Some Thoughts, Some Ideas, Some Facts and Some Wishful ThinkingWe need to be able to takeover the networks and major print publications--so as to actually reach the "other half" (or more) of the public. At least briefly, and deliver a hard-hitting exposé with a title that communicates: (Other than this one exception) The Media Lies To You Every Day, In Every Way! It's true, see here, and here and here. This and this and that. Blatant, unadulterated lies. Lies and more lies. Lies with a capital "L". You CANNOT be informed and CANNOT know the TRUTH if you rely on Television/Cable, Radio, or most Newspapers and Magazines. Here are the general exceptions: (some list of honest, liberal/progressive publications, sites, radio stations or network, such as: The Nation, Mother Jones, The American Prospect, TruthOut, Air America...(exactly which ones would be determined by people more clever than myself and might possibly involve more moderate or less partisan choices)).
It might be long or short, but should include some clear examples of media duplicity, lies/deceptions, ommissions and misleading reporting.
Simply put, a significant chunk (though smaller now than ever before) still believes what the see, hear or read. While some of them hold suspicions about the media (and often believe the utterly ridiculous and opposite from the truth idea that the media has a "liberal" bias), there are some kinds of lies that they would not believe the MSM would publish/present. For example, if they quoted Al Gore as saying "I invented the internet", and it was repeated in print articles, on radio and TV and was explicit--they would not believe that Al Gore did not say it. They would assume that something as clear as the words spoken by a famous person, words that could be checked up on and verified such as words from a speech that was recorded in some way, would never be mis-reported. They'd think the MSM would be afraid someone would step forward with the proof they goofed. Little do the people know that since all the branches of the MSM are working together to spread the lie, even if a dozen people--even well known people presented the truth, we'd never hear a word of it. It's amazing really, that they would be so bold as to lie that way... presenting an altered quote and simultaneously taking even that so far out of context that it's really a second lie. Likewise, people have a hard time believing the MSM/Press actually engages in lies of omission. Even if a couple of reports of something important were presented (so they could say "but we DID cover that"), it doesn't count if it's on page 26 of 28, in small print and worded in a way that minimizes the content. The examples here are probably legion, but "The Downing Report" is one good one. Also, the false treatment of Stephen Colbert's incisive, ironic penetration of the Bush scam. Ignoring it and, upon seeing the interest, trying to claim it just wasn't funny (maybe not in their eyes, but they should let the people decide for themselves). Anyway...
People, even those who are already suspicious, must understand that literally every word or image the see or hear in the media stream--has been designed and/or passed through filters to ensure it's consistent with an "agenda". There is no honest, unmolested reporting of anything anymore. We are being manipulated and controlled by having all the information we get from 98% (or some such percent) of our traditional/common media sources. Were it not for the Internet (which is under powerful, perhaps overwhelming attack) and Air America (which doesn't reach everywhere, and the volume of 'commercials' is such that it takes some getting used to to even listen to it), we'd be lost. In a sense, we'd be in a "Truth Vacuum" and unable to find out about anything much.
Of course, I couldn't even guess how we could gain control over the MSM, even for a day; such thinking is pure fantasy. Nevertheless, we do need some way to reach these people to at least put that one thought in their heads--that they need to take a chance and make the effort to actually compare their MSM-based sense of things with reality. The best way to do that is to actually read some liberal/progressive or "Alternate News" sources on the Internet. Perhaps we need a website/portal that provides toned-down, carefully presented rebuttals, facts and news designed specifically for Right-wingers (con-servatives/neo-cons/republi-cons** etc). Presented in terms they might be able to accept.
When we finally achieve sufficient power in the Congress; and if we can either negotiate with a Thuglican President or vastly better yet, have a Democratic President... we need to go about dismantling the media industry's oligopoly. Just like taking Bell Telephone apart... actually, do a better job than that and make sure there are sufficient and difficult to remove safeguards to prevent the rise of new mega-media companies that manage to "appear" competitive (just as we see having risen in the Telecom industry). Alas, the truth which no Republican could tolerate is that the ultimate evolution of the Free Market is, inarguably Corporate oligopolies. Competition is quashed, and if the market subset is urgently necessary to our continued Free Speech and even the functioning of our Democracy, we cannot allow this outcome.
Still, back to the present. We must first resolve to take the necessary action to ensure fair and honest elections. Concurrent, but only as it doesn't interfere with efforts to achieve verifiable election results, we can do such things as seek to open Republican's minds to the Truth (and one of the big ones is that the government is nothing more than the Corporation's tool while the media serves as the Propaganda Arm (Ministry) of both). Still, we must make eliminating election fraud priority one.
Election Fraud must be prevented! Without that there is no future.**Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Main Entry: con
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): conned; con·ning
1 : SWINDLE
2 : MANIPULATE 2b
3 : PERSUADE, CAJOLE
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
