How Bill Clinton has Damage Conservatism, or "How I learned the FCC bomb"

Moi | 5/27/02 | nuke'm glowing

[Nuke'm Glowing]

How Bill Clinton has Damage Conservatism, or "How I learned the FCC bomb"

Amazing. Bill Clinton still resonates in our ears today. Buy how and why? National conservatism is like a steamroller, with high ratings, the bandwagon effect so to speak. But on a local level it has become a socialist utopia. How? Why?
Glad you asked.
The Clinton administration used the only weapon against consevatism he had left:

Capitalism.

What? How dare he? The man who let his bimbo wife draft the largest socialist program in history used our own weapon against us. Yes, he did.
When the FCC changed the rules, local radio stations were purchased in huge, obscene lots by the major conglomerates. Clear Channel, Westinghouse, Infiniti, etc. all went on buying sprees. For example in Florida, there used to be 4 independent stations with seperate call letters and their own programming. Not any more. They all use the same call letters (WFLA) relaying the same programming, with the same opinions day after day. Oh granted, there is Rush, Beck, et al. But guess what was destroyed? Local issues, local talk, and real discussions about what happened in those cities and counties which impact each election. The county commissioners in the Tampa/St. Pete or Orlando markets could not be happier. They no longer fear a local assault in the papers (since they were nationalized long ago) nor on the air. And God forbid the local TV news does anything to affect advertising. Oh sure, the local governments will send some mid-level manager to the slaughter every now and then to keep the "masses" thinking that they are watching out for you. But in reality, the big fish swim free in a more corrupt atmosphere than ever. In several counties there were elections recently. In the county near myself, there was a vote on a sales tax increase. Was their any discussion on ANY local radio programs? No. Why? There are no local programs. The mayors, commissions, managers, etc. all now can operate in a cloak of darkness without fear of retribution. With the destruction of local shows, talking about real issues, corruption is now commonplace throghout the U.S. on a local level. The representatives from Congress get to skate scott free, talking to the local audiences only when major events occur or when the election is close at hand. In the market which I live in, there used to be 8 independent radio stations, serving over 300,000 listeners in 3 counties. There are now 2 independent stations, one a religious staion, the other an "oldies" station. Not a lot of politics to be discussed there. And without the $500,000 plus and connections required to start a new station, it is virtually impossible for the average Joe, much less a truely concerned, viable politician to get his word out. So you see the dilemma. The demorats succeeded where Stalin, Mao and the terrorists have failed; they silenced conservatism on a local level. Oh, and don't think that Clear Channel cares. They are more worried about their stock prices than the First Amendment, much less any other part of the Constitution.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Your opinions are welcome. I do realize this does not apply to small town America, where local radio is the life blood of the community. But in any city with a population of over 50,000, I feel this is safe to apply.

[Billy_bob_bob]

You are right about radio today. It has gotten so bad it is hard to find words to describe. There used to be a law against any one company owning more than one or two stations in any given area, but not any longer. Now we get to have one or two conglomerates that own every single station in every single market. It stinks to high heaven, and we really need to consider going back to the old rules. I cannot believe how very bad radio had become, and how great it used to be back in the 70's, before radio got all corporate and boring.

Not to mention the number of ads they run nowadays! I've clocked talk shows that have exactly nine minutes of talk for every six minutes of ads! Seriously! The rules used to be that you couldn't have more than six minutes of ads in an hour, now they have that many in a quarter hour! I finally gave up, I just couldn't stand to listen anymore. Thank goodness for MP3.com and internet radio from independant internet broadcasters! I wonder how long before that all gets shut down.

[Husker24]

I have to disagree, the Clintons and now Daschel are the best thing to happen to the Conservative movement. We dont even have to do anything by just letting them talk, they make themselves look like idiots.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Despite the fact my cut and paste didn't work so hot (sorry about the piss poor html and English in the title), I am not referring to the national level. On the local level, the politicos are having their way. And that is scarier than on the national level.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Thank you. And although this is just an opinion piece, sadly, unless the rules recently passed allowing low-power community stations to appear, I fear it will get worse before it gets better. The FCC has created a corporate mafia which not only controls the profitability of the radio market, but the choices and opinions to be aired. This is better than creating a "Ministry of Propoganda". It is censorship without consequences.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Just a correction since the title did not cut and paste cleanly and I missed it:

How Bill Clinton has Damaged Conservatism, or "How I learned to love the FCC bomb"

[nov7freedomday]

Although I only partially disagree with your premise of the downfall of radio due to corporate consolidation of licenses, I should point out that the laws implementing the deregulation of radio was initially put forth during the Reagan administration and pushed forward during Bush the elders administration. The actual final rule making regarding the ownership of multiple stations in a market was completed in late 1992 or early 1993. My memory is a little hazy as to exactly when.

I should know, I benefited from selling my FM station to a quality local owner (one of the original 40 charter stations for Rush's show)who simulcast Rush's show on my FM for several years.

As far as there being no local programming in markets greater than 50,000. What turnip truck did you fall off of? Yes the stations are owned by large corporations, but by law they must address certain local issues.

Baton Rouge, my home town (population 550,000), has great local programming on it's top talk station WJBO. In addition, state wide political talk has come about lately with the advent of the Moon Griffon Show, kind of Louisiana's own Rush. Have you ever listened to WWL 870 AM out of New Orleans (population 1,000,000 +). Other than Rush, they are almost entirely local programming. Hell, Gov. Mike Foster does a 1 hour call in talk show state wide every Thursday at 2:00 PM

Another thing I would hope you understand, radio stations are a businesses. They are worth a hell of a lot of money, if you provide good programming. A local AM station recently switched from all sports to news talk and added nationally syndicated programming including, Bill O'Rielly, Sean Hannity and Neal Bortz (sp). These national syndications have probably double if not tripled the value of this station to potential investors. Why, because they will undoubtedly increase listener ship and as such sell a great deal more advertising. I can understand how in some markets large corporations may have a tighter control on some local issues. However, you can't blame Clinton (who I despise by the way) for this one. In addition, just because large companies may have increased the price of local stations, doesn't mean they aren't worth it, and doesn't mean that a small independent could get financing to buy one and compete.

Please excuse my turnip truck remark. I added it for emphases only.

[x]

Yes, Clinton used capitalism both to defeat conservatives and to block the left of his own party. Economic prosperity got him reelected and numbed people into submission.

But I'm not sure about your FCC idea. Rush Limbaugh was a sensation a decade ago. Now he's just another one of many talk show hosts. Talk radio isn't much of a vehicle for political change now. We've gotten too used to it.

And political grievances don't bite or gnaw as much as they did a decade ago. Sometimes people will be motivated by some new scandal or controversy, but in general the culture wars or tax wars don't excite people as much as they once did. Their attention is elsewhere: technology, the economy, entertainment and celebrities.

People are pretty much aware that whoever gets elected will act within a narrow window of policy options. That doesn't meant that one candidate isn't better than another, just that dreams of sweeping change won't come true.

But what's coming now with the Internet and Internet radio and television may help to revive local political activism. Where there is a real scandal or crisis, there are ways to get the message through.

Those who have a real passion don't let the law stop them and don't hold back from setting up pirate stations, though I don't think that's necessary and don't recommend it. There was talk about opening up the legal spectrum to the sort of local stations as now function illegally as pirates. I can't imagine that went anywhere, but it's something to look into.

[Billy_bob_bob]

Do you want to know what is going to happen to low power radio? Here's a clue. The people promoting low power radio don't have a lot of money. The people who own the radio stations that are currently on the air do have a lot of money. Hmmmm. Gee, I wonder who's going to win this one? Boy, that's a toughie. Just can't figure how this one is going to turn out.

[Dark Watch]

Boycott!

These companies are in it for the money.  Make a list of the companies who do local advertising and tell them you will no longer do business because of the format of the radio station.  Write a "letter to the editor" in your local papers and state the same and give the reasons.

We don't have that problem where I live because there are still those who believe "politics are local".

[CyberAnt]

Clear Channel is here in San Diego, and they have not cut any local programming.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Although I do enjoy the national programming available now, which was not available in my market for a while (excluding Rush and Hannity of course), the issue is far worse than you think in Florida. In Tampa, the only local programming that is non-sports is religious programming, hardly an outlet for politicians and the populus to discuss the issues. Orlando, Lakeland, Daytona Beach, etc. are decent sized cities, and other than one FM talk station in Orlando(which usually discusses such pressing issues as stripper's rights and breast implants), local issues are null and void and never discussed. You can listen to your favorite national program in each city, which yes, is conevenient if you travel the state like I do. The premise is not that local programming is totally dead, but thanks to the corporatization of local radio, the politicians now have a blank check to do as they wish, without discussion, without an impact unless the individual or groups have the financial firepower to fight back. And even at times that does not work. A newspaper near my home refused advertising for an anti-sales tax increase group as did all local radio stations. By the time this group got a hearing in court, it was the day of the vote. Sort of a moot point by then. The radio stations who refused to air the ads made the point that the "advertisements were not suitable for the national programming being aired, nor the audience they are designed for." Do what?!?!?!? So basically now they will take their chances in the courts rather than address political controversy. And with the firepower of a Clear Channel or an Infiniti, where will the news coverage of such a case come from? The New York Times? Doubtful. Your lucky in New Orleans, as that seems to be an exception more than the rule nationally. I understand the profitability aspects of these changes, believe me I do. And I know why. But by allowing the dilution of the medium sized markets with hour upon hour of syndicated programming, what value do these stations add to the "public service" (once a term which held meaning) of the community they are supposed to serve? They provide jobs for about 6 people, and profit for the ownership, granted. But in the big picture, the politicians who are responsible for the management of the community, the use and misuse of tax dollars, will no longer be forced to argue in a public forum. Debate is a dying art form in America. And this is just another nail in that coffin.