against these "vices" in the past. (At least as far as discrimination is concerned) It's the same story, different chapter.


This may or may not happen permanently (I see a lawsuit with a SC ruling in the future) in this case. Only time will tell. Just remember that there is ALWAYS going to be someone who will feel that his/her rights are being trampled on when an effort is made to protect/insure the rights/sensibilities of someone else.

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

i agree with the OP in some ways....we all do have the choice to change the radio station or tv channel that we are watching or listening too...We have the choice to pick to take our kids to an R movie or a PG one. However, many people dont take this choice into their hands and complain. Yes, Howard Stern didnt say the greatest things but I work as a summer reading teacher (i am 14) and a parent came to me and said "hey erin can you be in this protest about Howard Stern with me" and I asked her why...she said "I listen to Howard in the car with my kids and I dont think its appropriet for them." I agreed and said "you know you could always change the radio station while your kids are in the car that way they dont hear what he's saying" I didnt go to the protest,but I dont think the mom was too happy with me. Its also parents not giving up what they want. There are times when listening to a radio station is right and times when it is not. I see parents taking their kids to PG-13 movies all the time...im talking like 6yos...who the whole time go "mommy whats that...mommy whats that" Then the parents go complain to the movie theater...some times to me because I work there too in the school year. On the job I just "say I'll go get the manager" Its a choice parent have to make..if they want to listen to a guy who says innappropriet things for a young audience...fine by me..just dont complain about your kids listening to it because you made that choice to let them.

to the OP: you really need to work on your wording and how you say things...you didnt sound nice when you said all the things you said..also stop TYPING like THIS there are other ways than yelling at people..because caps means yelling...if you want to empsize a word useitalics

 

[LoraJ]

Here's the thing, if they go after Satelite radio, they are going to have to go after premium cable channels too. Would you really want to pay $10 a month for HBO if they censor all of the curse words out of the movies? or cut out the nudity?

 

[goofygirl]

i agree with the OP in some ways....we all do have the choice to change the radio station or tv channel that we are watching or listening too...We have the choice to pick to take our kids to an R movie or a PG one. However, many people dont take this choice into their hands and complain. Yes, Howard Stern didnt say the greatest things but I work as a summer reading teacher (i am 14) and a parent came to me and said "hey erin can you be in this protest about Howard Stern with me" and I asked her why...she said "I listen to Howard in the car with my kids and I dont think its appropriet for them." I agreed and said "you know you could always change the radio station while your kids are in the car that way they dont hear what he's saying" I didnt go to the protest,but I dont think the mom was too happy with me. Its also parents not giving up what they want. There are times when listening to a radio station is right and times when it is not. I see parents taking their kids to PG-13 movies all the time...im talking like 6yos...who the whole time go "mommy whats that...mommy whats that" Then the parents go complain to the movie theater...some times to me because I work there too in the school year. On the job I just "say I'll go get the manager" Its a choice parent have to make..if they want to listen to a guy who says innappropriet things for a young audience...fine by me..just dont complain about your kids listening to it because you made that choice to let them.

to the OP: you really need to work on your wording and how you say things...you didnt sound nice when you said all the things you said..also stop TYPING like THIS there are other ways than yelling at people..because caps means yelling...if you want to empsize a word useitalics

I think the OP worded things just fine. And so the OP used caps- so what? BIG DEAL! Caps do not always mean yelling.

I agree with the OP. There's that thing called the *remote control*, it has buttons to chnage the channel.

As for the excuse to ban or complain regarding a tv show, film, radio, internet sites, I am SO tired of the "its because of the children" excuse. Its a parent's job to monitor what their child sees and hears, not the job of programmers of the tv network, radio station, movie theatres, etc. Its an adult world, ruled by adults, and not everything can be "for the children". I have the feeling that the "concerned about the family" groups in reality don't even really care about the children, they just want to listen to themselves talk and they want attention. And their children are the first ones out there partying, drinking, drugging, having sex, etc.

Plenty of conservative media offends me: Rush, O'Reilly, the anit-choice billboards in my neighborhood, the "pro family" websites that speak out against feminism, etc. I choose not to see it or hear it. I don't go calling up or start banning the groups responsible for these things, I have better things to do in life.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

The trickle down theory is nonsense. If there is anything Reagan proved, it's that trickle down economics doesn't work. Clinton created a positive economic environment. Bush has created a negative environment. I don't have to listen to economists for opinions, I can look at my investments.

A little biased history re-write?

Tax cuts work!

 

[FierceAXboi]

I am very happy that I finally started a post thats gotten over 100 replies YAY

I havent read everything but I am sure I have gotten lots of little "personal" attacks....Thats fine with me....I did read GoofyGirls reply and thank you for ur support.....Anyone else who feels the same and posted I havent read all my post yet but I thank you also.......GoffyGirl posted something about someone who was upset I used caps.....Well thats just as weird as you making it your porpuse in life to have programming removed just cause you dont like it.....

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

Over 100 posts for a "nicely worded non debate OP" ? good work!

As some have said, yes we can turn the channel or tune out, but what other people watch and hear does effect the society we all live in.

I would prefer the marketplace decide rather than the govenment, but unfortunately, it seems no marketeer has gone broke going for the lowest common denominator among people.

 

[grumpydawg]

i am a conservative. i am a WM, 41 yo, married with 2 teen children.
I like Howard Stern, but I also like Bill O'Reilly. They are both entertainers. I like Disney, but dont agree with all of their practices. I am a Christian, but I dont condemn you if you arent. I dont drink alcohol very often, but as long as you arent driving drunk or are causing a scene in front of my kids in a public place, then I dont care if you drink. I also think the "war on drugs" is failing. I have friends of different races, religions, and nationalities. my friends and i have rules that we dont discuss politics or religion.

I dont want to take away any of your freedoms, just dont push your agenda in my face. not all conservatives are bad, and not all liberals are bad.

Moderation is the key, and it takes all of us to make this thing work.