Well, Senator Maziarz says he likes Tom Christy’s Legislative Journal and even reminds us that he appeared on the show. Hopefully his appearance wasn’t as token as the 5 second lip service sidestep he did on Hardwick’s show. This was again effectively de facto censorship. It amounts to the silence treatment and stonewalling what’s at issue in Niagara County.
Maziarz undoubtedly believes in what he does and is undoubtedly in integrity with his role as legislator and political leader. However, we have to ask the question as to how long one must be in higher office to lose touch with the grass root energy and concerns of the people. Possibly he just isn’t aware of the deeply democratic grass roots concern to have Christy’s show reinstated. But then whose fault is that?
Maybe he’s not aware of the LCTV Board refusing to name who complained about Christy. Maybe he’s not aware of the spurious, self-serving and obviously suspicious re-interpretation of general rules as pretext to deep-six Christy. Maybe he’s not aware of the faux-excuse that some local legislators or officials, still unnamed, were offended by Christy. Maybe he’s not aware that it’s ludicrous that such faux-offence, politically correct moralistic witch hunting has ulterior motives. Since when is asking tough political questions about government offensive? Why is it that the people can be offended if not thoroughly insulted but one dare not ruffle the feathers of a politician? How bogus is this?
Maziarz’s unawareness or refusal to address the issue of many citizens crying out to retain what little voice they have left is a travesty of political justice. His not having at least an opinion as a citizen as to what he might like to see happen, given he likes the show, is sad. Is it only the voice of the business community that is worth addressing? Does he not see the growing, yawning gap between those who are allowed to be heard and those who are not?
Maziarz has done a lot of good and I trust continues to do so. But on shows like “Hardline” we need to hear something more substantive than water-cooler talk about the Spitzer fallout and the tactics, strategies, proceduralist concerns, etc. of formal government. Questions of the concerns of institutional forms should never take front seat to substantive democratic issues of the people, the public sphere and the freedom of the media that makes governmental positions such as his possible and meaningful in the first place.
And why is Hardwick’s show called Hardline? Does that refer to the line you can’t cross if you want to be in the good graces of the political correctness/acceptable topics crowd? Banal gossip and happy talk does not make for political discourse nor seriousness about democracy.
And three cheers for Dennis Virtuoso for standing up for free speech and for hearing the people.
4 comments:
Interesting choice of words Larry "...in integrity with his roles as legislator and political leader." Integrity as I understand it is clearly not the same definition of integrity alleged by the politicians; it's a constant obviously lacking among many. Also, many people think Senator Maziarz is the reason that many citizens have no real voice in Niagara County. Senator Maziarz is very skilled at "working behind the scenes". Clearly, contra-indicated to the best interests of the people.
I think Larry is being polite.
We all know that George is scum and a mouthpiece for the power players of Niagara County. He speaks and stinks of old, crooked money. No little voices allowed in any of that.
Larry....when is that show on. I`ve never been able to listen. But I want to. I can imagine how this week show will sound with Reynolds seat up for grabs.
Larry is an "ex" communist and continually and persistantly voices such oppinion although sheilded variations of it on a daily basis. Take him with a grain of salt.
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