Ethics are not for sale
Supporters of Democracy Now! are trying to push its decidedly antiwar program onto an unwilling Maine Public Radio.

MPR is right to resist.

In a highly organized campaign, supporters have printed notecards, written sample letters to the editor and asked thousands of people to strongly encourage MPR to add the programming, even suggesting that donations should be withheld until the broadcaster complies.

MPR has refused, but not because it doesn’t appreciate, welcome and broadcast myriad viewpoints. It has refused because Democracy Now! is not a news program as it purports to be. It is one-sided commentary for which the station has no available balancing commentary program.

The ethics of journalism require an impartial, fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. When Democracy Now! anchor Amy Goodman refers to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as “War Secretary Rumsfeld” in a news report, she is not being impartial.

David Kubiak, a supporter of the drive to bring the program to MPR, has accused the broadcaster of selling out to corporate supporters, of offering programming acceptable only to those willing to pay.

By asking people to withhold pledges, or make pledges if MPR agrees to air Democracy Now!, Kubiak is supporting the very method he opposes: paid programming.

MPR has a long history of airing controversial opinion and doing so in a balanced manner. The result is a credible, respected news source.

Selling ethics for pledges dents credibility.


Food fight


We are eating more and exercising less, pushing America’s obesity rate ever upward.

Who hasn’t already heard this? And who among us wants to hear more?

A growing number of Americans are tired of the lectures. Even though healthy habits extend our lives, we’re tired of being told what to eat and how to stay active.

Exercise doesn’t mean running a marathon and eating well doesn’t mean staying away from fast food joints. Not if we know what we’re eating and how often to get moving.

Food sold in grocery stores must – by law – include nutrition information but food sold in chain restaurants does not. Why not?

About 45 percent of the average family food bill is spent on restaurant food, up from 25 percent in 1970. Although nutrition content is available at restaurants on request, it is not usually openly available. We have no idea have many calories we’re packing away.

If food manufacturers can label food, chain restaurants can and should do the same on their menus.

Many restaurants already highlight heart-healthy menu options so it’s curious they are now fighting a bill in the Legislature that would require more complete food labeling in chain restaurants that have more than 20 locations in Maine.

In the interest of consumer choice, we urge the Legislature to require chain restaurants to fully disclose what they’re selling so we can make informed decisions about what we’re buying.

Knowing what goes in our mouths might just reduce what settles around our hips.
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