Day: February 10, 2018

Radicalization of the Republican Party and the End of the Fairness Doctrine

 

Radicalization is a process by which an individual or group comes to adopt increasingly extreme political, social or religious ideals and aspirations that reject or undermine contemporary ideas and expressions of the nation.

This radicalization by some Republicans has become apparent to me so I reviewed the Republican principles that I posted in a previous blog.

  1. Smaller government to preserve the sanctity of the individual.
  2. Support the federalist system of government meaning less federal government and more state control.  Against centralized government.
  3. Fiscal conservatism, limited taxation and government spending to ensure greater individual liberty.
  4. Strong national defence.
  5. Individual liberties, responsibilities and duties.
  6. Tolerance, inclusiveness and responsibilities.

Also, free enterprise, and equal rights, justice and opportunity for all including persons with disabilities, and human rights.

So, when did these principles become conflated with Conservative Christians “…not extending rights to LGBTQ citizens” and “racial resentment” that sees the government as taking money from working whites and giving it to lazy “…black and brown people?” (See  “Yes, The Republican Party has become Pathological.  But Why?” by Lee Drutman in Vox 9/22/2017)  When did science and honorable American institutions become suspect?  What happened to the overlapping values between Republicans and Democrats?

In my view, Republicans became radicalized by Conservative Media over the last 30 years.  With the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine (a policy of the Federal Communications Commission which required holders of broadcast licenses to put forth honest, equitable and balanced news) in 1987, news sources became one-sided and unaccountable to the truth.  Without the enforcement of the FCC, it is up to us to know which sources are honest, equitable and balanced.  There is a highly informative chart rating news services by their political leanings, whether they provide straight news or opinions and whether their news is fair and truthful or false connected to the following link.  Please check it out so that you can be an informed consumer of news.

ALLGENERALIZATIONSAREFALSE.COM