emptywheel

Really think Reagan ending Fairness Doctrine & unleashing 24/7 political discourse on Americans was the Original Sin in all this

It's more complicated and symbiotic of course.

And yes. Right wing has TVs, evangelical medias, and numerous radio stations and hosts. (Their numbers and activeness - maybe deriving from history and power of voluntary organizations/charity activity - a major tradition in US society.) /1

And compared to that, Left, Dems, secular/progressive side - feels inferior in terms of sheer numbers and (daily) push. PBS, NPR doesn't have the energy - heat and push of 'voluntary'- expanding and proselytizing - organizations. /2

In much part of America, people spend long hrs sitting in a car listening to radios, etc. Then it feels natural that loud and energetic right wing stations can be more fulfilling than flat and monotonous NPR/public radio programs. /3

So Left/progressives have that homework. How to reach people? how to fight with 'zeal' in the voices of right wing - which is driven by the natural excitement of proselytization (done all day, every day ...) /end

And this trend (been like a decade?):https://twitter.com/ChuckModi1/status/942569909346885637 …

So there is 1. proselytizing zeal - constant 365 'heat' emanating from voices of 'Right' then plus this 2. 'militia' (justifies violence) inclination - fringe And Left/Progressives lacks scope to systemically combat this kind of widespread guerrilla-network-like opponent.