Brief History of WHO Radio

WHO Radio began broadcasting from Des Moines, Iowa, on April 10, 1924, on a frequency of 570 kHz with 500 watts of power. The station was originally established by the Bankers Life Company under president George Kuhns. Kuhns cleverly chose the call letters because listeners searching the radio dial would constantly ask, "Who is it?".

Key Milestones and Power Increases

• Power increased to 5,000 watts in 1925.
• Joined NBC network in September 1927.
• FRC ordered frequency sharing with WOC Davenport.
• Alternated daytime and nighttime weekly broadcast shifts.

The Central Broadcasting Era

Bankers Life exited broadcasting in 1930. They sold the station to Central Broadcasting Company. The new owners were led by B.J. Palmer.

The station successfully synchronized as WOC-WHO. However, an audio dead-zone plagued the midpoint region. To resolve this issue, a massive upgrade began.

On April 22, 1933, a 50,000-watt transmitter debuted. It launched from a new site in Mitchellville, Iowa. This established WHO as a powerful clear-channel station. WOC personnel subsequently relocated to Des Moines. Among them was young sportscaster Ronald Reagan.

Frequency Adjustments and Engineering Feats

• In 1934, installed a 532-foot diamond Blaw-Knox tower.
• Shifted to the iconic 1040 kHz frequency in 1941.
• Alignment followed the North American Radio Agreement.
• Replaced the original transmitter with Westinghouse gear in 1950.
• Erected a massive, groundbreaking 780-foot Franklin tower.

Programming and Cultural Impact

WHO pioneered agricultural reporting with its dedicated farm department. Its popular "Iowa Barn Dance Frolic" drew over a million live fans. The station expanded into new frontiers by launching WHO-FM in 1948. It expanded further into television with the arrival of WHO-TV. Through decades of public service and high-power broadcasting, it earned its reputation as the "Voice of the Middle West."

What's bugging me: Healthcare vs medical services

The average American will spend roughly $320,000 on healthcare over their adult lifetime, which requires dedicating about $8,000 to $10,000 working hours just to cover these expenses. Yet, when actually seeking care, patients spend hours navigating waiting rooms and endless paperwork to receive an average of only 20 minutes with a doctor.

This staggering imbalance—trading thousands of hours of your life for mere minutes of care—constitutes a profound moral indictment of our system. While it may not fit the tidy framework of courtroom litigation, the American people have a profound, legitimate cause of action against a society that commodifies a basic human right.

Crude oil policy initiative to return to the people their entitled ROI

Don't tell me that there's no way in which crude oil -- an American natural resource -- cannot be valuated and credited back to the people! Take the sold-for price, deduct the verified cost of taking it out of the ground, and return the balance to the public coffers.

 

This policy transforms publicly owned natural resources into a direct economic dividend for citizens. By claiming the net profits from crude oil extraction, the state ensures that the wealth generated by American natural resources benefits the public rather than exclusively private corporate interests.

The Core Mechanism

• Asset Valuation: Calculate the total market value of all crude oil extracted from public lands and waters over a fiscal year using the U.S. Energy Information Administration pricing data.
• Cost Deduction: Subtract the audited, verified extraction and operational costs incurred by private operators.
• Direct Dividend: Return the remaining net balance directly to the public through a universal, yearly state dividend (similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund model).

Key Arguments & Justifications

• Right of Ownership: Crude oil is an American natural resource. Its underlying value belongs to the people, not just the corporations extracting it.
• Economic Equity: Provides a steady stream of income directly to citizens to combat inflation and rising costs of living.
• Corporate Accountability: Ensures operators deduct only strictly verified and audited costs, eliminating unchecked corporate profiteering at the expense of public wealth.
• Future Security: Establishes a permanent trust fund to continue payouts even after fossil fuel reserves are depleted.

Economic Formula

The dividend payout per citizen is calculated as follows:$\text{Dividend} = \frac{\text{Total Sold-for Price} - \text{Verified Extraction Costs}}{\text{Total Number of Eligible Citizens}}$