Political Polarization

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The Fairness Doctrine

Part of the polarization among politics is due to unchecked inflamed speech on both sides, about both sides, specifically from News shows and podcasts. In 1969, the Supreme Court "ruled unanimously that the Fairness Doctrine was not only constitutional, but essential to democracy. The public airwaves should not just express the opinions of those who can pay for air time; they must allow the electorate to be informed about all sides of controversial issues." The FCC abolished this rule in 1987, though it urged its reintroduction through congressional legislation. Congress needs to pass legislation to require any organization or broadcast claiming to be "News" or acting as a "News" source must follow the Fairness Doctrine once more to provide safe, open discussion.

-By claiming to be "News" or a news source, the broadcast/organization is claiming to be a very specific unbiased source of truth. They should be held accountable to their claims, both actual and inherent. News organizations should offer unbiased facts, without mixing personal views or beliefs into those facts. The program should only present things as they are. As such, it should also be able to back all stories with proof and facts or the individual should be blacklisted from that type of programming and the organization will be fined or lose their broadcast license.

-If an organization wants a debate, they should offer a representative of the opposing viewpoint an opportunity to be present under specific, fair rules.

-if a news program promotes incorrect data or false stories, they must promote a correction to that information equal in time to the minute for which they promoted the incorrect information or story, and they must do so at a similar time period with which they originally provided that false story or information. This way, they cant correct the information when no one is watching, and it cant be a quick sentence to correct it. They pushed the false information, so they should be accountable for promoting the incorrect data/story.

-a news program should not promote "yellow news" (news that is being sensationalized, using slanted view points, or is exaggerated) specific to politics