The Fairness Doctrine - A Cute Name For Murdering Free Speech

Trouble brewing in Tennessee, and soon in DC:

Over the weekend, the National Conference for Media Reform was held in Memphis, TN, with a number of notable speakers on hand for the event. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) made an surprise appearance at the convention to announce that he would be heading up a new House subcommittee which will focus on issues surrounding the Federal Communications Commission.

The Presidential candidate said that the committee would be holding "hearings to push media reform right at the center of Washington.” The Domestic Policy Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee was to be officially announced this week in Washington, D.C., but Kucinich opted to make the news public early.

In addition to media ownership, the committee is expected to focus its attention on issues such as net neutrality and major telecommunications mergers. Also in consideration is the "Fairness Doctrine," which required broadcasters to present controversial topics in a fair and honest manner. It was enforced until it was eliminated in 1987.

Kucinich said in his speech that "We know the media has become the servant of a very narrow corporate agenda" and added "we are now in a position to move a progressive agenda to where it is visible."

For all the Liberals' shrieking about the first amendment when some is offended by a crucifix submerged in urine being passed off as art ("Piss Christ"), or a statue of the Virgin Mary made of elephant feces, they have absolutely no problem with censoring talk radio - Why? Because talk radio a traditional medium of conservative thought, because they are able to prevail in a market of free ideas.

Why stop with restricting talk radio? Why not restrict blogs like this one and force them to be "fair"? Why don't we force universities to be fair in regards to educating? Why don't we make CNN or the NYT be fair in their ridiculous coverage. I think that universities and CNN and NYT and the like should be fair - which they aren't - but I don't think they should be forced into via federal law.