At a time when schools are being closed, school years are being shortened and our school systems are bleeding teachers to states that respect the need for education and are willing to pay for it with tax dollars; at a time when we are paying to train law enforcement officers and forcing them to take the training we paid for to other states; at a time when the support systems that defend the old, the needy and those least able to defend themselves are being shut down, Lars Larson’s 80s claptrap goes beyond meanspirited to monstrous.
Larson’s commentary on KVAL-TV indicates to me that KVAL “news” is no longer reliable because it reflects a bias on the part of KVAL management, and that the KVAL “news” team is now the KVAL propaganda team.
For this reason, I no longer view KVAL news. Because I believe that the problem is with the meanspirited, out-of-touch management of KVAL, it will take more than removing Larson from the air to get me back. While I no longer consider KVAL a “news leader” or follower, I understand that KVAL has the right to air (within the FCC rules) what pleases it.
On the other hand, because I have been viewing KVAL for more than 20 years, my decision to exercise my right to discontinue the practice of viewing KVAL “news” saddens me.
KVAL management has the right to air what it pleases, and I have the right to watch what I please and share my opinions with friends and business associates. Therefore, I plan to tell those I know and advertisers of my decision to exclude KVAL “news” from my TV viewing schedule, and that advertising with KVAL reflects poorly on them, and that their association with KVAL will adversely affect my shopping relationship with them.
While Larson’s commentary disgusts me, he is not the reason I will no longer watch KVAL news. It is the lack of balance in KVAL programming, and the lack of trust I have for those who manage the direction KVAL “(propaganda) news” is taking.
A. Max Opus lives in Cottage Grove.