Asheville public radio station WCQS [recently conducted] another time-consuming on-air fund drive. I understand the station’s need to raise money, but can anyone name another nonprofit, other than a public radio or TV station, that raises funds by annoying their most avid supporters by depriving them, day after day, of the reason for their financial […]
Author: Fred Flaxman
Showing 1-12 of 12 results
The postal service is just that — a service
According to the Constitution, Congress has the power "to establish post offices and post roads." It is clear from the context that post offices were not considered a business any more than roads were. Nor were they expected to make money. They were and are a service to our society, in the same way that […]
Just say no
Asheville's high-power public-radio station, WCQS-FM, has applied to the Federal Communications Commission to renew its license. If granted, it will be eight years before the license comes up for renewal again. So if anyone feels the station hasn’t served the community as well as it should have during the eight-year period that ends Dec. 1, […]
Don’t let public media go to static!
The future of public broadcasting in the U.S. is seriously in doubt. The Republicans are trying to cut out all funds for public radio and TV, which would be devastating not only to NPR and PBS, but to WCQS, public radio for our area, and UNC-TV, public TV for our entire state. Some argue that […]
Private insurers are the problem, not the solution, for the health-care crisis
The private health-care-insurance companies are the cause of our health-care-insurance problems, not the solution. To really lower and control costs, we need Medicare for all. The public option is the compromise. Although private-enterprise competition works to reduce costs in other fields, it doesn't work for the health-care-insurance companies because they have no control over health-care […]
Not satisfied with CPB action on WCQS
Thanks for the article by Brian Postelle in your Sept. 2 issue concerning the report issued by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Inspector General about Asheville's public-radio station, WCQS. However, both the CPB report and the article left out these facts behind that report: 1) In clear violation of the law, WCQS did not have […]
We at least need an option for public health-care insurance
It seems to me that it is perfectly moral to make money selling soap or cars or tickets to the movies. But I think it is unethical to make money on the backs of sick people, that it is wrong to profit from selling them health-care insurance and then to deny them benefits when they […]
Private enterprise and public schools shouldn’t mix
No private company or individual should be allowed to influence the curriculum or hiring practices of any public university or public school [“Capitalism on Campus,” Dec. 23, and “Buying Your Way on Campus,” Jan. 14]. This violation of academic freedom is unethical and immoral. It should also be illegal. Shame on BB&T for making such […]
Judging good judgment
Should we elect the next president of the United States based on years of political experience, or on evidence of good judgment and decision-making? John McCain is much older than Barack Obama and has more years of political experience. But if we are looking for a president who shows good judgment, let’s examine the individuals […]
Keeping the public out of public radio
Like many other transplants to the Asheville area, I am very happy to have a public-radio station bringing classical music and NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered to my new home. Public broadcasting has been an important part of my life, both personally and professionally, for four decades, and every place I’ve ever lived, […]
It doesn’t happen alone
Wally Bowen is absolutely correct about the poem planned for the Veterans Memorial [“The Writing on the Wall,” Nov. 7], which wrongly attributes our freedoms of speech, the press, religion, assembly and voting entirely to the military. The words to the poem, “It is the Veteran,” are not attributed to any author and have already […]
Pastafarianism vs. Mosquitoism
Congratulations to 16-year-old North Buncombe High School student Bryan Killian for standing up—and even dressing up with an eye patch and pirate’s inflatable sword—for freedom of speech, religion and dress. I greatly admire his courage as reported in the April 4 Mountain Xpress [“A Pirate’s Life for He: Suspended ‘Pastafarian’ Speaks Out”]. In that interview, […]