The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that required the holders of broadcast licenses both to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was (in the Commission’s view) honest, equitable and balanced.  In 1987, the FCC abolished the Fairness Doctrine, prompting some to urge its reintroduction through either Commission policy or Congressional legislation^. Currently, there is an outcry to add “fairness” back into talk radio – which is deemed as unfair by liberals, since the radio waves are dominated by talk show conservatives.
This is a curious issue, since both liberals and conservatives have had their chance at radio. The public decides who to listen to, who has the highest ratings, hence the resulting sponsor money and potential national syndication. If your show is unpopular, it goes off the air with poor share ratings and lack of adequate sponsorship.

Whatever the reason, this medium does not work for liberals. Perhaps conservatives listen to more radio, and it is a preference issue. Maybe liberals watch more tv and do more internet surfing – who knows? Conservatives may have better hosts. Does it matter? Can / should you legislate “fairness”? Why should we? This seems to be the same thought process that condones children not having to fail, and everyone wanting to feel good about life every day.

The entire premise that we legislate and control what types of shows and how much time they receive, sends a chill up my spine. Freedom of speech is only valid when I am saying what you like to hear? My freedom is constrained to “equal time” of 3 hrs per day, for example? As a radio listener, I have a choice whether to change the station or not – let’s leave the solution to this issue there. Let the people decide with their fingers on the radio dial.