"Localism" In Talk Radio

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There is a lot of talk about having the government impose something called "Localism" on Talk Radio stations. Localism means that the stations would have to reserve the majority of broadcast time to local talk shows. The logic is that radio stations are supposed to work in the "public interest", so they should limit their programming to community needs and interests. If a radio station wants to dedicate its broadcast time to local hosts and topics, that is great, however, with a few exceptions, they probably wouldn't last long. The fact is, most talk based stations only see a profit because they carry the nationally syndicated shows. Rush, Hannity, Glen Beck, Dr. Laura, Coast to CoastAM... These are like the "anchor" stores in a shopping mall. In fact, they are what keeps the entire industry afloat. Almost everyone in AM radio today owes their career to these shows. Back in the 80s when Rush Limbaugh became nationally syndicated, there were less than 200 AM stations in the US. The band was pretty much on its way out. With the huge success of the Rush Limbaugh Show, the broadcast companies started looking for other hosts to expand the industry. Since the radio stations became profitable again, local hosts were able to concentrate on the needs and interests of the community. So in reality, "localism" would throw AM Talk Radio back into the days when it had one leg in a coffin and the other on a banana peel. Some of you may think that doing away with talk radio is a good thing, but shouldn't the life or death of an industry be based on interest (or lack of) by consumers, not dragonian requirements called for by people who have no interest in the service in the first place?