A recent Rasmussen poll of Americans’ attitudes to reviving the fairness doctrine finds that:
“Fifty-seven percent (57%) say the government should not require websites and blog sites that offer political commentary to present opposing viewpoints. But 31% believe the Internet sites should be forced to balance their commentary…”
Balanced blogging? That’s my nomination for the oxymoron of the year.
Oh well, at least I don’t have to worry. I’m already balanced!
The poll comes after “congressional Democratic efforts to restore the so-called Fairness Doctrine which would mandate politically balanced commentary on the airwaves.” The Doctrine was abolished by the Reagan administration in 1987.
The argument was that broadcast bandwidth is limited, so the government has a duty to ensure a diversity of bias. How this argument could be applied to the “functional anarchy” of the internet is a compete mystery to me.
The Rasmussen Poll also finds that, “Nearly half of Americans (47%) believe the government should require all radio and television stations to offer equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary.”
Jafapete's Weblog 
August 18, 2008 at 12:48 pm |
Killjoys.
Half the fun of the blogosphere is reading all the varied viewpoints, especially the more rabid ones. The other half is holding forth with your own unfettered opinion. If “balance” was expected then 3/4 of the blogosphere would disappear overnight and the internet would be a much less interesting place.
If these people want “balance” tell them to read a newspaper.
Wait!
Perhaps not. 😉
August 18, 2008 at 1:41 pm |
[…] Boniface critiques the National Social Welfare Policy in the Dominion Post today. Jafapete blogs about how Americans would like balance in the blogosphere, but you won’t find much […]
August 18, 2008 at 2:36 pm |
“But 31% believe the Internet sites should be forced to balance their commentary…”
First they’ll force us to balance our commentary, next it will be our reading, then our listening and speaking and eventually they’ll force us to balance our thoughts 🙂
August 20, 2008 at 5:33 pm |
Evolution is just a theory
Private property is an inalienable right
Religious people are more morally responsible than Atheists
Minni Vanilli were wronged
Tony Veitch is innocent.
Is that enough balance?
No Paul, you left out so-called climate change!