Dear George:

The problem with programs like Rush Limbaugh's and Neal Boortz's is that they are not like NPR or not even like George Will, a true intelligent conservative. They are almost comical, except they seem to have a monopoly on the air.

There are no equivalent outrageous, flaming, crazy, loony liberals, spewing lies and half truths about the people on the other side of the political spectrum. Only programs like this would balance the conservative shock talk media of the right. For better or worse they don't seem to exist and that is the real issue, as far I can see.

Ideally neither type -- be it on the right or on the left-- of talk show like these should exist. They insult the intelligence of a lot of people, they are silly, but not quite funny, and they tend to polarize people. Especially the simple minded. So in the end, it may be better that no, nationally known, liberal has created a counterpart program. But does it help the situation if the right continues maligning everything that may be even mildly progressive? I don't think so.

A truly community minded station would balance one loony of one kind with another loony of the other kind, or stay out of the loony business altogether. Naturally I would miss some of the entertainment value I get listening to some of the outrageous B.S. of Neal or Rush. George Will could never replace that!

Henry Weinschenk (electronic mail, February 26, 2002)