Voters To Washington: Hands Off The Press!

If there is anything scarier than a news media so in love with the progressive point of view that they mindlessly repeat each of their talking points, its a media actually owned by the federal government. According to a new poll conducted by Rasmussen, America's message to the Government is hands off, stay away from the press.


The Federal Trade Commission has investigated ways to help the newspaper industry, one  proposal is the creation of an Americorps-type program that would hire and pay journalists to work for newspapers around the country. Americans feel threatened by programs such as this because of their concern that they threaten the press’ independence.

85% of Adults believe that maintaining freedom of the press is more important than propping up the newspaper industry. Only six percent say propping up the newspaper industry is more important. This attidude runs across all political parties and philosophies.


Only 19% want the government to get involved in saving the the newspaper industry and other forms of traditional journalism. Sixty percent oppose government involvement in picking they type of media we should be consuming. 

Sixty-four percent (64%) of adults say it is at least somewhat likely that if the government provides funding for newspapers to hire journalists, the government will then place limits on what those journalists can cover. That includes 41% who believe it is Very Likely.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) think it at least somewhat likely that a newspaper that receives government funding to hire journalists will avoid criticizing government officials and policies, with 45% who say it is Very Likely. Twenty-three percent (23%) say it’s not very or not at all likely that newspapers will avoid such criticism if they get government funding.

...While there is virtually no partisan disagreement over the idea that freedom of the press is more important than supporting the newspaper industry, Democrats are less concerned than Republicans and adults not affiliated with either party about a government role in the newspaper industry. Seventy-four percent (74%) of Republicans and 66% of unaffiliateds, for example, oppose active steps by the government to save the newspaper industry. Among Democrats, 31% think government involvement is a good idea, while 42% are opposed and 27% are undecided.

As bad as out media is today it could get worse, instead of a biased media we could have a government controlled news media.  America fears that second option.