The Ted Turner link in my post addresses smaller scale & independent broadcasting among several other related issues.....

I wish the answer were as simple as American citizens acting collectively to make some necessary changes for the good of us all. Such resolution would require sacrifice and self-discipline. Since we live in such a melting pot society with more facets than the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian, I do not think any majority of us will ever:

1) boycott most of the major TV stations until our voices are heard for increased quality programming,
2) write in "none of the above" on voting ballots if the candidates do not meet our local/regional/national needs,
3)purchase only local, small business or generic brand products until big corporations recognize the needs of the consumers who use their products.

It's just too easy to go with the status quo for many.....

I, too, am about six decades old and have propelled myself through the alphabet soup of academia MY own way. I feel my many experiences outside that realm have taught me so much more about the real world, yet I am glad to have journeyed through endless chapters of "textbook learnin'," if only to view how others see their world.

Regarding socialism & communism: Those ideas can only take root when people allow it. We have seen it happen in history. And we have seen history repeat itself. If we allow our government to become Big Daddy more and more, will there be any incentive left for the common man to be all that he/she can be? I think not.