BS: before special & radical interests take over

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 10:11 PM

Special and radical interests took over the US government, its military, and its media some considerable time ago. This is so obvious to the World in general that only some Americans seem to still not about it. Funny that the chosen candidate and frontman of those special and radical interests would now be warning against this happening, isn't it?

But that is one of the key methods of fascism. Accuse others of exactly what you yourself are doing, and then pass authoritarian and anti-democratic legislation in order to strengthen your position of control. Hope that your political opponents will resort to some violent action to increase unquestioning public support for the ruling administration. If they don't, arrange to have it done secretly by your own operatives, and then blame it on your opponents. Start another war. The majority of the public will always support a government when it's at war. Count on it. The Germans did. If necessary, declare a state of national emergency. Whatever works. And then kiss your democracy goodbye.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take ov
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 12:11 PM

Special and radical interests in the media taking over, huh?

Like William Randolph Hearst starting the Spanish-American War? Like newspapers accusing Lincoln of anything they could think up? Like newspapers advertising their politics in their titles (e.g.: Daily Democrat, Union Democrat, Herald-Whig, Log Cabin Democrat, Republican-American, Daily Republican, Jeffersonian Democrat)?

Or those purporting to support a specific working group (e.g., Daily Miner)?

The newspapers (the media of the time) would NEVER support the outdoor reduction of copper ore (by burning) in Butte, Montana and the resultant spread of arsenic compounds on the wind because the owners of the Anaconda Mine wanted them to!

Naturally, the radio and/or television stations affliated with such papers wouldn't reflect the bias of the newspaper!

Heck no! Never have been radical or special interest groups in the media! Not of this country! No sirree!

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: TIA
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 10:13 PM

kat,

Excellent question. I struggle with this daily. I've written and even visited, in person, my congresspeople - but I'm not nearly a big enough donor that they will listen to me. I think the only solution is to raise and/or educate good kids. The current generation of greedy, unaltruistic, reactionary, xenophobic shitheads in power is beyond convincing. There's an entire generation that has been raised on a diet of Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage, Falwell, Robertson, Will, Safire, Coulter, O'Reilly, Scarborough, ....... that is brainwashed beyond reason. I just get depressed (and pissed-off) when I talk to the local "grown-ups".

Teach your (our) children well...

(And , no, you neocon fans, I'm not talking about brainwashing kids to the left. Let them listen to the people listed above, but for crissakes, give them Pacifica, and Ivens, and Teepen, and Dionne, and - heaven forbid - NPR as well. Or are you afraid of opposing ideas? If so, you'd better make a book bonfire)

Aaaarrrggghhh! I think my head is going to explode.

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 07:49 PM

Those are excellent, Bill, thanks!

So, folks, while we poke fun and wax ironic, they ARE doing this bullshit, so what do WE do? Does it mean anything anymore to write to our congresspeople? What can we do to slow this down or stop it? I know, wishful thinking probably, huh?

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: Greg F.
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 06:21 PM

before special & radical interests take over?????

TOO LATE!!Been in the hands of the right-wing nutters for some time.

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 01:56 PM

stop me before I post more

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 01:54 PM

here are other cartoon takes...

Cagle

Wright

Parker

Lalo

you can find many others here

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 01:44 PM

lessee if I have this right...what we need is for the sane, special, righteous, and CONSERVATIVE interests to retain their hold on the media forever.

We'll just pass laws allowing the richest media conglomerates (who just 'happen' to conservative Republicans who are benefiting from tax breaks) to buy MORE outlets so we won't be "confused" by too many inputs. Oh..pardon me...we just DID that.

Yesterdays cartoon in the New Jersey Star-Ledger showed "channel surfing with Rupert Murdock", as he is clicking thru the spectrum on his TV,saying, "...got it...got it....need it...got it...got it..."

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 01:59 AM

I'm really confused here. But, that is not unusual.

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 11:03 PM

Must be that LIBERAL MEDIA we are always hearing about.

Yeah, but Mr. Powell said "regain". Regain a stronghold. That means the liberals don't have a stronghold on our public airwave spectrum any more. I guess that means the media we have now isn't "liberal".

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: GUEST,Johnny in OKC
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 10:46 PM

" Anybody know which special and radical interests used to have a stronghold on our public airwave spectrum? "

Must be that LIBERAL MEDIA we are always hearing about.

-- Johnny

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: Amergin
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 10:36 PM

You know...this is great timing...I recently picked up the Iron Heel by Jack London....it kind of a sci fi book...as it took place in his future...and it is about the coming of fascism....

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 09:52 PM

The ones who wouldn't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore????

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 06:26 PM

before special and radical interests regain a stronghold

I wonder what they mean by "regain". Anybody know which special and radical interests used to have a stronghold on our public airwave spectrum?

Subject: RE: BS: before special & radical interests take over
From: TIA
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 05:11 PM

Holy Shit! Special and radical interests! That means anyone except clear Channel doesn't it?

Ein Volk
Ein Reich
Ein Furher
Ein News Channel

Subject: BS: Before special & radical interests take over
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 04:48 PM

I don't mean to be an alarmist, but this is bad. I know we have near monopolies, now, in the media; this has the potential to make it much, much worse. The emphasis is mine (oops, there goes Pacifica?):

"FCC Chairman MICHAEL POWELL issued a statement supporting President Bush's spectrum policy reform and modernization initiative, saying "the radio spectrum is a key driver of economic growth, and supports an array of devices, applications and services Americans have come to depend upon -- from radars used in our national defense to tele-medicine, from mobile phones to the public safety radios used by our first responders.

"President Bush's Executive Memorandum recognizes the importance of spectrum as an economic engine and underscores his commitment to putting spectrum to its highest and best use for the American people." POWELL called the plan a "groundbreaking initiative to reassess the federal government's spectrum policy approach."

"BUSH told the Commerce Department on THURSDAY (6/5) to head up a year-long initiative to recommend laws and methods to promote more efficient use of airwaves, calling the radio spectrum a "valuable and limited national resource, which must be controlled before special and radical interests regain a stronghold on our public airwave spectrum."   We must unlock the economic value and entrepreneurial potential of U.S. spectrum assets while ensuring that sufficient spectrum is available to support critical government functions." A series of public meetings will be used to develop recommendations."

His paranoia knows no bounds.