C Lee Taylor Candidate Statement

I love KPFT and Pacifica – the station is one of Houston's most valuable assets and one of the best antidotes to corporate media. The hijacking of our public airwaves by corporate media has played a venal and central role in getting us to our present state of endless war, alienation and debt-shackled consumer stupor. Indeed, if our public airwaves were truly used for the public interest (as legally required), KPFT's unique role in Houston would no doubt be less exceptional and would not engender the fevered passion and sense of urgency so many of us have for the station.

I am deeply grateful to Lew Hill, a pacifist and World War II conscientious objector, had the vision to found the first listener-supported station and one with a mission that turned the purpose of profit-driven stations on its head. Most importantly, this new station's mission directed it:

to serve the cultural welfare of the community;
to advance a lasting understanding between nations and between the individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors;
to gather information on the causes of conflict;
to promote the study of political and economic problems and of the causes of religious, philosophical and racial antagonisms; and
to present accurate, objective, comprehensive news on all matters vitally affecting the community.

I am in turn indebted to journalist Larry Lee who some 20 years later convinced Pacifica to establish a listener-supported station in Houston. In the process, KPFT adopted the farsighted Pacifica mission as its own.

I would like to hear more public affairs and news programs that meet mission standards especially during hours with maximum listeners such as morning and evening rush-hour drive-times. I want our programming to become even more relevant, provocative and engaging. Embracing the mission and using it as guide for all programming decisions, KPFT stands to be the cultural hub of the city and the rightful radio for peace.

Thomas Jefferson described "information as the currency of democracy.' And our constitution specifically calls for a free press in recognition of its critical function as watchdog over the democratic process. Unfortunately, our free press is failing to fulfill its role and is better known as "the weak slat under the bed of democracy." (A. J. Liebling)

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