The demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots. - H. L. Mencken
In the article “KIUC ballots on the way” posted Friday, January 3, 2014 on thegardenisland.com Chris D’Angelo reported the following interaction between Jim Kelley, KIUC spokesman and Jonathan Jay, KKCR radio personality;
“One of the reasons we’re spending money is that we don’t have unfettered access to ‘community radio,’” Kelly wrote. “Do a couple of 30-second radio spots have the same impact as two, sometimes four hours of KIUC bashing every single week?”
Jay said Kelly’s comparison is ludicrous — apples to oranges.
Unlike KIUC, KKCR is a volunteer-run, listener-supported entity, according to Jay.
“And they are welcome to call in,” he said of KIUC representatives. (my emphasis)
Jay said Kelly’s comparison is ludicrous — apples to oranges.
Actually Jay’s comparing “apples to oranges” is what is “ludicrous” since KIUC and KKCR are not fruits, but non-profit corporations. A more useful comparison would be to ask which of the two non-profits (KKCR or KIUC) is the most democratic? Comparing the bylaws of both non profits one soon finds KKCR is much less democratic than KIUC. Lets look at a single foundational principle of democracy -- voter enfranchisement.
At KKCR the voting franchise is extended to “members” which KKCR defines as “board members” which is only between 7 and 15 voters. KUIC defines voting members on a per meter basis, around 30,000 potential voters. Jay who presents himself as a promoter and defender of democracy even went so far as to claim KIUC had a “Crisis in Democracy” after his failed bid to become a KIUC board member. The basis of Jay’s claim was low voter turnout. Only about one quarter, around 7,500 KIUC members exercised their voting franchise. Even if in a KKCR board elections all the 9 to 15 board members voted making the turnout 100% I doubt anyone would be convinced that 15 KKCR board members voting themselves or their friends onto the KKCR board is more democratic than 7,500 members out of a potential 30,000 voting for the KIUC board.
Unlike KIUC, KKCR is a volunteer-run, listener-supported entity, according to Jay.
Actually a salaried Station Manager runs KKCR. Other staff are also paid salaries. Jay fails to mention that to KKCR “listener supported” means everyone has the right to give us money or their time volunteering, but are prohibited from voting for the board.
There are uncounted scores of people who would be more than happy to volunteer to become a radio talk show host to promote themselves or their agenda, but airtime is a limited resource of 24 hours per day. Who decides whom and based upon what criteria do some peoples who offer to volunteer to become a radio talk show host actually get on the air? The process is both unarticulated, obscure and opaque the opposite of acceptable democratic practices. Having on-air tryouts of individuals volunteering to host talk shows and allowing KKCR supporters to vote for these “volunteers” would be democratic and lend some credence to the these talk show hosts who imagine themselves to be the “voice of our community”.
“And they are welcome to call in,” he said of KIUC representatives.
Once the talk show host is undemocratically selected they becomes the moderator of the talk show. As a moderator Jay can chose what to talk about, which caller can go on at length and which caller needs to wrap it up. It seems the height of hubris for Jay to tell elected KIUC board Directors that they “are welcome to call in” and subject themselves to a format controlled by some unelected radio personality. Clearly KKCR talk radio has a crisis in demagoguery which has allowed unelected radio personalities to use it’s community airwaves to advance themselves and their special interests. As Joan Conrow wrote “Four of the most outspoken smart meter opponents have talk shows on KKCR that give them 18 hours of prime air time monthly. That's the kind of advertising no money can buy. And who polled KKCR members to see if they were OK with turning over the talk shows to the no-fee contingent?
KIUC does not have a crisis in democracy. KKCR has a crisis in demagoguery!
KIUC does not have a crisis in democracy. KKCR has a crisis in demagoguery!
Well, you are missing a few really important elements in this report. As one of the community affairs programmers I have an insight on this issue. I am one of those who is opposed to the "Smart" meters. It is researching caller opinions that cause me to eventually have an opinion. Smart meters, GMO's, the PLDC, the illegal takings of Hawaiian lands and many other complaints that are raised to my attention were not on my radar screen until I begin to vet the stories raised to my attention through community voices. I attend many meetings, go physically look at sites regarding complaints, research details, watch suggested documentaries, and in the case of the Smart meter went on a walk with three different EMF meters reading the emissions from the meters. The accusations of the concerned crowd was correct and not the claims of KIUC. I have invited Brad Rockwell, their lead engineer, onto the show to please help to clarify how and why the meters do actually facilitate the grid. That was a sincere inquiry. It is really meaningful to understand the details of exactly how these meters are essential on phasing in multiple and varied point sources of power along the grid, because I have not seen the engineering data on that. He scornfully refused. Jan TenBruggencate was taken on a walk with the EMF meter and acknowledge he was surprised by the significance of the readings. The door truly is open for any of these entities to be on the show; they are wanted. Any of them, at any time could ask for an opportunity to present a viewpoint and they would be enthusiastically welcome. They hold some responsibility in not having their side of these issues deeply represented on kkcr.
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of practice, I ask the primary source to come on the program to dispel any misinformation that might come out on a controversial subject. I try my best to give a courtesy call. My hope in exploring any issue of concern in the community would be to help reveal that there is a solid, safe basis behind most projects. We explore many issues that come and go without high drama. There are topics that are really concerning to me that hold very little interest with the listener, so they don't advance. An example of that is the effect of the quantitative easings on the strength of our currency and its impact on the economy. (Currently $85 billion is simply lent into existence every month with interest to the taxpayer.) The TransPacific Partnership is another highly important issue to me which seems to draw tepid traction.
The board of KKCR has little direct influence on shows. The "democracy" in the programming is basically on a voluntary basis. I guess people "vote" their opinion by contacting the station or the programmers directly, including calling in to the shows. I get contacted very regularly throughout the week with stories people want told; most are too shy to speak it themselves. There is not heavy gatekeeping. The show today was a direct result of an inquiry from a listener and formatted by him and his guest. I would say it was a bit out of step from what the regular listeners expect, so was more contentious than I am comfortable hosting. On almost every show I have fresh people in the studio with me, openly with the intention of working to build fresh programmers. I am constantly trolling for people of varied insights and experiences to come in. If someone reading this wants representation, contact me at akamaimom@gmail.com. KKCR's community affairs door is really open to the public that wants to be heard from the marginalized citizen to the CEO. The equal access format is what I believe is so disconcerting to the people in power that are accustomed to being able to pay to control the public dialogue. Some industry leaders are more than happy to sit with a concerned citizen on the same show and discuss misunderstandings; others aren't interested in doing that.
We are ordinary people hosting community discussions, as simple as that.
With love and aloha ~ Felicia
Mahalo for your reply Felicia,
DeleteFelicia wrote "The 'democracy' in the programming is basically on a voluntary basis." However "volunteering" and democracy are not the same thing. Democracy would be the processes of how a volunteer is chosen over other volunteers all wanting to host a talk show. Smart meters aside I am arguing that KKCR is less democratic than KIUC (according to a comparison of the bylaws). Until KKCR is at least as democratic as KIUC in it's practices I think it is unfair for someone volunteering to be a talk show host to criticize another non-profit that is more democratic than the one they are volunteering for. I believe if you are going to criticize another for not being democratic you at should be more democratic than the one you are calling to task. It is called leading by example or walking the walk. Since you are a talk show host can you tell me by what democratic process you were chosen. Were there tryouts, voting by the members on which volunteer gets to host a talk show. Since airtime is finite what if their are more volunteers to host talk shows than their are talk shows to host? Is their a lottery among volunteers? A former talk show host (Joan Conrow) told me the process for selecting talk show hosts is far from democratic and I can find no written democratic processes for talk show host selections. If their is one please respond. Mahalo Felicia
At KKCR the voting franchise is extended to “members” which KKCR defines as those who have paid up membership dues (or a CONTRIBUTION) to elect “board members” which is where, I believe, you got the 9-15 number. This unilateral decision-making you imply for KKCR is not true the way you state it, Ed. All KKCR members living on Kauai are entitled to vote for Board members. Board Members do make decisions based on the Community Advisory Board (CAB) recommendations, according to Kekahu Foundation Rules and Regulations and by-laws, and the General Manager at KKCR acts as the Executive Director, to use non-profit terms, and implements the objectives. This is the model for most non-profits where the voting membership is based on voluntary contributions and/or grants.
ReplyDeleteComparing KIUC to KKCR is really comparing apples and oranges, but in a far greater sense. KKCR is a non-profit operating under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Guidelines offering a community service based primarily on volunteer staffing, and voluntary membership contributions. We cannot make people pay to listen to the station. We cannot make them pay a fee to tune into our radio station.
KIUC is a public utility cooperative operating under different federal guidelines and regulations. Since this is the only provider of electrical service on Kauai, those wishing to use this source of electricity MUST become a member before getting access to the service. There is nothing voluntary or discretionary about this fee. The Board in this case takes on a completely different role and is obligated (I believe) under its own regulations to consult with the membership on major decisions. If the KIUC Board does not have this written into their own by-laws and operating procedures, then this might be a good time to change those by-laws, and for KIUC to be a little more introspective and transparent in considering members' needs and opinions before entering into contracts or making major decisions regarding technology.
Aloha Lyn,
DeleteLyn wrote -- "All KKCR members living on Kauai are entitled to vote for Board members." If this is true then the bylaws published on the KKCR website is in error because Section 2.3 states "Voting Members shall consist only of the members of the Board of Directors." Section 2.4 states, "Subscribing members shall have no voting rights" Section 2.5 states, "An ex-officio member shall have no voting rights. I realize KIUC and KKCR are different nonprofits however I am solely comparing the two with regards to democratic practices my contention being a less democratic entity has no right to criticize a more democratic entity for not being "democratic enough" without first walking the walk. Mahalo Lyn.
Lyn, people do not have to be a member of the KIUC co-op in order to get electricity. I was not a member for many years and only joined so I could vote in the last election on Free Flow power.
ReplyDeleteCommenting on comments is problematical, but for the record, Felicia misrepresents me in her line: "Jan TenBruggencate was taken on a walk with the EMF meter and acknowledge he was surprised by the significance of the readings."
ReplyDeleteIn fact I did take that walk. It was pourding down rain. There were multiple meters. They showed markedly inconsistent information. And they failed to read at all some known sources of EMF, like a hot, operating cell phone. As I told the folks at the time, it was impossible for me to determine what they were reading, why the meter responses were so random, and what, if anything, it meant.
When I spoke of volunteering as a form of democracy, I meant volunteering a perspective either by calling in, coming in as a guest or basically joining the programming team. I am not clear that there are enough potential programmers wanting air time that a voting system would really work. People seem to come and go largely as a reflection of their interest and willingness to participate. In a bigger population pool, there might be a need to have a strong selection team with many people wanting slots. I tried to be consistently open to sharing my slot time.
ReplyDeleteJan, I didn't mean to misrepresent you. You did go on a walk. I was there at the end of it and what I heard was your being surprised at what was seen in the context of some of the readings being really high. I was trying to acknowledge that you did go on a walk. I did have you on a show, even when the paper the next day suggested otherwise. You are welcome anytime. Seriously, it would be appreciated.
Felicia, How does one join the programming team? How did you? Mahalo.
DeleteAlso side stepping and completely missing that Smart Meter technology is unproven, unhealthy, and unsafe. Nobody should be compelled to have a 'smart meter' on their house, especially not the poor who cannot afford the Opt-Out fee. VOTE 'NO' on the KIUC Opt-Out fee. KIUC doesn't even need the 'smart meters' to accomplish their goals.
ReplyDeleteBrad, your comment is off topic as I was not talking about smart meters in my post but democracy as a form of governance and which entity KIUC or KKCR was the better example of best democratic practices.
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