STATION EDITORIAL

Posted May 31, 2022

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.  

The horrific massacre of 19 students at a Texas elementary school May 24th, has the country again focused on gun control.  

In doing some research on this issue, this discussion dates back to 1791 just after the country was founded, when the Second Amendment was passed saying quote:   “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."   Ever since, there has been an emotional debate in the country over regulating the distribution and sale of any type of gun.

The discussion accelerated in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by a mail order rifle bought by the assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.  It wasn’t until 1968 and the assassinations of John’s brother Robert Kennedy and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, that mail order guns were banned.  Other gun laws have passed the last 50 years but the problem persists.  Bad guys still get guns.

All this leads us to where we’re at today. We applaude Congress for trying to pass some common-sense legislation to limit those who should NEVER have a gun in their hand.  Some of this tragically may be coming from the lack of socialization due to the pandemic,  in the lives of many of the suspects in these horrible events, plus the message from the media and others that we don’t have to respect the rule of law OR the police.  As a result, lawlessness is rampant in many areas because those committing the crimes think there are no consequences for their actions.

Criminals don’t pay attention to gun laws.  There are plenty of guns out there for them to get their hands on, legally or illegally.  With no consequences for their actions, even if they get killed in the act of shooting up public places, the media will still give them their 15 minutes of fame.  

The answer to all this, like everything else in life, is in the middle.  Return to the rule of law, to respecting the police, and to send a strong message this kind of behavior is flat out NOT acceptable in a free country.

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted May 11, 2022

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.  

Well, the greedy foreign record labels and singing artists are at it again, going to Congress with the tin cup in their hand wanting to TAX radio stations for playing THEIR music.  This so-called Performance Tax on free, local radio stations would jeopardize local jobs, prevent new artists from breaking into the recording business and harm the hundreds of millions of Americans who rely on local radio. 

We are asking you to urge legislators to support the Local Radio Freedom Act, which opposes a performance tax and is supported by more than 230 bipartisan members of the House and Senate. Additionally, broadcasters ask legislators to oppose any performance tax proposal, such as the American Music Fairness Act. Here’s why: For nearly a century, record labels and performers have thrived from airplay – which is essentially free advertising – from local radio stations. 

But as the big record labels struggle to keep profit margins high, they are urging Congress to impose a tax on these local radio stations that are, ironically, their greatest promotional tool. Each Congress, the record labels push policymakers to impose a new fee on local radio stations simply for airing music on the radio. 

This would financially cripple local radio stations, harming the millions of listeners who rely on local radio for news, emergency information, weather updates and entertainment every day. Local radio continues to be the top source for listeners seeking new music, far surpassing other sources. Free radio airplay provides the recording industry increased popularity, visibility and sales for both established and new artists. 

Recognizing the value of free radio airplay, Congress has repeatedly rejected the record labels’ attempts to impose a harmful performance tax on local radio stations. Efforts to attach a performance tax to consensus legislation that benefits all stakeholders, such as the Music Modernization Act, have failed once exposed as the poison pill it is. 

The bottom line: Please stand up for LOCAL radio by supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act, which opposes a performance tax. Go to taylorvilledailynews.com or dewittdailynews.com and click on the "NO PERFORMANCE TAX" link to tell our local Congressmen and Senators not to enact a government-imposed performance tax on local radio. 

That's our opinion, we welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted May 9, 2022

Dear Editor:  

I have stated in previous letters that I thought this County Board was anti development and how it could ruin any development in the future. It appears I may have been correct. Randal J. Miller(Miller Media) has noticed this attitude also. (April 26, 2022 DeWitt Daily News Editorial)

Last Thursday night the County Board passed a solar ordinance change which effectively prevents any development of any large solar projects. This was a recommended change from the Regional Planning Commission. The recommended language was voted on and passed, even though the States Attorney has repeatedly cautioned against such a change, as it could bring litigation against the County and could not be enforced! We've been down this road in the not so distant past and dodged a financial catastrophe!

Going forward with such a change, even against the advice of the States Attorney, shows that this Board and the RPC are anti development regardless of the consequences. Actions speak louder than words and these actions scream anti development!

Solar development contributes approximately the same revenue as wind developments without any of the drawbacks envisioned by the anti wind coalition. It also touches another argument of theirs about being told how to use their property. Another argument which was made was that it takes farmland out of production.

That is true, however if farmland being taken out of production is a major concern, then all of the setback land should be released and those subsidies should be used elsewhere. Solar farms have also shown that they have an advantage in as much as the area below the panels can grow vegetation conducive to sustain wildlife habitat. This is a huge positive in my book!

Reducing the opportunities to increase funding for basic services, education, and quality of life enhancement's seems counterproductive. Revenue increases without raising taxes are hard to come by and this is being done as the School Board is considering to attempt a one cent sales tax to help fund the District's needs 

If it's needed then by all means it should be enacted, but, if that money can come from somewhere else why not take advantage of that source? Don't just blindly put it on the backs of taxpayers!

The money is needed in this County just to maintain our current obligations. An example of how tight our budget is, the County just sold off some of it's property to finance needed repairs at the Marina. When will it become necessary to do something similar in the future, as an example, to fund ambulance service or law enforcement? The other question is what would be sacrificed? The only other options are outside income or tax increases. The latter being the least desired and certainly the most burdensome.

Without outside sources of revenue the personal tax burden will become overbearing. The results would possibly be the reduction of residents in the County, eliminating or reducing basic services, business relocating to tax friendlier counties, and the death of the County as we know it.

I would hope that these bodies of government will consider all aspects of their actions when voting on all motions presented to them. To govern correctly you have to leave personal preference at the door and do what is right for the citizens within your sphere of influence.

Anti development is not an acceptable position or attitude when so much depends on it.

Lance M. Reece 
Clinton, Illinois