Where have the liberals gone?

Sunday, May 30, 2004

By: PAUL JACOBS - For The Californian

One of my favorite expressions is, "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they're not out to get you." I suppose it's a warning to not let your guard down and to maintain a healthy level of skepticism. Where I once routinely discounted conspiracy theories overheard on late-night talk radio, some of those theories are starting to morph into reality. Growing up as a child of the '60s, I remember hearing the hippie slogan to question authority, but these days a disconcerting number of Americans prefer blind trust, and disdain those who dare challenge questionable actions of our government.

(snip)

With the acquiescence of the FCC, KFI was eventually assimilated by megacorporation Clear Channel Communications. Initially, I ignorantly believed that the corporate takeover would not dictate local program content. I was proven wrong as programming became increasingly syndicated with local hosts reserved mostly for the morning and evening drive times. Original and progressive talk shows were ultimately rescheduled to odd hours or jettisoned in favor of talk show hosts more conducive to the media conglomerate's streamlining of content.

Perhaps the events of Sept. 11, 2001, exacerbated a decided move toward more Republican talk radio, but the pendulum has remained stuck to the right. While there was once some semblance of balance on the airwaves, it seems only fringe stations broadcast anything contrary to the multitude of talk show pundits parroting right-wing rhetoric up and down the radio dial.

(snip)

When old Germany and the former Soviet Union broadcast a single ideology over the airwaves, our country of liberty and free speech called it "propaganda." In the new corporate-controlled United States, we call media support of the ruling power "patriotism" and the few drowning voices of dissension are called un-American.

(snip)

Paul Jacobs of Temecula is a regular columnist for The Californian. E-mail: TemeculaPaul@aol.com.


More...

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/05/30/opinion/18_13_555_29_04.txt

We dropped that rag...Don't think this Jocobs' column appeared in the San Diego edition? Have not subscribed for over a year now...
Newspapers are supposed to inform...The cartoonist for this rag is offensive. Besides, bad comics. Can't believe they would allow even a hint from some moderate like this Jacobs.
The NOrth County Times, used to feature a 'liberal' column once a week...A once a week column offended the freepers...Can not keep even one liberal columnists for balance.
Our solution to lousy media...We take the Los Angeles TImes...Enjoy Robert Scheer's column on Tuesdays. TV...Dropped cable..Deep dish satellite... No news better than "Democracy Now.." Real news.Need watch nothing else.
KFI...Not on my button selection list. Clear Channel..That is the deal...to repugs...Give us 2000 radio channels and we will distort the news for most Americans..
Try KPFK FM.....90.7 Los Angeles...Lots of liberals there.

Pirate 96.9 FM on your dial.


:kick:

at least that's the spin going around about the latest Pew Poll saying 33% of the working press is liberal, 54% moderate, only 7% cons.

Does no one ever notice that those liberal workers have to get their stories approved by conservative and compromised management and owners, who are overwhelmingly conservative. In fact most of the rank and file in news bend over backwards to slant to the middle or the right, just to protect themselves from the neverending shriek from the RW about liberal bias.

Man that puts me in a bad mood.

That column is right on.

I won't listen to them. The talk shows that were once somewhat interesting before clear channel took over the station are now about 40 - 45% commercials. I won't listen to it.