Things like this really annoy me

[billyskank]

This article in today's Guardian, a lefty paper:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1709940,00.html

I haven't read the article, but I don't need to, since it's by Irwin Stelzer, director of economic policy studies at the Hudson Institute and the editor of Neoconservatism. I already know what he's going to say. Tax is bad, public sector jobs are bad, deregulation and privatisation are good. Everything else is just filler.

Why does a lefty paper feel the need to give rightwingers like this a platform in their newspaper? They are always doing stuff like this. I don't see rightwing papers like the Telegraph and the Daily Mail giving equal time to leftwing commentators. So why do we? :grr:

[Ohio Joe]

1. I Think

It is one of the basic components of being a liberal. We do not squash/ignore other points of view. We see that it is sometimes best to put them right out there so they can be seen for the nonsense they truly are. Personaly, I think it is an important thing to do.

[billyskank]

2. Put them right out there...?

They are right out there! I can go to any news stand and purchase any of a number of publications that are dedicated to rightwing points of view. There is no need to provide "balance" by giving equal time in leftwing papers - that in fact creates an even more unbalanced situation by making leftwing opinion seem even less mainstream than it actually is!

[GirlinContempt]

3. I think that the left

takes too many cues from the right. They criticize, and we jump to defend. And we're so busy defending we don't seem to ask ourselves "Why are we pissing off our own people by giving in to this crap, and why are we giving in to them in the first place?"

sorry it's early

On edit: I don't think jerks like that should be allowed to use the word 'Stalinist' without clearly defining what they mean somewhere in the text... geeze

[billyskank]

8. Don't apologise

I can't think of anything to say in reply to your post, because I agree with it all. :)

[GirlinContempt]

9. I'm just not expressing myself

as well as I would like to.

But about that 'Stalinist' thing, what bullshit. Just because it's an opinion piece doesn't mean you don't have to back up your statements with at least some sort of reasoning. Especially things that are pretty inflammatory (Bringing up the name of genocidal dictators and comparing politicians to them, for instance).

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. The Free Press is like that here in Detroit.

It's disgusting. :hi:


Have a good day billy! :hug:

[billyskank]

6. See you later MrsG!

:hug: :hi:

[tjwmason]

5. To be fair - the Torygraph does have lefty writers in from time-to-time.

Though it is mostly the same shrill ranters who blame every problem in the universe on Palestine...

[billyskank]

7. I didn't know that

Thanks mason.