Sorry for the lack of posting of late. Just been busy with other things…
While four “leading military newspapers” call for Rumsfeld’s resignation, the Pentagon ramps up it’s effort to control newspapers, the media in general and most importantly (in their warped view) the information they convey to the public. Think the two are related? Of course they are…
The attack on those who still presume to exercise the Constitutional right to a free press continues full steam ahead, while even former stalwart supporters of the fascists in power see the writing on the wall. When it has become “us versus them“, it’s gotten a bit over the top, to be honest. (c/o Avedon)
Consider for a moment that the NY Times is being sued and an effort underway to force them to reveal sources regarding an ongoing investigation of the anthrax attacks of September 2001. Call me silly, but I feel that any effort to uncover the terrorists who utilized anthrax is a step in the right direction. And, if it takes a newspaper to push that investigation along by keeping it in the public eye, so be it. Of course, just the opposite has occurred.
A brutal reality: When money becomes the master to media, then independent views are stifled. The corporate model simply does not allow it. And, good corporations play by the rules the government dictates. Thus, the corporate owned networks feel the pressure to tow the party line and follow the government lead rather than actually attempting to report and investigate. It’s about ratings and ad revenue more than ever, rather than about finding and reporting truth.
And, the so-called “new media” outlets, including portals such as Google, are not immune to the corporate pitfalls. They are actually succumbing to the powers that be rather passively. The possibilities are rather frightening actually. The role the internet plays, and the power it wields is palpable, and from a corporate perspective, a real problem. (Given the current atmosphere from the White House.) It would be good to see a solid cross section of voices represented on TV. We’ll see.
