Re: new radio network: an effort to compete with Pacifica?

["Derek S." <derektheredrebel@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Is this proposed new liberal network supposed to be
> a "centrist" alternative to Pacifica? How does it
> fit in with NPR?

I don't really know how to answer your question. I
don't think it is trying to be an alternative to
Pacifica in the sense that it's trying to outflank the
latter. I only say this because I don't think Pacifica
has a audience that any big capitalist venture would
consider large enough to be able to sufficiently
profit off of. But then again, this is from my gut-- I
have no idea how many people actually tune in to
Pacifica.

I'm inclined to think that the amazing success of
Michael Moore's latest book and film (top selling
non-fiction book of 2002, and top selling documentary
ever), along with the market potential of the whole
"Oprah" constituency, has some business folks seeing a
market where this emerging popular hunger for
progressive ideas is.

In some ways, this seems to be a positive sign, in the
sense that it's an indicator that an appetite for
progressive politics is growing in the public, and a
few bourgies recognize it. These liberals are trying
to co-opt it and profit from it (though afterall, what
would one expect?); perhaps they are trying to revive
the support of and confidence in the Democrats.

But maybe it will allow, at least on the fringes, the
inclusion of pop-leftists like Moore, Nader, Barbara
Erhenreich (I never spell her name right), which would
be a good thing in my book. Further, if it's posing as
a "progressive" alternative, it will most likely have
to give a bit more recognition to discussion that goes
further left than the designated parameters of
mainstream debate. If it has a mass, mainstream
audience, this could be an advantage.

But, any optomism is crushed by the probability of it
becoming a rallying point/propaganda service for the
Democratic Party. But then, again, maybe people are
sick of the SOS.

Derek

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