🚀 go-pugleaf

G'day Marjorie,

wisby@ultra.net.au (Marjorie N. Wisby) wrote:

>While I would defend ABC radio's coverage of many things, it is my considered 
>opinion that to get a decent coverage of the news it is necessary to 
>watch/listen to both the ABC and a commercial one. Between the two, one can 
>get a vague idea of what is happening, and determine the bias for oneself.

Personally, I find ABC's bias most apparent in the news which it
-doesn't- cover.

>The ABC radio news was far better than it's TV news, and still appears to be.
>
>Perhaps the TV should be closed down, and just the radio kept going. 

Personally, I think that some of the ABC radio networks are quite
good, albeit heavily balanced toward progressive politics.  For
example, here in Melbourne, 3LO is interesting.  However, the local
ABC television station's most popular shows are British imports (e.g.,
Absolutely Fabulous, The Bill, Pride and Prejudice).  I struggle to
think of a contribution made by the Melbourne staff.

>Nasty, Doug, nasty. Of course they can understand - understand that, as they 
>disagree, they don't want to expose the arguments to the population at large. 
>After all, *some* people may actually listen, and become more informed. Silly, 
>really. So few listen to the ABC that it hardly matters, anyway.

Don't look at the price, feel the quality.  It is indeed a terrible
day when the ABC is reduced to the sales tactics of those rug stores
with a permanent clearance sale sign in the front window.

>In fact, whilst I'd query the meaning of 'democracy' in the context of 
>Australia, I would certainly argue quite strongly that *if* the ABC is 
>essential to democracy in this country, then it's taking a far too political 
>role, and the sooner it's closed down, the better.

This is a very interesting point.  Are government-sponsored television
and radio networks necessary for democracy to continue?  Is democracy
such a fragile concept that direct government sponsorship of a news
organisation necessary for it to flourish?

BTW, did you notice that Pravda finally shut down recently?  Communism
is gone, government sponsorship of the newspapers goes with it, yet
democracy continues.

Doug

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What happens if a big asteroid hits the Earth?  Judging from realistic
simulations involving a sledge hammer and a common laboratory frog, we
can assume it will be pretty bad.  -- Dave Barry

douglas.buckser@acslink.aone.net.au