Do we Hear Enough Voices?

Hot on the heels of the Don Imus debacle we hear different opinions. None are more important than another. That is important! I may think many are wrong, or you may do the same, but one is not more important than another.

I don't plan to rehash this point again, but there seem to be different rules in our media about what speech is beyond acceptable and what isn't. Some does fall into political terms but other times it doesn't. Imus certainly is not a conservative pundit, but he is the latest to be thrust on the sword. An overwhelming theme of what I write is that markets should determine outcomes. That being said, if the market is too heavily balanced on a particular area of the market that skews the results. Here is an example. Media markets are too heavily leaning to the main stream media. The outlets look to people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton for their analysis and quotes. These types of people are therefore allowed to make up the rules as they go. Sharpton finds an insult of black female basketball players to be too offensive and the talker must pay. (I also find this to be overly offensive as I have said before). That being said Sharpton does not find falsely accused LaCrosse players from Duke to be beyond acceptable. He was all over this situation before the facts were known. Now that the truth is known he seems not so interested. This is Mr. Sharpton's pattern. He is a publicity pimp. I usually try to avoid insults like this in my writing but people who shamelessly use others suffering for their own desires infuriate me. Sharpton is one of those. Part of the problems is that Sharpton is the messenger. He is not fit to bring the message of Imus and offense.

What will fix it? I think more voices. People, I hope will get tired of the potty humor when Imus gets back (and I believe he will be back). Talk radio whether political, sports or a cooking show is important because it gives voice to more people. Some are good voices, some are bad (depending on your way of thinking). Some people think Rosie O'donnel is terrific, I think she is shrill and detestable. That doesn't mean she should be fired. Same with Keith Olbermann. I think he is simplistic and annoying. His problem is that no one watches him. He happens to have a loyal following on Youtube. (Yet another important avenue of free speech). Good for him. He has tapped into a medium. It is a market. If MSNBC is willing to give him a microphone while no one is watching, their decision.

To fire Imus because of pressure will only chill speech not make it enhance it. What will happen next is that the loudest pundits will be able to shut up their opponents but largely ignore the loudmouths on their own side. This is a problem, because it isn't the people but merely the power brokers making the decisions. I suspect if polled the listeners of Imus would be glad to see him return, but it will be the powerful who will make the decisions. They created Imus and can destroy him whenever they like. That is why more voices are needed not less. At that point the people have the power, not the suits.