Manifesto for Media Freedom

by Brian C. Anderson and Adam Thierer

The rise of alternative media over the last 20 years has broken the liberal stranglehold over news and opinion outlets. The Left blames much of the Democratic Party's electoral woes on the influence of the new media's many vigorous conservative voices. Yet, instead of fighting back with ideas, today's liberals quietly and relentlessly work to smother this political discourse under a tangle of campaign-finance and media regulations.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594032289
• ISBN13: 9781594032288
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Encounter Books
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Not enough people will read this warning about the death of free speech

The mainstream media, being left-wing, does not report the assaults being mounted on freedom of expression by the left-wing. Or, if they do, they distort and lie about it. But whether it is Sen. Dianne Feinstein complaining that there is "too much free speech" or Moveon.org trying to muzzle conservative commentators, the right to free expression is under increasing attack. Left-wingers don't like freedom of speech for all - they just want a few to be able to express themselves freely. Today, left-wing groups of all stripes are trying to muzzle talk radio, print media, even the internet with a bewildering array of often bizarre arguments. For example, with more than 500 cable channels available, the left-wing claims there is a scarcity of outlets or that they are all owned by an evil conservative cabal. With tens of thousands of left-wing political sites on the World Wide Web, the left-wing complains that the Web is dominated by conservatives. In this thin, but very dense book, the authors expose the left-wing's campaign to suppress freedom of expression. The problem is that this book, because of its style, will never become popular or widely read enough to make a substantial impact. There almost needs to be a manga or graphic novel version of it that would allow the ordinary person to grasp how the left-wing is stealing their freedom before their eyes. Yes, sometimes there is enough outcry about some of the desired restrictions on speech to cause popular resentment, such as the recent hub-bub over reimposition of the "fairness doctrine", which nothing to with fairness, but everything to do with suppression of expression. The point is that the enemies of free speech are not defeated: they will simply lay back and wait. For example, leftist Cass Sunstein suggests "regulators could impose "electronic sidewalks" on partisan websites (such as the National Rifle Association site), forcing them to link to opposing views". The real issue, the authors explain, is that the left is outraged that more people prefer listening to Rush Limbaugh than Al Franken - and they intend to correct those misguided souls and their listening, viewing and reading habits. There is an extended discussion of the "unfairness doctrine". Again, I wish the authors were capable of a lighter touch to render the material more attractive to a general audience. The goal, of course, of any euphemistically named "fairness doctrine" is to knock conservatives off the airwaves. Left-wing media would be unaffected. The left-wing plan to regulate the internet, under the mantra of "net neutrality" is fully discussed. There's an omnibus chapter entitled "Neophobia" that covers several issues such as censoring video game contents, regulating social networks and so on. While those who fear the left-wing agenda will find the chapter interesting, the less motivated reader will not - and that would be a loss. The problem is that the left-wing wants total control and

Sobering and Superb

In lieu of the Democratic Party's takeover of Congress in 2006 and the possibility that they may obtain a filibuster proof majority in the House of Representatives next month, November could spawn a monster as many of the left's fantasies may soon become a political reality. After the inauguration, Barack Obama may be in a position to fulfill the left's most virulent dreams by stifling the free speech of those on the right. Most of ways in which they will do so are outlined here in this exquisite and concise book. Authors Brian Anderson and Adam Thierer showcase with erudition the numerous areas in which free speech is now in serious jeopardy. The Manifesto's position is that those regulations now celebrated by advocacy journalists and leftist politicians everywhere will be applied not only to the economy but to the media on the whole. Diversity of ideas and the marketplace of ideas are not something in which Democratic politicians have any interest because their own policies tend to fare poorly when people remain free to criticize them. As a means of altering the landscape of power and tilting it in a direction that better advances their prospects, anti-liberal leaders have lobbied for the reinstitution of the Fairness Doctrine and the creation of the inappropriately named "net neutrality" concept. Yet it is all but political subterfuge. The strongest and most depressing chapter, "Campaign-Finance Reform's War on Political Speech," is also its last. The story of what really went on behind the passage of the Bill is a horror show. Left-wing foundations effectively played a hoax on those Republicans, including the current nominee, who were useful in passing McCain-Feingold. They knew that its consequences would mostly be unintended. As Clarence Thomas noted in his dissent in McConnell v. FEC, nothing now structurally prevents the government's total regulation of the press. These are dark days indeed. We must all speak out in order to remain free. Luckily, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Thierer have begun the process of our doing so.