You cannot be trusted to choose.

Do not think about it. The state will think for you.

A fungus rotting the foundation of our republic, regressives will issue another fount of fascism from the cesspool of their collectivist ideology.

For the third consecutive congressional session, Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., who prides himself on being a progressive Democrat, promises to dredge up his Media Ownership Reform Act.

Maybe he will finally get it through. Sixteen of his regressive comrades have goose-stepped to his side as co-sponsors of the bill.

It would "restore fairness in broadcasting" and "foster and promote localism, diversity and competition in the media."

Hinchey does not propose booting out the statists, fascists, socialists and communists who live off your dime while infesting NPR and PBS. No, his bill cracks down on commercial broadcasting, which does not require confiscation of your tax money to employ the otherwise unemployable.

Fairness in broadcasting. We must have it. And who better to deliver it than a gang of cutthroats who oppose to their core the founding principles of the republic?

Let's hear a word from our sponsor.

Hinchey: "A diverse American media that presents a wide array of ideas from all sides of the political spectrum is essential to the maintenance of our democracy. If the media becomes corrupted, then we've begun the erosion of the American political system and the American democracy."

More Hinchey: "The bill reinstates the Fairness Doctrine to protect fairness and accuracy in journalism."

My, oh my, politicians must protect fairness and accuracy and stamp out corruption in that sliver of media that is not a rubber stamp and PR agency for the kind of government Hinchey desires.

See the problems here? See the venom in the viper?

The words diverse and diversity are regressive Democrat code words for conformity to their way of thinking. Their diversity is a superficial, meaningless mix of skin color, gender or nationality. When it comes to matters of substance, such as ideas and values, they tolerate no diversity.

Question the regressive cult of global warming and they want you fired. Question cruel and lawless borders and they call you a bigot. Question them and see how diverse they are. See the tolerance of the progressive Inquisition when it burns you at the stake.

A "wide array of ideas" means the regressives want to make certain their ideas get jammed down your throat. The bill requires broadcasters to present opposing points of view on political opinions, such as those of talk-show hosts. This will effectively eliminate commercially successful talk-show opinion because stations cannot afford to air the money-losing, audience-killing progressives. The only job these people can get is a government job or a job at a company willing to go bankrupt.

In the name of diversity, regressives seek to silence opposition through the usual methods of intolerance and force.

Worst of all, Hinchey says we have a democracy. We do not have a democracy. We have a republic. That form of government best protects the natural rights of the individual: life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, which means property.

Democracies destroy individual liberty. The democratic mob gathers, the majority votes, the individual gets burned at the stake.

Our republic provides buffers of legislative, executive and judicial institutions between the passions of majorities and their potential victims, always individuals.

These regressive, authoritarian, fascist politicians would rob you of choice and force the choice of others upon you. They would strip you of liberty and call it fairness, reform, diversity and democracy.

They appeal to the mobs of collectivism.

They worship the glory of government.

They betray our republic and the cause of freedom.

Phil Lucas is executive editor of The News Herald in Panama City, Fla. Contact him at [email protected]. To find out more about Lucas and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.