Beware of the 'Fairness Doctrine'

Whether Feinstein and Schumer will get their way is another matter. The "fairness doctrine" was abolished in 1987 amid a good deal of bipartisan self-congratulation, and it seems likely that it still retains most of its unpopularity. Logically, it simply cannot withstand analysis. It certainly doesn't follow that every political viewpoint that manages to get expressed must be accompanied, or followed, by an equivalent expression of the opposite viewpoint. One can support laws against murder without necessarily insisting on equal time for the arguments in favor of it.

What those who support the "fairness doctrine" are really saying is that they don't enjoy the fact that their views have so little support. And while that's perfectly understandable, it is no justification for the proposition that society must artificially create a situation in which unpopular views receive the same attention and respect as others that have more.