There's nothing fair about the Fairness Doctrine

I try hard not to use labels when describing people. Rush Limbaugh is what he is and so is Chris Matthews. But it's hard not to use labels to describe liberals and conservatives when they pound away at each other.

Part of this is the fault of Republicans who have Ann Coulter making outrageous statements about John Edwards' wife. But then along come Democrats demanding equal time to balance what they perceive as conservative bias in talk radio.

Only they don't want equal time based on the merits of their message because few people are interested in such blather. That's why it's called the Fairness Doctrine. Logic is balanced with illogic.

Why didn't the left demand equal time for conservatives when Al Franken was the left wing equivalent of Coulter? I didn't hear conservatives demanding equal time.

Conservatives change stations when they hear something they don't like. Liberals are different; they want the station put out of business.

That's why the left's attempt to force radio stations to give liberals equal time is a joke. If people don't like what radio stations broadcast, they won't listen. If people don't listen, there won't be advertisers. End of problem.

That's not good enough for liberals. Their goal is a forum for views that don't depend on advertisers for financial support. But somebody would have to pay for it.

You got it - it would be tax-supported or free. If it were free, the media would be forced to charge conservative programs twice as much to pay for a liberal response. The result? Fewer advertisers and fewer conservative programs.

It was media that opened the door for Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Coulter. It was liberal bias at ABC, NBC and CBS that gave us Fox News and Bill O'Reilley. Conservatives saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. It's the American way.

Then there's the New York and Los Angeles Times newspapers, whose editorial writers are consistently on the left side of American politics. These folks will love the Fairness Doctrine as long as it means more revenue for them.

Liberal programming doesn't stand a chance in the competitive world of advertising. That's why liberals are upset. They want to silence talk radio. Hence, the Fairness Doctrine, to force radio stations to give equal time to liberals.

The market should prevail in all things, including what goes out over the air. If a majority of people want to listen to liberal shows, the Al Frankens of the world will survive. If people prefer the Limbaughs, O'Reilleys and Hannitys, that's what will dominate the airwaves.

And that's the way it should be. From this corner of Pikes Peak Country, I'm Jere Joiner and this has been my 2 cents worth. Now it's your turn.

Coloradans get a second chance with Bob Schaffer

Someone wrote once that opportunity is a runner with a huge shock of hair. You see him coming from a long way off. As he rushes by you grab for his hair only to discover he's bald in back - your hand comes away with nothing.

Coloradans will get a second chance next year to elect Bob Schaffer to the U.S. Senate. With Wayne Allard's decision not to run for a third term, Schaffer will be pitted against former state senator Mark Udall. If the election of Ken Salazar to the U.S. Senate is any guide, the decision of whom to support couldn't be clearer.

Salazar represented Colorado well as the state's attorney general. His views were moderate and as a result he had broad support. Once in the Senate, however, Salazar aligned himself with the far left. Any pretense at moderation was left behind in Colorado.

Coloradans can expect the same thing if Mark Udall is elected. That's because Democrats in Washington are controlled by radical leftists. In order to get along, they have to go along with liberals like Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Ted Kennedy.

We know what we will get from Bob Schaffer - a man who keeps his word, remembers his constituency, and stands for Colorado values. One thing is certain with Bob Schaffer: what you see in Colorado today is what you'll get in Washington tomorrow.

That's my 2 cents worth from Pikes Peak Country. How about yours?