Dave Winer’s post this morning, ruminating on the ecological niche(s) of podcasting (It worked!) includes a characterization of Public Radio that is, I fear, pretty much right on:

Thinking more about it I realized that the role of an owner of a public radio station is twofold. You listen and you pay. Occasionally, if you don’t mind waiting and getting totally nervous, you can call in and ask a question of an expert — someone who is probably just saying politically correct bullshit, but you never get to speak, what you think isn’t important, your job is to pay, and if you like, listen, while they lull you to sleep with their relaxing talk that’s only intelligent when compared to the other crap that’s on the radio.