wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] David! from NYC May 06, 2008 - 09:02AM

  This should be an interesting segment. IMO, American democracy is not healthy, and hasn't been for decades. One might have the inclination to look back at Watergate as the "beginning of the end", but I think it goes beyond that. H2Ogate did much to damage the people's confidence in government, but democracy actually prevailed.

  Those who read these comments on a regular basis will likely recognize that I am supporting Sen. Clinton in this election. With that preface, I'd like to offer one example of the weakness of American democracy. Just a month ago, many people were calling for Sen. Clinton to withdraw from the race for "the good of the party."

  This is not meant as a criticism of Sen. Obama or his supporters, but that rationale decries a weak democratic process. While attention is being focused on NC and IN today because of the closeness of the race for the Democratic nomination, what about the Republican voters of those states? Have they not been disenfranchised, in essence, by having had no say in the selection of their party's nominee?

  
  
• [2] David! from NYC May 06, 2008 - 09:03AM

  In my opinion, the tradition of NH and Iowa always being first has actually done more harm to both political parties than any tight, protracted (or even negative) campaigns. One hears the concerns about low voter turnout in most election years, but with the system only allowing two states to have a complete selection, can one really blame voters in other states when they don't have a full choice and the press trumpets the early victors as the candidates to beat?

  Also, the disparity between the parties in their selection process is frustrating to diehard voters, much less occasional ones. Sen. Obama's supporters point out that he has won more states. Sen. Clinton's supporters can argue that she had more votes in Nevada and Texas, yet Sen. Obama "won" those. The GOP, meanwhile, runs winner takes all primaries, and McCain beats out Romney and Huckabee. If the Republicans awarded delegates the way Democrats do, is it not a safe assumption that Romney and/or Huckabee--or even Rudy for that matter--might still be going toe to toe with McCain?

  I'm a voter because I want to be, but I don't blame those who don't vote. Can a person be fairly blamed for avoiding what is easily seen as futile? I've maintained for years that America would do well to move to a parliament system.

  
  
• [3] Sally Forth from Soho May 06, 2008 - 11:03AM

  I love this man! Billy Moyers is one of the few people on television that actually cares for the integrity of medium.

  
  
• [4] hjs from 11211 May 06, 2008 - 12:03PM

  one of the best shows on TV is 'Bill Moyers Journal' in NYC it's on Friday, channel 13, 9pm

  
  
• [5] chestinee May 06, 2008 - 12:14PM

  Ask Bill if he thinks this is the result of what Ike warned us about, and does he think it (corporate takeover) was a fait accompli when Ike did leave office

  
  
• [6] Sheree from Manhattan May 06, 2008 - 12:19PM

  Please tell Bill Moyers that he is a national treasure and thank him for the work he does on his "Journal". He keeps trying to educate us and get us to ask the hard questions and be the best that we can be as Americans.

  
  
• [7] Mike from Manhattan May 06, 2008 - 12:19PM

  The Al Franken Show was one of the funniest radio programs I have ever heard; I was a die-hard listener!

  Sam Seder got canned, but was pretty funny too.

  Beyond those significanat exceptions, Bill's pretty much right. Thom Hartmann? OMG, what a snore. zzzzzzzzzzzzz

  
  
• [8] william from virginia May 06, 2008 - 12:24PM

  If there's time, Leonard, ask Mr. Moyers about his nickname among the Vietnam press corps: "the Reverend"

  
  
• [9] mc from Brooklyn May 06, 2008 - 12:25PM

  Air America effectively committed suicide when it began to alienate half its audience.

  
  
• [10] hjs from 11211 May 06, 2008 - 12:28PM

  the media follows the will of the people also

  
  
• [11] eligit from astoria May 06, 2008 - 12:30PM

  go bill!

  just call it like you see it.

  
  
• [12] Alex Levine May 06, 2008 - 12:32PM

  When you bring up President Wilson, why don't you mention how racist he was. He segregated the civil service which had been integrated by President Grant and kept minorities out of Princeton when he was president there.

  
  
• [13] Johnny USA May 06, 2008 - 12:37PM

  BILL MOYERS FOR PRESIDENT

  
  
• [14] markbnj from online: http://my-poem-a-day.com or markbnj.blogspot.com May 06, 2008 - 12:42PM

  Hey... take a look at my ideas on how we can get

  a bunch of this stuff implemented.

  my concept is easy

  we have a bunch of stuff that we need to get done all at the same time.

  It's like a juggler, you just CAN't let any of the running chain saws fall. They ALL need to be done at the same time.

  1) Single payer health insurance.

  2) Fixing the Bush '100 year war'

  3) Undoing the Che'ney/Rumsfeld 'private army'

  4) Fixing our educational system (bottom up)

  5) a LIVING wage.

  6) fixing our infrastructre

  7) a Jobs program for EVERYONE to TEACH..

  8) fixing the political system of lobbyists...

  9) fixing the tax system...

  So these all require juggling at the SAME time.

  we need ANOTHER new deal (a la FDR).

  Sorry, call me a socialist...

  It's radical. It's a way of doing it all

  Look (and chat:) at

  sos-newdeal.blogspot.com

  mark brown in nj