If I had a product or service that nobody wanted, the only way I could continue to function is if I get the government to fund me.  That is the case with National Public Radio.  They are pretty much a mouthpiece for the Democratic party, and frankly almost no one listens to them.  But we can't let a little thing like the free market decide what people hear, that wouldn't be 'fair', so we'll have the feds send some tax money their way.  A few corporations throw money at them too; I suppose so they can get over some of that 'capitalist guilt'.

A Harris poll conducted in 2005 rated them the most trusted news source.  May God have mercy on their soul.  A few minutes of listening to their programming will make three things very clear.  One; they are just about as slanted to the left as you can get without Gimn Sovetskogo Soyuza playing in the background.  Two; this is the best alternative to Ambien ever invented.  And three; you will feel guilty when turning them off, because you will feel like they are losing about half of their audience when you do.

I listened to them purely for the entertainment value this morning, and I heard some interesting stories.  The first was by Robert Reich, who was introduced as just another commentator who happens to be a professor at Brandeis University.  He went on to endorse more taxes on the eeeeee-vil oil companies, and criticizing the current administration's energy policy.  They somehow FORGOT to mention that he was Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, ran as a Democrat for governor of Massachusetts, and published a handbook on 'how liberals can forcefully argue for their position in a country increasingly dominated by radical conservatives'.  I'm sure those things wouldn't matter.

Another story talked about the amount of calories in fast food, and the effort by the government to force restaurants to display the calorie count on each item.  They cited a study that demonstrated that even with the calorie count displayed, there was no change in eating habits.  People evidently can't decide for themselves what to eat, so the program endorsed mandating fewer fast food restaurants and encouraging supermarkets and whole food stores to be built in cities.  Actually telling companies how many fast food places can be in a certain area.  Still not enough control for you?  Why not just give each person a ration card and tell us what food to eat on which day?

The last story had some interviews with soldiers in Iraq.  Some were complaining that there was too much down time between missions.  Others were complaining about how dangerous the missions were.  There was nobody happy, except for one guy.  A soldier (I think his name was Kevin Kimmy) made a comment that I am sure caused the producers to almost drop their Starbucks espresso.  He said the following:

"I may not like it here, but I have never seen so many people that needed killing.  Some of them are pure evil."

Wow.  If there was anything that needed to be said, that would be it.  Of course the commentator gleefully announced that the soldier was reprimanded for his comment, saying that others would have 'put it more diplomatically'.  They would just be thinking it.

So, today's Quote Of The Day Award goes to Kevin Kimmy.  Keep up the good fight.

    
Quote Of The Day