The Journal‘s Us and Them
Did you happen to catch this front-page story in last Sunday’s Providence Journal?
On Friday, three former governors and several professors of communications and political science offered varying opinions about whether Chafee had made the right decision, as well as some historical perspective on discourse — civil and otherwise — in American democracy.
Not a single quote from anybody associated with talk radio, whether as an on-air personality or executive… or even a supporter or listener to the medium. Simply by its presentation, the article makes clear that those who work in that particular medium, and perhaps their audience, aren’t really part of the Rhode Island community, but an external “them” to be dissected by academics and handled by politicians.
It feels good to be considered by my betters!
Yes, what do “acedemics” at top universities like Harvard and Brown with their decades of research and instruction know about politics and media that part-time bloggers don’t? The nerve of those people!
Justin,
Is there anything funnier than being condescended to by an idiot?
Talk radio in RI has had such an impact on our elections they should have included them! I am trying to think how many candidates that buddy/depetro/allen/ et al. supported actually won the races they were in?
.
.
.
.
.
I guess it isn’t all that many, is it. (any? of real importance) Talk about a low impact medium.
Russ, read The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb to learn more about your misguided authoritarian worship of the so-called experts and central planning.
“Not a single quote from anybody associated with talk radio, whether as an on-air personality or executive… or even a supporter or listener to the medium.” Justin Katz so wrote.
Hmmm…. I think a single quote from a talk radio person would be a rant- a long and ear-shattering rant. Joe Bernstein comes to mind…not to mention Susan from Providence….
Talk radio has its place. It can be relevant. In the words of a former employer, ‘Let me know what the idiots are foaming at the mouth about’, talk radio is indeed an important barometer of uncivil discourse.
David S’s sneering indifference to public sentiment and the thoughts and suggestions of the unenlightened little people are precisely why talk radio is such an important medium. It gives a strong voice to the honest, angry, and disenfranchised taxpayers of RI and MA. Its importance is directly proportional to the level of corruption present in a state (I haven’t listened to it since I moved). Of course by “uncivil” David means those who have the nerve to disagree with his own master plan for how to spend their money. Calling them “idiots” is not the least bit uncivil, by contrast.
Dan, first of all, I have never in my life ever sneered (although I enjoy the word). I have snared- as in a rabbit trap or in this case a rabbit flipflop wearing Dan. Dan, if you are not feeding yourself by talkradio, why the hell do you even care? If you are, then I somewhat understand your comment.
The idiot comment came from a former employer of mine, not my comment.
“It gives a strong voice to the honest, angry, and disenfranchised taxpayers of RI and MA” Dan wrote. How would Dan know their honesty? Angry, yes. Disenfranchised? Questionable at best.
“The idiot comment came from a former employer of mine, not my comment.”
David, you are making a weasel of yourself. If you were not simply adopting the sentiment, as is typically indicated by the phrase “in the words of,” then please clarify exactly for what purpose you were quoting your former employer. If you disagree with the assertion, then the quote adds nothing to the rest of your statement and is out of place.
“Honest” as in “honest living,” i.e., the exact opposite of the union hacks and revolving door insider politicians of Rhode Island.
David S,the anonymous lowlife who snipes from cover,seems to spend a lot of time listening to talk radio.Hmmm?
swazool-talk radio played a significant role in defeating the very poorly thought out McCain-Kennedy immigration bill under the Bush administration.
David S,the anonymous lowlife
If you can get only this type of bland insult from Bernstein, then you’re just not trying hard enough.
Justin
There has been traditionally little regard given to talk radio from the establishment print media. By contrast local talk radio could not exist without their reliance on the Providence Journal. Most of their “conversations” come directly from news stories, like the one you use here. I imagine they were able to schlep a few days out of this one.
I would argue that talk radio played a significant role in influencing those events that led to the major defeat of liberal, big spending, politicians at all levels of government, nationwide.
Phil-it’s hard to be very serious about insults from a typed name on a blog page from a person who has said exactly nothing as to who they are and what they do.
It’s like getting angry at a gnat for being a gnat.
Rhody wrote as though he actually knew something about me and made specific false accusations,which is why I DID get angry at him.
No one has to like what I say or write.If it’s really too much,ignore it-that’s what I do for a lot of blather.
When I go off on Steven Brown or David Cicilline it’s because I have interacted with both of them many times.
Same with Sheldon Whitehouse,although not very much personally.I knew Sheldon’s shortcomings from having to see first hand how badly he mismanaged the US Attorney’s Office.
Chafee I have formed an opinion of by lstening to him and observing his actions.
For all I know about David S,he could be on Thorazine or something.
I actually have read Nassim Taleb but not the book itself. But it’s a non sequetor to suggest that Taleb think all academics should be ignored (not least of which the fact that Taleb is, himself, a professor). Notably, Justin doesn’t critique anything the PhDs have to say (I’m not suggesting their opinions are gospell truths), rather opting to dismiss them out of hand because they are professors.
I find it curious (and dangerous) the undercurrent of anti-intellectualism that runs through the reactionary right.
Russ, nobody said that academics should be ignored. I suspect you could improve your reading comprehension skills, as the point you attribute to Justin isn’t even the one he made.
Dan, I think quite a few of the posts on this blog suggest that academics should be ignored. This us vs. them meme is just another example. Justin may not come right out and say it, but this kind of post is suggesting exactly that.
What’s funny is that you jump all over “my reading comprehension” but don’t seem the least bit curious as to why Justin makes the much larger leap that the journalist who wrote the article believes the fringe-right “aren’t really part of the Rhode Island community.” (they didn’t interview any left wingers either in today’s business section… clearly because they think we don’t exist!)
If you ask me, that’s just nonsense unless viewed through the lens of the fringe-right where politicians, journalists, and academics conspire against them.
Generalizing about academics makes about as much sense as generalizing about used car salesmen.
I’ve encountered both outstanding and reprehensible examples of both,or any other ocupation you’d care to name.
concentrate on the individual and their bona fides rather than the job title.
Dan, I stand corrected. You are right. I am calling you an idiot. Thats what I think of flipflop wearing libertarians. It would not be my first concern but I did respect and admire my former employer and out of loyalty and espect I call you out as a rabbit like flipflop wearing do nothing whining complaining libertarian. Good luck to you and hope you find some happiness in the world.
David, this year I rewrote provisions of a regulation that will affect thousands of businesses across the US. The changes I made will save millions of dollars in unneeded compliance costs if they are adopted. I don’t care if you believe that or not, it’s true.
I don’t understand your rabbit flip flop joke, so I won’t comment on it, other than asking you to identify any issue I’ve “flip-flopped” on, if that was the gist of it.
Dan-why are you playing the jerk’s game?
I can’t recall David S doing anything here but calling people out from behind cover-like sammy and the recently departed Rhody.
Russ at least brings a coherent argument to the table.And I think he’s not trying too hard to conceal who he is – I know,but blog etiquette has to be observed.