ELECTION, NEXT TIME

Just a few observations about the recent Iraqi elections.

I read the other day that the voter turnout numbers in the United States for the Presidential election in 2004 were nearly 61-percent...the highest in years. In fact, if you look over the past 40-years, turnout percentage bounced around between 50-percent and a high of 62-percent. In so-called "off year" elections, the number is even worse...averaging around 38-percent.

In short, we had the highest voter turnout since 1968. We're so "divided" and "angry" the pundits said. It's often cited as the chief reason for the large numbers of people who voted. Bush-hating led many to vote for the first time.

It's funny how it takes us to be inspired by negative feelings and emotions to increase our chances of taking time out of our busy days to vote...or brave the weather...or the direction of the country. Hate inspires Democrats to vote AGAINST Bush...Anger inspires Republicans to vote AGAINST Kerry.

What an example we saw in Iraq on Sunday. What inspired them to vote? In fact, rather than nasty weather depressing voter turnout...people dodged bullets and mortar fire to cast a ballot.

I believe it was simply a chance to participate in Democracy...

And to think...we've had that chance for more than 200-years. Perhaps we should be more respectful of our own system by next time being inspired by Iraq.

PAY IT FORWARD

I decided to highlight a couple of personal happenings this week on the radio show...and...got mixed results.

I had some time to kill after I finished some work and before a matinee movie I was going to take in, so I stopped by a local McDonalds for a quick bite. I don't know why, but I decided to call the "How are we doing?" phone number on the bag after I had a very excellent experience in the drive through; the food was fantastic (for McDonalds), and well...I don't have any other explanation for why I decided to call. Boredom, I guess. I talked to a very nice lady and just told her that I had a compliment for them. I figured they need someone to do something other than complain. (In the interests of full disclosure: They're sending me a coupon for a free meal.)

Then, at dinner that same evening, my wife and I witness some really bad behavior. A group of four youngsters at the next table got up to leave and pay their dinner check. After a while, one of the teens returned and took the tip money off the table saying, "I don't have enough money left"...right in front of the waitress! I felt so bad for her, that I dropped a 5-dollar bill on the table and apologized.

After telling these stories on the air - an idea hit to allow people to recognize GOOD behavior on the following day's program. Any good deed, good service, or otherwise out of the ordinary behavior could be called in on the show. The response was overwhelming...but also surprising in some cases. For instance:

From RON (unedited):

Knowing you, your "inspiration" for having people recognize publicly good deeds is more meant to get you ratings than anything else. Are those people going to leave a tip? or call you and feel better about themselves. my guess is people wil NOT leave a tip and instead call you and alot of waitresses will be left out in the cold and have only you to thank. When I tune to WMT, i want the news...not your crazy stunts. Get someone else to do the news.

For the life of me, I can't imagine someone getting up on the side of the bed every day that RON did...how anyone can find that kind of an attitude about something so innocent is beyond me. Liberals...

Of course, the listener response proved RON wrong (see examples of emails on the WMT website). As I knew it would.

Several other people noted some similar complaints - saying we need to do more good news instead of bad news all the time. I'm not willing to go that far, yet. It's just the nature of news to be negative.

• We broadcast UNemployment figures...not the number of people employed
• We highlight killings...not births
• We mention the deficit...not the percentage of GDP it represents
• The number of people killed in Iraq...not the number set free of tyranny
• The reports of abuse at Gitmo...not the lack of terrorist activity in the US
• We pay attention to anything said by Ted Kennedy...not the number of people he's personally responsible for killing
• The amount of money "the rich" make...not the number of hours per week they have to work to get it

I'm sure there are more examples...and hopefully future examples of why people like RON are on the wrong side of the bed - and the wrong side of history.

BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE

I just had to post the following email exchange with a listener. I guess the cat is out of the bag now, in that I have swerved into the heated battle of left vs right. I don't even remember how it came up - and morning radio isn't particularly the most ideal time to be doing political talk - but I let it slip that I considered myself fairly conservative on most issues. Batten down the hatches, because it's going to be a rough ride. As I expressed to an earlier emailer on the WMT website, "...If I don’t identify what side of the political perspective I come from, most listeners wouldn’t know what to think about me. Once these “tolerant” types get wind of my identification as ‘conservative’ they’ll know what to do.."

And sure enough...Larry wrote the following:

"...If you are the one who is on the air between 5:30 and 6:00 in the morning I sense from you a conservative bias. Example: (paraphrased) "If a democrat had won the election the democrats wouldn't be complaining about the cost of the inauguration." I hear on WMT Jan Mikelson, a former Christian radio shock jock and Rush Limbaugh who is an extreme right wing conservative. I keep hearing about the liberal media but WMT or KXEL certainly does not fall in that catagory. I have $50.00 for you if you can prove to me that you are a registered democrat. I know I won't have to pay up since it is a sure bet. Anyway, good luck I guess but I likely won't know seeing as how I stop listening to a show once it falls into the catagory of hate radio as yours does along with Hannity, Limbaugh and all the others who are trying to make a name by bashing others. Enjoy it while it lasts. I love conservative "Christian" values shown by you shock jocks..."

Pretty funny, eh? Shock jock? Me? For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what the heck the guy was talking about...then I replied:

"...Since I haven't re-registered in Iowa yet, I won't hold you to the bet...but I was a registered Democrat before leaving Iowa in 2001. Thanks for your tolerant, non-judgemental email...You won't be missed since you appear to have not listened to begin with..."

Oh, he must have me pegged, right? I guess it's "hate" when you point out the obvious. Face it, the guy's a moron. But he wrote back...and I finally figured out what it was that made him so mad. (important part in bold)...

"...You may have been a registered democrat but it doesn't show. The two days I listened to you was more than enough to come to an informed opinion. I am against hate radio whether the perpitrator is a republican or a democrat. When I listen to news I want news and not opinions. There are enough right wing Fox News type newscasts as it is. I would be the first to defend your right to say what you wish. I just don't have to listen.I will listen long enough to get a list of the sponsors and register my complaints with them. As far as your not missing me you didn't know I listened to begin with. However, one thing is sure and that is you need listeners more than listeners need you..."

I told him I would send him a printed list of the sponsors of the station. There are about 300 of them...I doubt he'll call a single one. And he'll be listening on a regular basis.

So, what was it that made him so mad? He probably had the same kind of lengthy reflection before he hooked on to the Micheal Moore crowd. You know, the "documentarian" who makes millions off of his "shock-umentaries" and pretends to be just like every other Average Joe? All I did was read aloud today's story about Micheal Moore's bodyguard...who was arrested at a NY airport on an illegal gun charge. I read it without comment, save for the fact he was responsible for one documentary called, Bowling for Columbine...a piece about gun violence. The hypocracy backlash must have been too hard for him to swallow...and he went for the easy convenient target.

I won't send him the list of sponsors until he says, PLEASE. Wanna bet 50 bucks he won't?

AMERICAN IDOL...ME

I caught myself watching "reality" television last night. Like most of you, I pay scant attention to American Idol - save for the "bad auditions" that I think are the highlight of the show. I especially enjoy the reactions of people when they get the bad news that they suck. They are often surprised and shocked that anyone could find their singing ability lacking - especially after so many people have told them that they're very good. The cold slap of reality - true reality television - hits them rather hard. I feel the same way when I have to defend what I believe.

I was discussing the "cost" of the Presidential Inauguration this week. Some people say we shouldn't be spending so much money when there's a war on. Baloney. I say the more the merrier...especially when it's private donations (which the entire 40-million spent by GWB IS). Everyone loves to compare FDR in 1945 as an example of how we should appear to the world when we have troops stationed in foreign lands - dying. That's pure bunk. If anything, we should be comparing the pomp and circumstance with what FDR did in 1933 at the height of the Depression. Take this for example - written about the events of that day, "...It was a fabled train, covered in silver and gold, ablaze with lights, awash in forbidden alcohol, and filled with movie stars and platinum-blond chorus girls...The partying began with the inaugural parade, where America's favorite cowboy, Tom Mix, and a dozen beautiful young women marched to herald FDR's arrival...The sparkling contingent of chorus girls rode a carousel float down Pennsylvania Avenue past a smiling president...charmed spectators along the route by performing elaborate horse tricks. When he reached the reviewing stand, the actor paused dramatically and saluted the new president with a wave of his trademark 10-gallon white hat..."

Certainly not all that special by TODAY's standards, but at the height of the Great Depression?

It prompted the following email exchange from BARB (bold highlights added):

"...I work for a Community Action Agency and when I see starving, freezing, homeless people daily I find it very difficult to appreciate the total waste of money in D.C. We have families with both parents working and they still fall in the 'poverty level' thru no fault of their own. They are working and doing all they can to support their families - - - however, jobs are scarce and when they do find one, very few pay a living wage..."

All nonsense.

I'm sorry if I have to bring the cold slap of reality to these people, but maybe after being told this crap by everyone they know or hear in the media they need to hear from the American version of Simon Cowell:

1. It IS your fault you still fall in the poverty level. Get a better job, or ask for a raise.
2. I doubt they are doing all they can. See #1 above.

It's cold, it may seem heartless...but it's the truth. I know. I've been there. If I listened to everyone who told me I was so much better than I actually was, I'd still be waiting for someone to come to their senses and hire me back at my old job. Instead, I took my licks...and I'm working to improve myself. I even improved my financial standing by making the move I did.

The more you feel sorry for someone and tell them things that aren't true just to make them feel better...the more bad auditions you get in life.

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES...

It's hard for people to accept something different from what they've known for so long. Which is why a lot of people still vote for Democrats...but that's not the topic of today's post.

I've been receiving some good emails (and some bad of course) from those listening to the show. While the show has only been on for a couple of weeks, people are warming up to the idea that I do things a little differently. I sense a little apprehension on the part of some, and most have kind words for the former host, but I have a hard time understanding some of the major complaints I've been hearing. I've included some of the good and bad emails on the station website (www.wmtradio.com/gregalan.html) for you to review, but I wanted to include a few that I received off air...especially today.

I can only paraphrase because I eventually hung up on him...but a guy by the name of "Ron" called this morning during a commercial break and I happened to answer the phone by habit.

"Why you sonofabitch, why don't you quit with all this bullshit talkin' stuff and tellin' us what you think about something...I'm tired of this bullshit talk about taxes on cigarettes and illegal aliens..."

First, I'm always amazed at the number of people who complain about ONE person's opinion (me), but go to such lengths to make sure they themselves say "WE" when referring to their opinion.

It's going to be a while before many of the previous hosts' listeners understand that there's a new guy on doing something different. I believe if you check the archives of this here BLOG, you'll find me saying that exactly in reference to the host who took over for me at my previous position. Of course, he's virtually unlistenable and he's led to the decline of the stations success...but that's beside the point. (PS - you former listeners can stop complaining to me and turn your attention to management at the station in Charleston)

But back to the guy who called. I did what any good broadcaster would do with such a phone call. Once he started with the profanity, I stopped him as soon as I could and thanked him for his opinion. I then asked if he wanted to make it on the air. He said "yes, he'd love to"...that's when I lowered the hammer. The conversation went something like this:

Me - "So you want to give your opinion of me over the air to the rest of the audience, right? Who cares what you think about me? I don't..."

- Silence for a while, then -

Ron - "Yeah, but you shouldn't be ruinin' the station like you are...you're losing us as listeners, I've already changed my radio to something else in the morning..."

Me - "Ron? have you got an off button on your radio?"

Ron - "Yeah..."

Me - "Then I suggest you use it and stop listening"

Ron - "Well, I'm sure you're boss would love to hear you sayin' that"

Me - "I don't care...stop listening....and Ron?...get a life..."

I then hung up on him. He'll call back, I'm sure. Because they never stop listening when you tell them to. The acceptance of change will come slowly...I started with Ron.

Go Vikings!

RAIN/SNOW/SLEET GO AWAY

I've forgotten how much of a pain snow and bad weather can be. It can ruin your whole day. Last week, the Cedar Rapids area got more than 10-inches of snow (I measured 13 in my backyard) and some freezing rain. The debut of "The Greg Alan Show" had to somewhat take a backseat to the school closings and other information. Thinking not much of what I was doing was all that special, I was surprised to receive several emailed "attaboy's" from listeners.

That changed today.

Some local schools had only one day of actual classroom time last week...and this week didn't start out much different. A little freezing rain fell in the area overnight...I took about 15-20 minutes to scrape my windows and left for work. Maybe it's just me, but since I have been in Iowa (more than 13-years), I've seen a decline in the standards of when school is called off because of weather...and I mentioned as much today. It seemed strange that I would be able to drive to work at 4 in the morning before many of the plows got out with salt and sand for the roadways...and yet schools in the metropolitan area were either postponed or cancelled. I don't quarrel so much with the delays, but the schools fell like dominoes after one metro school decided to cancel.

I also thought it was a bit strange that kids in Indonesia were going to school for the first time in two weeks today following the devastating tsunami that killed more than 150-thousand people. Here were kids - some without parents or siblings anymore - braving the loss of their homes and countless friends and aquaintances going back to school in a mere two weeks. These are third world schools too - something we don't really think much of when we compare our scholastic achievements. Of course, some listeners felt the comparison was a bit off.

Granted. I was a bit off...

Indonesia doesn't have a massive bus system to transport children. Here in the US, 66-percent of children who live within a mile of school (that's 12 blocks, people) don't walk to school anymore. We're more advanced, you see. As recent as 1975, 90-percent were walking to school, but we've decided that's not as comfortable as sitting on a bus for 20-minutes.

I would guess most Indonesian children don't have parents who think to call a lawyer for every gripe. Nor are they likely to pick up a phone and chew out a Superintendent for causing them such distress in their lives by having to send their little babies off to school in 20-degree weather. Sure, they probably don't have many phones, but they also probably don't know as many lawyers as we do either.

I don't think Indonesia has too many malls that the kids hang out in - or many movie houses showing matinee's of "Meet the Fockers" for 5-dollars. So without a place for the kids to go, there's no real alternative to school. The same goes for video games.

Additionally, I would guess that having a parent at home (those that have them left) wouldn't make a day off from school all that much fun. Mom or Dad probably would make them clean their rooms (if they have one left).

I guess my overall point was - and has been for a while - that we've become too soft. Too soft on our children. We could learn a lesson or two from those facing real difficulties...before we start fearing for our children's future. Believe me, they've got it much better today than we've ever had it.

Don't believe me? Call me in a month when you get your childs next cell phone bill. Let me know what he/she did on those days without school.