# Propaganda Chief Takes Helm at NPR **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 10, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009 "2019-09-10T21:13:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/161 "2019-09-17T13:34:28Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > So, no answers to any of my questions then. Ok. I suggest you start reading Rothbard if you’re interested. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/162 "2019-09-17T14:16:27Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > If the property is in dispute, private courts will decide ownership. Same as now but much more efficient and with mechanisms that drive the best decision-makers to the top instead of the best politicians. Why would I abide by some private court? Who is going to make me? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/163 "2019-09-17T14:19:08Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > I suggest you start reading Rothbard if you’re interested. No, you’re the one advocating for this. You explain it. I made the effort. Now you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/164 "2019-09-17T14:26:42Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > If the property is in dispute, private courts will decide ownership. Same as now but much more efficient and with mechanisms that drive the best decision-makers to the top instead of the best politicians. What mechanisms are these that 1. Could determine who the best decision makers are, and 2. Could compel these people to take jobs against their will? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/165 "2019-09-17T14:33:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What mechanisms are these that > > 1. Could determine who the best decision makers are, and > 2. Could compel these people to take jobs against their will? Well, for #2, the large sacks of shiny metal and/or stones that the free market will throw at them. And I’m certain that they won’t be swayed by whoever keeps them the largest sacks. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/166 "2019-09-17T15:14:41Z")
Seriously? Wal-Mart? The same Wal-Mart where recently a shooter on a rampage went unchecked for a good long while? Where people generally don’t go on rampages because of generally good public order, enforced by the state, rather than private security? The same Wal-Mart that has, for decades, depended on government subsidized or government provided assistance, including health insurance, for its employees? That relies on publicly funded roads and transportation systems to transport its goods? Where the Walton family is heavily into setting public education policy in Arkansas because it wants its employees educated cheaply but only so far and no further? This Wal-Mart that sucks at the government’s teat is an example of this supposed Libertarian ideal? Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/167 "2019-09-17T15:42:02Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Yes roving gangs are a problem in the aisles of Wal Mart. > > The statist never stops to think that the problems on public property are because of poor govt management. So government needs to be more efficient? We all know that. As for “roving gangs,” what do you expect the gov’t to do about it? Make more laws? You seem to be leaning towards advocating no government, in which case all the decisions would be made by the property owners, like Feudalism. So, I did your work for you again (you’re welcome) and found who you were basing your opinions on, [Murray Rothbard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_Rothbard). He believed in praxeology, which the article defines as… > [@](#): > > Praxeology conceives of economic laws as akin to geometric or mathematical axioms: fixed, unchanging, objective and discernible through logical reasoning without the use of any evidence. Ah! Don’t consider evidence! Just like the Trump administration. Stalin was the same way when he rejected actual science and embraced [Lysenkoism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism). He exiled, executed and imprisoned over 3K biologists for daring to value evidence. Later, 30 million died from starvation. There’s a reason why right-wing anarchism didn’t catch on. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/168 "2019-09-17T16:19:20Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Do you have an example of such a society in human history? Yes! There was a good documentary about it called _The Road Warrior_. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/169 "2019-09-17T16:50:03Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Yes roving gangs are a problem in the aisles of Wal Mart. > > The statist never stops to think that the problems on public property are because of poor govt management. Are you suggesting that the reason there aren’t gangs menacing Wal Mart customers is that Wal Mart itself has figured out how to enforce good behavior on its premises, without relying on the state, in a way that the government can’t figure out? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/170 "2019-09-17T17:29:07Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Why would I abide by some private court? Who is going to make me? I see a job for those roving gangs! ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/171 "2019-09-17T18:13:17Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I see a job for those roving gangs! But if they make me, they are forcing me to do something I don’t want to do - just like a government! :eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/172 "2019-09-17T18:29:30Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > The statist never stops to think that the problems on public property are because of poor govt management. No, we’ve considered it, then rejected it as absurd on its face. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/173 "2019-09-17T18:39:17Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > But if they make me, they are forcing me to do something I don’t want to do - just like a government! > > :eek::eek: That’s something a dirty statist would say ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/174 "2019-09-17T19:24:04Z")
I think Will Farnaby is a dingdong, but really, NPR deserves some deep skepticism on its staff and reporting. They put so much emphasis on being “balanced” that they provide a platform for Republican talking heads to spout whatever outrageous bullshit they feel like spouting. Giving equal time isn’t enough to guarantee integrity; you have to be willing to challenge bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![kirkrapine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@kirkrapine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kirkrapine)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/175 "2019-09-17T21:33:48Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > The structure of civil society has been so eroded by authoritarian governments that supposedly literate individuals can not conceive of a society that is not forced by the threats of the government. Very sad situation. Of course we can. It’s called Somalia. ---
**Author:** ![kirkrapine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@kirkrapine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kirkrapine)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/176 "2019-09-17T21:36:37Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I think Will Farnaby is a dingdong, but really, NPR deserves some deep skepticism on its staff and reporting. They put so much emphasis on being “balanced” that they provide a platform for Republican talking heads to spout whatever outrageous bullshit they feel like spouting. > > Giving equal time isn’t enough to guarantee integrity; you have to be willing to challenge bullshit. “Fair” and “balanced” are two different things. Giving flat-Earthers equal time with astronomers would be balanced, but not fair. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/177 "2019-09-17T21:42:22Z")
> [@kirkrapine](#): > > “Fair” and “balanced” are two different things. Giving flat-Earthers equal time with astronomers would be balanced, but not fair. Look at all that time the networks owe drunk driving proponents. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/178 "2019-09-17T23:33:11Z")
> [@kirkrapine](#): > > “Fair” and “balanced” are two different things. Giving flat-Earthers equal time with astronomers would be balanced, but not fair. To be clear, [here](https://www.npr.org/2019/04/18/714810809/republican-strategist-antonia-ferrier-discusses-gop-reaction-to-mueller-report) is a transcript of the segment that made me cancel my monthly NPR donation. You don’t want to read the entire interview, so I will summarize by saying that NPR allowed Republican strategist (and former Mitch MicConnell communications adviser) Antonia Ferrier to state, as unchallenged fact, that the Mueller report was a miss, that it reports information already discosed in the media, that America wants to move on, that the Democrats should move on, there’s nothing to see here, yadda yadda Republican talking points. Audie Cornish made some concerned noises but basically rolled over and let Ferrier have the mic. I’m sure my $9 a month means nothing to NPR, but they’ll never again get it from me if they are willing to give an unchallenged platform to artisanal bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/179 "2019-09-17T23:51:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Look at all that time the networks owe drunk driving proponents. This could be just the break Foster Brooks has been waiting for. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009/180 "2019-09-18T00:16:49Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > …artisanal bullshit. Yeah those disingenuous fucking soap-makers! > [@WillFarnaby](#): > > I suggest you start reading Rothbard if you’re interested. Very kind suggestion, but nah, you can answer this, actually: > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Who or what entities oversees and ensures private courts are being just. > > Who or what entity evaluated credentials of those who serve on this courts. > > Who or what entity provides the evidence to determine true ownership? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propaganda-chief-takes-helm-at-npr/840009.md?page=10)