Son of Fairness Doctrine

Monday, March 2, 2009

Son of Fairness Doctrine

I sent this message to congressman Rick Larsen. The Broadcaster Freedom Amendment is supposed to put the ineptly named Fairness Doctrine to rest once and for all, except for a little rider put there by Illinois senator Dick Durbin. Read on...

Dear Mr. Larsen,
I think it is good that the Senate chose to protect against infringement of the first amendment by passing the Broadcaster Freedom Act, but there is a nasty fly in the ointment in the form of a rider placed there by Dick Durbin of Illinois.
S.160's Purpose is "To encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership, and to ensure that the public airwaves are used in the public interest." My yardstick for any government action is this: "Does this action enhance, or diminish individual liberty?" The obvious answer in this case is "diminish", because it adds more government control over an already heavily regulated industry.
The stated goal of the Durbin rider is to increase diversity and minority ownership of broadcast facilities. That may or may not be a desirable goal, and it may or may not be in the public interest, but as legal citizens of the USA, minorities have the same legal right to own broadcast stations as anyone else. The Constitution does not enumerate powers for the government to impose quotas and affirmative action for We the People, or to decide what is in the public interest. We decide, and if we're interested, we'll get it. I want the US Government to stop assuming roles and responsibilities that belong to We the People!
Sincerely,
Karl & Peggy Uppiano

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"Which article of the Constitution gives government the authority to do that?"

If more and more people start asking this question, I think most of our worst political problems, in all branches and all levels of government would go away by themselves, almost overnight. When a reporter asked Nancy Pelosi that question about the healthcare bill, her deer-in-the-headlights response was, "Are you serious?" Well, we are serious, and politicians should be afraid to step out of their offices without a credible answer to that question. It is the only "litmus test" that we need.

It really takes so little effort, that it is at least worth a try. The beauty of it is, this really should appeal to honest people from anywhere on the political spectrum.

Uphold and Defend

Big government and bad policy, usurpation of authority not granted in the US Constitution is human nature. Republicans and Democrats are both guilty. We the People must realize that this is not a partisan issue, and demand that all of our politicians follow the Constitution.

The US Constitution is still the official specification for the United States of America.
It guarantees equal justice for all, and protects your life, liberty and prosperity.
Any regime that distorts or disregards its original intent is untrustworthy and dangerous.

Presidential Quotes

The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits. ~ Thomas Jefferson

With respect to the words general welfare, I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators. ~ James Madison

I think we can say that the Constitution reflected an enormous blind spot in this culture that carries on to this day and that the Framers had that same blind spot. I don't think the two views are contradictory to say that it was a remarkable political document, that paved the way for where we are now, and to say it also reflected the fundamental flaw of this country that continues to this day. ~ Barack Obama

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Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. ~ George Washington

Do You Still Have All of the Liberty That You Were Born With?

Think back to when you were growing up. What things could you do then that you can no longer do now? What things did you have the liberty to decide for yourself that is now a mandate? How many federal, state and local laws were passed since you were born? How many new bureaucracies and agencies have been created since you were born? How many new regulations have they imposed? How many tax increases have you seen in your lifetime? How many new government programs have replaced your ability to do it yourself? (more...)

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Monday, March 2, 2009