Commentary Forum

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Permalink Reply by Jim Asendio(WAMU 88 5) on March 26, 2009 at 9:21am

This is the forum where listeners can express their views about the commentaries broadcast on WAMU 88 5.

Permalink Reply by fred tran on April 11, 2009 at 1:46am

I thought more questions could have been asked during the Lucinda Roy: "No Right to Remain Silent" interview segment. I was a bit disturbed by the assumptions these people made based on their experience with a single case. Its a mistake to pretend you have general expertise after you are right about a single incident when it could have been coincidence and the factors you perceived as important could not be generalized. It was most clear when one of the guests rattled off a laundry list of symptoms they'd look for, like the symptoms rattled off by pharmaceutical advertisements they were general enough to basically have one or more symptoms apply to most anyone. The danger is people always want an easy explanation after these incidents. That cho was an aberration does not fulfill a psychological need for easy answers even if it could be that he was a unique case. There are millions of strange people out there, very few go on killing sprees. and there is no clear links or symptoms shared by cho and say the columbine killers for instance, no predictive ones at least, so the idea that you can predict or cast a net to find such people seems dubious at this point. You have to remember that in a country of 300 million there was just one cho. Yes there were other shootings, but they were all different in their own ways.

Permalink Reply by Liz on August 24, 2009 at 1:57pm

I recently went to the Czech Republic with my boyfriend who was diagnosed with Lymes Disease right before our trip. In the Czech Republic we found a doctor that spoke English and helped us by prescribing the necessary antibiotics to help him out. The doctor warned us initially that we would have to pay out of pocket. We were initially very concerned about the price tag of this, but it turns out that the prescription and the doctors visit cost the equivalent of $12!!! Out of pocket this would have probably cost over $100 in the US. From my limited personal experiences with overseas universal health care, it is very affordable for people without insurance.

Permalink Reply by Laura Miller on August 24, 2009 at 8:02pm

While many of Len Nichol's comments on today's Kojo Nnamdi Show angered or shocked me me, one comment in particular struck me. Mr Nichols likened health care to a washing machine or air conditioning, which were luxuries 30 years ago. He then went on to say that even low income families have washing machines, air conditioning and cars now.

I just sat there and blinked. I am not sure what America Mr. Nichols lives in, but it isn't the same one I live in. Nevermind that health care shouldn't be considered a luxury (which it is), but many low income families can still not afford any of those luxuries - a washing machine, etc. It's one reason why we have relatively affordable public transit. It's one reason why laundromats still exist. And it's one reason why the government has to set up cooling stations during extreme heat.

Mr. Nichols lives in a bubble, whether it's self-imposed or simply blindness to his fellow poor American. But until he can accept our country for how it really is, his comments on health care are frighteningly short-sighted and maybe even classist.

Permalink Reply by Jim Asendio(WAMU 88 5) on August 25, 2009 at 9:12am

This forum is to comment on the locally-produced commentaries that you hear on WAMU 88 5.

If you would like to comment on one of WAMU's talk shows, please send your comments about the Diane Rehm Show to drshow@wamu.org or for the Kojo Nnamdi Show to kojo@wamu.org

Thank you.

Permalink Reply by Peter F. Schaefer on September 10, 2009 at 9:37am

In November of last year, Vincent talked about "...another nonsensical rant by Fred Fiske." Sadly most of Fred's commentaries are pretty far left rants these days. Of course he is right sometimes since no political perspective is always correct. For instance, his attacks on Limbaugh are essentially correct except he takes them too seriously. Rush is an entertainer, not a serious person but sadly since "He plays one on TV" Fred is right to go after him. In today's rant (Sept 10) he went after the loony Right's rejection of what was a politically bland and personally inspiring speech by President Obama to school kids. The problem with Fred is not that he is sometimes right (uh, I mean correct) but that he is so predictably a man of the left. Look the truth is that something like 80-90 percent of the media self-identifies as liberal or progressive so we have to live with spin, even when it is inadvertant (or I suppose I mean "unconscious"). Fred was generally balanced when he hosted his talk show on WAMU, but I presume he was obliged to be. Diane Rehm is clearly a liberal (when he was president, she was unable to say Ronald Reagan's name without sounding disgusted) but she works very hard to construct balanced panels, without necessarily being completely balanced herself (obviously I mean ideologically, not emotionally as she is a truly fine and wonderful person whom I admire). In her interviews, she allows people from the left to say some of the most utter silly things without challenge, but sometimes is skeptical of obviously correct statements from conservatives. Moreover, I think once Diane retires from daily broadcasting and takes up the Fisk commentary spot her "true colors will come shining through." Now Kojo is a bit more enigmatic. He is very balanced and like a good judge or miitary officer he seems to work hard to maintain that balance. I suspect that his even-handedness comes from his earlier life in a poor country. Most poor countries espouse some sort of socialist blather which means that even benign regimes will fail their citizens. And he is well versed in African current affairs so I suspect he understands this well. I won't use this to beg Jim Ascendio for greater balance, it is a fool's errand since so many media people I know actually think they are now. But every now and then its good to hold up a mirror.

Permalink Reply by michael w robinson on September 11, 2009 at 10:41am

Brian York stated today that the truth of Wilson statement and what our president said is somewhere in the middle. York lies and should be called on it.

Permalink Reply by Debra Charles-Clay on September 14, 2009 at 10:33am

Are the guests dense or what? . The female work force is being retained by employers who get to pay them 25% less! Not because families are choosing the lower paying job! Did they really not "get" the comment by the caller? Come on!

Permalink Reply by Jim Asendio(WAMU 88 5) on September 14, 2009 at 1:14pm

This forum is to comment on the locally-produced commentaries that you hear on WAMU 88 5.

If you would like to comment on something you heard on one of WAMU's talk shows, please send your comments about the Diane Rehm Show to drshow@wamu.org or for the Kojo Nnamdi Show to kojo@wamu.org

Thank you.

Permalink Reply by Sohail Kizilbash on September 15, 2009 at 11:46pm

I have recently started to listen to Diane Rehm's program and have become totally hooked. This morning I heard the discussion about what should be done to ensure the last years melt down is not repeated, specially the problem of TOO BIG TO FAIL but no one suggested a real solution. The solution is there.It is not easy but is doable. Of course these will be opposed tooth and nail by present bank bosses.

1. All banks should again be made to operate only in one state, as before.
2. Every bank must be separately incorporated in each state.
3. Foreign branches of US banks should be incorporated as local banks in those countries with some local shareholding.
4. Every state in the USA should have a regulatory authority which must monitor the key numbers on a DAILY basis.
5. Banks should not be allowed to get involved in pure speculation on currencies or any commodities.
6. Strict limits should be imposed on future transactions, options and other derivatives.
7, Okay the bank bosses salaries will drop and costs will go up but that is better then have a melt down.
8. A bank should not be closed because it has suffered a loss because of bad management. That hurts the innocent employees and depositors and investors. It should be given to other banks with a subsidy from FDIC, if necessary. That will at least protect jobs. All Board Members and CEO's of failed banks should be prosecuted and stiff jail sentences and financial penalties should be prescribed, if found guilty of reckless behavior or negligence.

However, unpalatable these may seem, the USA cannot afford to have another such fiasco.
Regards,
Sohail Kizilbash

Permalink Reply by Evin Grano on September 17, 2009 at 9:48am

Fred Fiske's Commentary on Bloomberg and The Mayor's Against Illegal Guns was very sad to hear. His commentary was so fraught with arrogance and misinformation that I am surprised that a man of his experience in journalism would allow it. To presume that he is able to interpret the meaning of the worlds as what he called a *so-called* right of the 2nd Amendment. I don't know of any amendments that create a *so-called* right. Rights are inalienable and can not be granted, preexist government and the amendments just enumerate them to the *government* to back off.

He made several snide comments about the NRA's 'deep pockets' and 'strong arm' lobbying. You know why the NRA has deep pockets: 3 million members who put more money where their mouth is than a billionaire man like Bloomberg. These are everyday people who don't have money to spare but they believe in their right to defend themselves against common criminals and politicians. This trait of putting your money where your mouth is supposedly what Mr. Fiske respects, but that doesn't extend to a large populace that engages the political realm on this issue of gun rights.

I could go into detail on how almost every single one of his *facts* or *truths* that research has shown are incorrect and outright falsehoods. The comment on 'assault weapons' being specifically designed for military use and the comment on deaths between family members are the most egregious examples of misinformation and lack of journalistic integrity.

I have often enjoyed Mr. Fiske's commentary in the past, but after this sad display of intellectualism I no longer have any respect for him.

Permalink Reply by Greg Boyd on September 17, 2009 at 9:56am

Madelyn said:

Fred Fiske's commentary today articulates exactly what the sane majority of the public thinks regarding hate radio and it's most celebrated, and clearly dangerous, buffoon. Limbaugh, steadfastly uninformed, leads GOP lawmakers around by the ear, manipulating seemingly reasonable men and women as he would simple puppets. This is a radio entertainer, hardly a great mind, hardly a mind at all in the wake of his continuing struggle with narcotics. Surely the addiction has contributed to the diminished state of his character, amoral and hate-mongering. Lucky for Limbaugh, he lives in a country of progressive laws, born of progressive minds at it's founding, that would unlike most nations of its time, provide for the free expression of ideas. And, indeed he takes full advantage of these and other freedoms--even as he spews day after day his rants hoping for the failure of our country, through the failure of our leader. In some parts of the world, this would be seen as treason, and the least of his punishment would be imprisonment. This is a very fortunate man, to have been born in a free country and to be allowed to freely damn to failure his president, our country, and the hopes of a new generation seeking to restore the nation's promise. I must say I'm thankful for the sane majority, for whom Fred Fiske spoke today. This majority surely will return to the polls in the near future and will remember those seemingly reasonable lawmakers who cowered before Limbaugh and did his bidding.

Fred Fisk rarely speaks for the sane majority in this country any more than Limbaugh does. You are correct though that Limbaugh is lucky to have been born in this great country as are the rest of us and while I do not agree with either of these guys on a lot of things I have and would again fight for this country to protect the rights of both of them to speak as they see fit. We just went through one presidency where the loonies on one side were accusing anyone speaking out of being unamerican and while they have the right to say that they are wrong, this country was built on dissent. We are now in a similar situation where the loonies on the other side are accusing the dissenters of racism, again they are entitled to say it but dissent is good and healthy. What happens in this country is the crazies on both sides have the loudest voices and those of us in the real middle rarely are heard.

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