WKMS Airs Special on American's Two-Party System of Governance

By Jenni Todd

Murray, KY – Media Release: WKMS Airs Special on American's Two-Party System of Governance



Date: 2-28-11



Contact: Chad Lampe (chad.lampe@murraystate.edu, 270-809-4666)

Murray, KY -- Murray State's public radio service 91.3 WKMS presents a special feature program Thursday, March 10 at noon titled Intelligence Squared U.S.: America's House Divided. Intelligence Squared U.S. brings Oxford-style debating to America -- one motion, one moderator, panelists for the motion, and against. The motion for the hour-long radio feature is "the two-party system is making America ungovernable."

The Republican and Democratic parties may seem to be entrenched in calcified partisanship. Has our two-party system failed us? The rise of the Tea Party, liberal backlash, and the exodus of moderate voices from Congress all point toward the public's growing discontent. Has our two-party system of governance essentially already changed?

With informed and provocative panelists and a strong moderator taking on this hot-button issue of the day, Intelligence Squared U.S.: America's House Divided is a provocative look at a national issue.

ABC News Nightline Correspondent John Donvan moderates the one-hour special. David Brooks and Arianna Huffington speak for the motion. Brooks is commentator for "The Newshour with Jim Lehrer." Huffington is co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post. Zev Chafets and P.J. O'Rourke speak against the motion. Chafets is frequent contributor to the New York Times Magazine and a former columnist for the New York Daily News. O'Rourke is an acclaimed political satirist and the bestselling author.

WKMS reaches listeners in far western Kentucky, southernmost Illinois and northwestern Tennessee with two channels of public radio programming. One is news, analysis, discussion and a variety of music. The other is all classical. WKMS operates with funding from individuals, underwriters, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Murray State University.

See a schedule of WKMS programs at www.wkms.org, where there's a secure pledge page for making contributions online. Contributions may also be mailed to WKMS at 2018 University Station, Murray, KY 42071. Checks should be made payable to WKMS/MSU Foundation. Murray State's public radio service includes 91.3 WKMS, Murray; WKMS HD-1 and All-Classical HD-2; 90.9 WKMD, Madisonville; 89.5 WKMT, Fulton; 99.5 Paris, TN; and All-Classical 92.5 Paducah and 101.5 Madisonville. The station streams both WKMS HD-1 and HD-2 at www.wkms.org.