Bill Moyers

Bill Moyers is an outstanding journalist. I wish all Americans would tune into his PBS show, Bill Moyers Journal, at least once in awhile. At the very least, his show is an example of civil discourse. We could use a lot more of this on the airwaves, since it is virtually nonexistent. Why Americans tolerate the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly is a mystery to me. Their views could be expressed without all the meanness and yelling, and name-calling. Where is the responsibility of the stations’ owners? Don’t they have a civic responsibility to some sort of broadcasting standard? Do they let their young children or grandchildren listen to Rush Limbaugh or someone similar? Would they like their children to speak to them as Rush Limbaugh does to his audience? Or, worse yet, Ann Coulter?

On the Bill Moyers Journal broadcast on January 4, 2008, two of the guests were Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul. How refreshing to see Mr. Moyers give these two gentlemen the respect they deserve. When Mr. Moyers does an interview he does not shout at his guest, he does not interrupt his guest, he actually listens to them and asks pertinent follow-up questions. This is in sharp contrast to someone like Matt Lauer who seems to have to mock everyone within hearing distance of him.