To the Editor:

Imagine that in 2015, you, as an American citizen, don’t feel at home in your own town. You go out for pizza or to get braces for your child, and the TV blames you for all the ills of America. You turn on talk radio and it’s more of the same. Televisions and radios across town send the same message: you are unwelcome, you are bad, you are to blame.

Most of the messages are false. They put words in your mouth that you never said. They attack your patriotism, second guess your every move and motive. The talking heads attack your leaders viciously, lying about their military service, undermining their legitimate authority. If that isn’t enough, there are some pastors in town who have made it clear that you are not welcome in their church. 

Are you supposed to just accept this treatment? You ignored it, but it got stronger and more pervasive. What’s worse is that too many people believe the noise and vote accordingly. The results are trickling down on us from Raleigh and Washington, D.C.

What has happened to America, that this has come to pass as normal? There was a time in this country when everyone watched the same news channels and it was just news, not hate speech. But almost 20 years ago, a conservative ideologue started Fox News and public discourse and policy in America have deteriorated ever since.

We are by definition nice people.  We just want to live our lives without being picked on or bullied. But to bullies, that is like an invitation. So now we have to stick together and fight back. It’s a sad state of affairs that it has come to this.

The seed for this scenario was planted in 1985, when the Fairness Doctrine was thrown out by the FCC. When Congress voted to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, Ronald Reagan vetoed the legislation. Apparently, some folks aren’t interested in fairness, but rather winning at all costs.

In our experience, fairness is always a good policy. Just ask us Democrats and/or liberals. 

Dan Kowal

Franklin