Quote:
|
Originally Posted by rebound
It's not fine for a leader (and if you try to say it wasn't Chavez, you'll have even less credibility, if possible) to shut down stations that oppose him.
Again, if it were ok, then CNN, MSNBC, CBS, etc would be broadcasting VOA, not whatever content they chose.
|
I agree. Political opposition is no reason to shut down a station. Political opposition is necessary to have an open democracy.
HOWEVER....
I think it could be acceptable for a leader to shut down stations that encourage and actively support the violent overthrow of his democratically elected government.
If there was an attempted coup against President Bush, and CNN, MSNBC or CBS were to go on the air and ecourage people to support the coup, do you think those stations would then be shut down? I think so. I think such would be the case in any country.
Chavez did not even shut them down after the coup. They have been on the air 5 years since the coup took place. He simply waited for their license to expire and is not renewing their license. I'm pretty sure if that happened here in the United States, the FBI would raid the TV station within hours and shut them down.
90% of the media in Venezuela is anti-Chavez. But only a few television stations actively supported the coup. And it is my guess that those few will all be shut down eventually.
Do I agree with that? No. If it were me, I would leave the stations on the air. Instead I would arrest those who made the policy decisions at the station and put them on trial for treason. That would surely make more sense.
What do you think should be the punishment for supporting violent overthrow of your government? (another question in this thread surely to not be answered due to your "double standards")