"Progressive Politics: Tennessee Style" (PPTS) began as a discussion within these pages. On Sunday, April 18th, 2013 we will broadcast our last live show.
On Sunday, April 28th, 2013, beginning at 2:30 PM (Central Time, GMT-5 or 6 depending) the final episode of "Progressive Politics:Tennessee Style" will broadcast live.
As most of those reading these words know, this radio show began as a moderated agreement between two rather vociferous sides of what I considered then (and now) to be a highly dysfunctional, and potentially extremely damaging conversation.
I have been very surprised to see the numbers of listens we have been able to generate from the archived shows, and rather underwhelmed with the live participation...by anyone. Let me specifically state that I have been greatly saddened by the considerable lack of support, on the whole, from this same show-causing community. Given the opportunity to learn, grow and share together, this community has (with some uniquely notable exceptions, I hasten to add) not deigned our live show much worth their participation.
The show has been as good as I could make it, and I find some great satisfaction in that. It was a good effort, and had some truly amazing results. We did engage the most important issues of the day, a rather convoluted election cycle, and some pretty cantankerous callers. We had some outstanding Special Guests, and a volunteer staff of Progressive action-takers that deserve better, in my personal opinion.
But, that's really not the issue here. It's economics. After asking four separate times for the help of our listeners, the vote has been counted. The show loses, with a combined donation total of $125.00 over the life of the broadcast. I can't fund, much less bring significance to the show any further. You have been heard, and responded to.
Have WE? Has the show? I believe so, to be quite honest. So far in this, our lowest listener-ship in 13 months, we have 4,700 listens (BTR numbers, which does not include iTunes listens or downloads). I'm fairly certain that this will be one of our lowest months, listener-ship wise, but time will tell. Most of all, I hope that we were able to highlight the activities, activists and activism of the Progressive movement in the USA. I'm wanting to think that when we asked people what THEY were going to do about it, they responded off-air, with their time, talent and treasure right where they live.
This show has cost a few people a whole lot, and for them I am grateful beyond measure. While I have no idea why the show did not translate to the community who spawned it, because to my mind that makes less than zero sense, I do have the ability and willingness to put a good thing on the shelf, rather than drag it into disrepair for something as completely ridiculous as financial reasons.
To be honest, there is a "Me" in here, too. I've done what I could. I did something about it. I can't do that any more, and cannot hope to recover what I have invested in the project. But, it was mine. Mine alone. I'm just terribly sad that that last part turned out to be so very true. I wish it were not. But, "If wishes were horses...."
I hope you will join us for the live show on Sunday. Or, I hope you will listen to the re-broadcast on Tuesday evening, beginning at 11 PM (Central Time). It is a show worthy of your time. But, as far as I'm concerned, it has been for well over a year. We disagree on that.
Thanks for the support, encouragement and friendship to those who gave it. Thanks, too to those folks out there in the hinterlands who. from many different advertising sources, listened in. It coulda been somethin'! :)
For the show,
Bud Fields
The Tennessee Progressive