I, like most Americans, am thankful that the elections are behind us and a peaceful transition of power will occur on Jan. 20, 2009. This is a real time for America to be proud that we live in a free country. It is with this in mind that I worry a bit about some of our new President's ideas about free speech. President elect Obama has said that he wants the Fairness Doctrine, which was abolished in 1987, to be reinstated. This means that the Federal Government will play "talk police" and decide what should be broadcasted via our airways. I understand that all of us want and need to hear all sides of every important issue, but the operative thought here is that we already do make that decision simply by choosing to tune into our favorite news/talk/broadcast show.
If we are compelled to listen to all sides of an issue, regardless of its merit, then we have lost our choice, or more succinctly put, our freedom of speech. After all, don't we exercise those freedoms each time we tune into our favorite broadcast. If the Fairness Doctrine were reinstated during the tragic times of 9/11, all the talk after 9/11 that Osama Bin Laden was a bad guy, would have to be balanced with opposing views that maybe Osama wasn't such a bad guy. I don't know about you, but my freedom of choice and speech would immediately turn that broadcast outlet off! Just a thought, God Bless America and our freedom of speech.
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