C-SPAN EXERCISES
Those people who watch C-Span with some degree of regularity soon find that it can be one of the most revealing segments of the TV spectrum.
I have always watched some of it, but in recent months the absolute dearth of worthwhile programs on the regular channels, we have found those offered by C-Span can be superior. You will notice this more readily if you have undergone a need for some economy in viewing TV.
There was time when we had over one hundred fifty channels available, but none local. That became tiresome after a few years of trial. It offered too much of the same thing. Antennae arrangements were limited. The end decision was to go with cable and that, too, offer too much of the same thing ...hardly worthwhile in an economic sense . We cut back to what might be called the economy or cheapskate version of cable TV. That offers 19 channels . Five are local area stations, one is ABC affiliated, one NBC and one PBS. The two are civic slide bulletin things and a rather static medical interviews offerings by a local hospital. There are three out of Richmond,Va.- one ABC, one CBS ; one NBC out of Roanoke , plus TBS, Atlanta, the “Insp” channel which is either a religious smorgasbord or info-mercial platform. The others are QVC, NBC store and HSN hawking channels. The two C-Span channels are a welcome bonus much of the time.
We are said to have the basic line-up, and that is a very accurate designation, too, because when you think of the 140-plus others available they prove to be largely copies, imitations, re-runs, re-hashes and echoes of the basic eight or ten. With what we have, there are far more than we can watch. One of the locals carries CNN Headline News, and the PBS runs old BBC farces with tedious regularity.
Don't get me wrong:. All have some good shows. . I am not knocking any one of them ”en toto”. I have some favorites, but I find myself watching more and more of C-Span. .
That is the only place you can see the typical American political figure in his version of the “Emperor's Clothing.” C-Span is the only place you can get eye-witness accounts to portions of the legislative bodies “at work”, and , if you favor or oppose any particular legislative project, this is where you can gather some first-hand knowledge of the action - or lack-of- action . Senatorial and House routines are not theatrically enhanced, so don't expect too much..
C-Span offers a lectern for those people who have b been elected to office an d never get o make the headlines. The only time we see many of their names is on the lists for re-election. You see them and hear them C-Span.... both the apt and the in-ept.
You can see and hear them hours on end standing among a few fellow workers and far too often they will be reading extended lists of statistical drivel. If you wish to retain your memories what the legislative halls seemed to be in your old-fashioned high school Civics textbook you may do s,but be prepared for something less exciting.
We have a host of leaders, it seems, who continually set forth both visual and verbal evidence concerning their mediocrity. Lifeless readings are the routine, and when you do get a speaker who orates or speaks even half-way ... it is a sensational thing to do. Dolt wait too long for any such high moments.
I sometime wonder how much of C-Span is picked up and re-run on overseas TV to prove to their viewers that they don't have too much to worry about from the United State after all.
A.L.M. September 23, 2003 [c 615wds]
