Shortly after our next presidential elections

[Ironpost]

When we have a real man in the Whitehorse. We should give some thought to the problems of hate radio, it all should have to pass the smell test so to speak. If you say it or print it it must be verifiable. Free speech and lies are separate entities in my way of thinking. So many people cannot discern the difference.

[NCLib23]

1. Nope

I actually support free speech.

Libel is another issue though.

[Cheswick2.0]

2. I don't think that is the way

I think if we break up the monopolies we will solve the problem of hate radio and TV. People will eventually respond to the truth if they get to hear it on a regular basis.

[Warpy]

3. nah, I think people ought to be allowed to show they world

that they are liars and haters. It's usually a turnoff.

What I would do instead is break up the monopolies, smash the media giants to smithereens, and reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine. You want a hater on your radio station, you gotta find a sane person for the same amount of prime time to counter him.

[Ironpost]

4. My reason for saying this

is to start discussions. I personally have no idea how to do something about this hate thing. But I believe we have to start somewhere.

[bacchant]

5. A smart aspect to their insidious plan was to brand regulation as evil

Sure, regulation can and has been abused, but the abuses of deregulation have proved to be far worse. Media monopolies must be disbanded. Another 10 or 20 years of their "message" and there will be no turning back.

[Cat Atomic]

6. I think you've got a good idea. Why isn't the FCC fining people like

Sean Hannity for diseminating lies packaged as news?

If they can fine Howard Stern for saying "tits", surely they can fine Sean Hannity every time he says "we found WMD in Iraq!".

[NewEmanuelGoldstein]

7. Here's a simple answer

Start now. Tune out. Don't listen to hear how "controversial" the hate radio is or what was said. Stop listening. The ratings keep them employed. If you are listening you are helping them spread their message because no matter what, if the ratings are good, they'll have the forum to make them. Don't give them another listener by being one.

[Ironpost]

8. Between you, me and the rest

I personally have never listened to Rush or any of the other hatemongers, its that I read and hear so many others making reference to them, Trash talk turns my stomach.

[laura888]

9. Not enough just to stop listening. Remember most of those who listen...

...do so because they identify with the hateful messages.

I agree with the original post. The fact is that millions are listening to Hannity's lies and believing in them.

One might even argue that the media is responsible for our invasion of Iraq in that they utterly failed to air other points of view.

Will breaking up the monopolies ensure that this doesn't happen again?

I don't think so... The media needs to be held much more accountable. Anything packaged as "news" has to be verifiable.

To those who disagree, what if hate radio endorsed some type of internment camps for all those who disagree with the freeper viewpoint? This is not too far-fetched. They are already calling us all kinds of hateful names.

[bacchant]

10. That's a good answer for us, but for the masses...

For people to voluntarily tune out they must have an awareness that what they're hearing is bogus. I wonder if many young, impressionable, minds are being captured before they've had an opportunity to honestly evaluate the messages?

[AndyTiedye]

11. We Don't Count in the Ratings Anyway

Has anyone here ever been surveyed by the people who do Arbitron?
And if you did, would you ever admit to them that you listened to that crap?
I don't listen to them. I can't stand it, but I'm glad somebody does, so we
know what they're spewing and who their advertisers are.