The CBC in maintaining democracy

[rowers unite]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 3:32pm

this is more of the Canadians on the boards, but i am doing a paper for a political science class and the question asks is the CBC(a Canadian public broadcasting company that airs dominanlty Canadian program)essential for maintaing democracy in Canada?

any comments would be useful... thanks

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 3:40pm

That's a difficult question to answer, mainly because we haven't seen the effect a CBC-less Canadian democratic culture. We can't quite compare ourselves to the U.S., which has no major state-owned broadcasting company, because our political systems are so fundamentally different.

What kind of democracy are you referring to? The chance for all political parties to be heard equally, or something else?

[rowers unite]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 4:32pm

im referring more to the fundamental ideals of a form of liberal democracy: popular soverigincy, formal political equality of adult citizens, multiparty elections, limited government, free and diverse media, active civil society, protection of individual rights, minority rights, and so on....

to make Americans able to help me as well, would you thik, seeing the above list, a public newsbroadcaster improve democracy?

THANKS

[sabrelady]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 5:35pm

Well w the diverse media aspect- then yes it is neccessary. Just think of the stories that wouldn't/aren't told on the private networks because they aren't commercial enough or worse might offend powerful corporations. One of the reasons Canadians have such a rep for documetaries is this lack of commercial/political(Well for the MOST part!!) axe to grind.