With Amy Goodman appearing in town and KRCC’s Fall Fundraising Drive upon us, it’s a good time to ask: Are we getting the quality programming that we need and deserve from KRCC?

There are so many wonderful politically progressive shows that aren’t carried locally by KRCC. They include Goodman’s highly acclaimed show Democracy Now!, the environmentally-minded E-town, which KRCC used to carry, and a new one I discovered on New Jersey Public Radio called the Diane Rheem Show, which is sort of like Fresh Air but addresses contemporary policy issues.

These excellent shows aren’t heard in Colorado Springs because KRCC’s director violently opposes any program that has an “ideology,” as if we, the listening public, are not smart enough to discern what we do or do not believe.

While I love KRCC’s freeform and jazz shows, I am really, really tired of the middle-of-the-road, bland pabulum talk shows that the management insists on feeding us, in search of “ideology-free” radio. They are not being responsive to the needs and wants of the members, who are supposed to have some input and influence.

I suggest that we let our dollars do the talking during KRCC’s fund-raising drive. Save your money to invest in a satellite system, so that you can import the shows you want to hear from public radio in other cities. This way you won’t be held hostage to the narrow-minded program philosophy practiced by KRCC’s management.

-Cyndy Kulp