The Politically Incorrect Show - 04/05/2001

[Music - Die Fledermaus]

Good afternoon, Kaya Oraaa & welcome to the Politically Incorrect Show on the free speech network, Radio Pacific, for Friday May 4, proudly sponsored by Neanderton Nicotine Ltd., the show that says bugger the politicians & bureaucrats & all the other bossyboot busybodies who try to run our lives with our money; that stands tall for free enterprise, achievement, profit, & excellence, against the state-worshippers in our midst; that stands above all for the most sacred thing in the universe, the liberty of the human individual.

[Music up, music down!]

"Lindsay,

"Why don't they get it? Your discussion with Paul and the subsequent question to listeners fell on ears that did not want to actually listen. I did not hear one caller respond to the poser.

"Anyway why the hell did you ask them? If anyone would know the answer you two guys should. In fact that point is so clear I nearly made my first call to talkback."

That was an e-mail awaiting me when I got home yesterday. The "poser" referred to was of course my question to you yesterday after a conversation with Paul Henry as I was getting ready to take over from him about how we were both often puzzled by what wound you listeners up & what didn't. So I then put the question directly to you - which subjects get your juices flowing & which ones bore your pants off? Of course, my e-mailer was quite right - most callers who responded mistook the question for an invitation to launch into their VIEWS on those subjects & I had difficulty getting them to answer the question directly. But his statement that he nearly made his first call to talkback piqued my own interest. Why DIDN'T he make that call?

When I came off air yesterday my boss, Chris Gregory, told me that he had had an irate phone call about my editorial quoting Robert White's internet article on Mother Teresa. I asked Chris the same question: why didn't the complainer ring ME on air & take me to task? Chris had urged him to do just that, but he didn't have the guts. Talkback is a great medium for freedom of speech. But there are a surprising number of people who, while not thinking it beneath their dignity to LISTEN to talkback, seem to think that it IS beneath their dignity to CALL talkback. And if they hear an opinion they disagree with, they try to have it shut down by other means, such as complaints to management.

I'm about to take a week's break to work solidly on the next issue of my magazine. So I want to leave you with these reflections: if you have an opinion, for goodness' sake give voice to it - on air. That's what we're here for. Yes, we hosts all have our own opinions & may not always offer you tea & sympathy. That's part of the rough & tumble of public debate. The old dictum, "Use it or lose it" should always be remembered. I make no bones about my views. I detest dictatorship in all its guises, I detest the mentality of welfarism & dependency that prevails here, I detest religion, & so on. But treat my views as a catalyst for you to express yours. Whether you agree with me or disagree, CALL!!

The words I want to hear most often this afternoon, & have ringing in my ears during my week off, are: "Hello, Lindsay - first-time caller."

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