It was interesting to hear that media star/recluse Tom Barnard has a complex life with its share of troubles ("Tom Barnard, seriously," March 7). Almost always, when I get to know someone personally, I can feel some empathy. We're all just struggling humans here. But this is so not what radio ought do with the public trust the Federal Communications Commission has provided. I get bored with pledge week, and I teach cultural studies at the University of Minnesota -- both good reasons to sample the "Morning Show" on my morning drive. One recent morning, the topic was sex-with-dogs, and Tommy and his second-bananas were having a field day. Apparently some poor guy made national news for having violated the family pit bull. The commentary was rich, metaphoric and detailed -- but with never a dirty word. I write to ask if this is what we want our daughters to laugh at as they ride with their friends to high school? Our sons? Could we take radio seriously for a minute? I'm glad Tommy is not drinking and has lost weight, but radio matters more than that. It forms our politics. Let's cast a critical eye on what the "radio king" and all of his subjects are doing for us. ROBERT BROWN, MINNEAPOLIS