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When I was much younger, radio stations rather
frequently announced: “This is a test of the emergency broadcasting
system. This is only a test...” Then a test signal would be heard.
Apparently, the same sort of testing goes on today. What always intrigued me
was how the originators of that test supposed that it was actually working,
or even capable of working. Oh, yes, they knew that their signal was going
out. But who at the other end was listening and paying attention? And what
would the listeners actually do, in response to instructions from some
nameless, faceless voice emanating from their radios, if the situation passed
from just a “test” to the real thing? As the test tested only
half of the apparatus, it could not have been a source of much confidence,
even to the testers.
Today,
the true “emergency broadcasting system” all across America is
not on the radio, but on the Internet. It consists of NewsWithViews, and
other sites that tell Americans what is really going on, what to expect, and
(in some instances) what to do about it. As with the original
“emergency broadcasting system,” however, the same practical
problem plagues such sites. A site’s operator knows that its signal is
going out. He can even determine how many individual receivers have accessed
the site over some period of time. But he has no way of knowing, from that
data, how many people did something useful in response to what they read. Or
even how many considered what they read to be useful.
So
I should like to conduct a small—admittedly unscientific, but
nonetheless probably informative—test of NWV’s “emergency
broadcasting system,” with respect to my own commentaries. Over the
past several years, I have emphasized the necessity for Americans (i) to reform
this country’s monetary and banking systems, and (ii) to revitalize
“the Militia of the several States.” I would not have bothered,
had I not believed that on these two matters the future of this country as a
free self-governing republic depends. But what did my readers believe? And,
more to the point, what were they motivated to do as a result of what they
read?
So
here is the test. Below, I have set out the two issues on which I request
your responses:
- I. Reform of the monetary and banking systems.
A. Edwin Vieira’s commentaries are useful, and should be
continued.
B. Edwin Vieira’s commentaries are not particularly useful; and
therefore he should choose another subject.
- II. Revitalization of “the Militia of the
several States.”
A. Edwin Vieira’s commentaries are useful, and should be
continued.
B. Edwin Vieira’s commentaries are not particularly useful; and
therefore he should choose another subject.
Please
print this page. For each issue, circle answer “A” or
“B,” as the spirit moves you. Then MAIL your responses to:
Edwin
Vieira, Jr.
13877 Napa Drive
Manassas, Virginia 20112
I
ask that you mail your responses to me, because part of this test aims at
determining how many people will do something that requires a bit more effort
than sending an e-mail. (By the way, I am not trying to develop a
mailing-list through this process; so please send your responses with no
names or return addresses, if that suits your fancy.)
Every
response postmarked within fourteen (14) days of the date on which NWV posts
this commentary will be tabulated. Inasmuch as this is a test of an
“EMERGENCY broadcasting system,” that should provide more than
sufficient time. When the results are in, I shall inform a breathless world
of the results.
Thank
you for your cooperation. This is only a test...
Edwin
Vieira
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