I've been thinking about Disney

[Eloriel]

Yes, it's a giggle that they missed all this money. Yes, I heard that the stockholders are pissed.

But I'm pissed too. I don't think it's appropriate for them to be taking political sides to the extent that they are. Turning down Moore's film distribution isn't the full extent of it. Have a look here:

http://www.fair.org/activism/disney-moore-update.html

Just how political and ideological should corporations be allowed to get? ESPECIALLY when they're part of "the media"?

(One of these days I hope some brilliant lawyer will take on one or more media conglomerates on Constitutional grounds -- the "press" enjoys special advantages via the First Amendment, but they have an unwritten RESPONSIBILITY in return. It's my understanding this is well-outlined in various documents by the Founding Fathers. They are NOT fulfilling their duties to keep the public informed -- except about Britney and her new fiancee, and Lacy Peterson's murder trial, and so forth.)

Anyway, the rightwing (esp. Cato-type Libertarians) deify "market capitalism" use it against us: if your Leftish ideas were so great, there'd be a MARKET for them on talk radio, movies, etc. We don't need laws and regulations, market forces take care of all we need. Etc. All of it mindbogglingly, simplistically, wrong.

I see people posting here who say things like, "Now they'll see there's a market in us on the Left." They're NOT really that interested in that. They're interested in consolidating their power and influence (for plutocrats) while also making a profit. Were profit the only motive, Mike Malloy would never have been taken off the market. I think it's imperative that we begin to see this, and NOT just assume, as the Cato-style LIberarians would like to con us into thinking, that "the market" would solve everything and since we're an overlooked market, a film like F911 will make them sit up and notice and start marketing to US too. It's not going to happen.

Back to Disney. Again, I just think it's wrong of them to push a political agenda. And while I'm usually not terribly in favor of boycotts, I now think it's time for one against Disney. After all, OUR families have been buying their stuff too. FL Dem and Green families have been subsidizing their tax breaks. It's time we MAKE our tastes and displeasure known and vote with our feet.

Whadya think?

[seabeyond]

1. i went thru the same thought i think yesterday

i agree. i dont boycott, i have two little boys, i have been waiting for them to get old enough to take them both to calif and florida. wanted calif this fall, cause it is the one i always went to. now i dont want to. why should i give this company my money if they are so opposed to my strong beliefs, if they are advocating the other side.

yes, i think they stepped over the line

[lachattefolle]

2. Their Stuff is Overpriced Anyway

From the Disney store merchandise to the theme parks. What the heck-I'll boycott them.

[wtmusic]

3. The real problem is media consolidation

I don't care if one company has an agenda, unless that company has a 30% market share of TV news outlets nationwide.

Media ownership and BBV are the thousand-pound-gorilla issues which dwarf all others.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

4. Isn't cable TV the problem?

The public airwaves aren't so public anymore.

You could make a case with ABC/Disney. But they could change their image via ABC VERY quickly and conform (assuming they don't already; how many cheers have we heard for Nightline around here).

I think cable TV changes things if one attempts to use the "public airwaves" argument. Cable TV ain't public airwaves.

But it does give us re-runs of Beavis and Butthead.

Go figure.

[PurityOfEssence]

5. Hey, Michael Eisner's a Democrat

That should give you pause.

Or webbed feet, or something.

They're in the chirpy goodness binnis; whatta ya expect? This is one of the hottest potatoes to ever tumble down the pike, and he had no choice. There was never any chance that they'd handle this.

In a way, Eisner dodged this one and kept his mouth more or less shut, especially since Moore's flap about distribution being pulled out from under him is silly: that was well known long ago. Much as it deeply pains me to say anything nice about Eisner, I will say that he was studious in not making a factual or moral pronouncement on the movie, but merely referred to its overtly political nature and showed his hand that the Bushies had better keep the skids greased in Florida.

Eisner's a thug, and this won't help him a bit. If it keeps their Florida benefits flowing, remember this: it also brings them to light. Just take comfort that old Walt's still spinning in his grave to know that a Jew is running his business for him, and a Democrat at that. (I must admit that latter point isn't borne out by the man's actions, though.)

Also, try to remember that Disney brought you "Pulp Fiction", and smile knowing that Eisner sold back the rights to F911 for $8M USD.

[Eloriel]

7. Did you read the fairly brief FAIR article?

If not, you should.

[Cleita]

6. Whadda I think? I 'll tell you if you want me to.

I think they don't care. Actually, I think capitalism is too much work for them. You know the competing thing for the lowest price. It's actually work to be competitive. You always have to be on top of the competition. You have to be more innovative and better than your competition. I know. I did it once. It was hard work, 24/7 work.

They talk the talk, but they don't do the walk. They are strictly into imperialism. You see with imperialism you control everything. You dictate the terms and you don't have to worry about competition. You own it all. So they don't care what they lose short term. In the long term, they think they will control it all. I think that is their game plan.

Read about Imperial Rome. How did the Republic become an Empire? How did the Empire control everything even though most of the world and most of the Romans suffered under the centuries of the Empire's rule so an elite and small class of Patricians could enjoy the luxuries?

They didn't care that much about efficiency and market economy. All they cared about is their own luxuries, keeping the barbarians behind a certain border (like we do Mexicans), and keeping the mob and rabble under control.

[Eloriel]

8. Well, that fits in with my comment

that profit isn't their only motive, as many here think (and as the Cato-Libertarians try to persuade themselves and us). Doesn't it?