I tried to show a bit of faith, foolishly believing that a free press is a core component of the American democracy.
Hoping that the 21st century’s supercharged delivery system and raw imagery would create a new journalism elevated and accessible to the common man seems silly now.
Partisan hate, Beheadings and a Broadcast News industry dedicated to the almighty dollar, that’s what we’ve got.
So now I ask you America:
Is a free press a key component of the American Democracy?
Or
Do Corporations have the same rights and voice as US citizens?
In my eyes it can't be both.
Big business not only writes our laws in congress; it becomes the lens we view the world through. Then they sell the bits and pieces in between to Politicians and their Big Business Buddies. Very cozy!
DOESN’T ANYBODY SEE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST HERE?
The biggest moneymaker in the entire legacy of the Pre-Internet media model is the television commercial?
If Big Business were to get out the legislative/political process, that TV spot would be coveted only by groups and individuals with a complex but moral "horse" in the game. But the recent Supreme Court decision says "No. Groups and Corporations have the same rights and protections as you and I."
And their allegiance lies only to their boards, their shareholders and themselves. Not necessarily in that order.
This is the foundation of our problems in:
Health Care
The News Media
The Financial Industry
and the Executive and LEGISLATIVE branches of our government.
Our democratic system will only be effective if one of its primary goals is to balance the single mindedness of capitalism and power in the cyber-military industrial age.
I think Democrats, Republicans and Independents can all agree: That’s not exactly how things are working in Washington these days.
Goldman bankers yammer in front of now irate congressmen while five thousand barrels of oil a day spew into the Gulf of Mexico.
Drill Baby Drill!
Last year Exxon Mobil made nearly 35 billion dollars. *They paid no corporate taxes here in the US. They buy those TV ads. They endorse politicians. They lobby legislation.
They paid no taxes! All The Rights with none of the Responsibilities.
Shameful.
It’s not just that big business is winning, it’s that the American Dream... is losing.
Payroll and Employee Income Taxes excluded