Yesterday I cancelled both my auto and homeowner's insurance.
It began with an editorial that I read by Charles Blow in the New York Times where Mr. Blow wrote of the supposed leader of the free world, "To a large degree, he appears to be making policy from the podium, responding to the propaganda organ Fox News and bouncing ideas off a small circle of loyalists." The mention of FOX News got me going!
FOX News and their brethren in right-wing media, have played an outsized role in creating the political divide in this country, in getting 45 elected and in putting us in our current and potentially cataclysmic predicament.
FOX News has indeed become the propaganda wing of the White House. FOX News contributor and retired US Army officer Ralph Peters recently asked FOX not to renew his contract saying that FOX News had
"denigrated from providing a legitimate and much-needed outlet for conservative voices to a mere propaganda machine for a destructive and ethically ruinous administration." Peters continued: “Four decades ago, I took an oath as a newly commissioned officer. I swore to ‘support and defend the Constitution,’ and that oath did not expire when I took off my uniform. Today, I feel that Fox News is assaulting our constitutional order and the rule of law, while fostering corrosive and unjustified paranoia among viewers. Over my decade with Fox, I long was proud of the association. Now I am ashamed.”
FOX News' influence is such that one could even surmise that it is fast becoming the fourth branch of government! Rump has now appointed John Bolton, FOX contributor and war monger, as his National Security Advisor. Chump dines and golfs with Hannity and has entertained a continuous flow of other FOX executives, hosts and contributors. The reality show host now occupying the White House spews forth his daily tweet storm as a result of whatever bilge has emanated from Fox and Friends.
FOX News is a climate science denying, misogynistic purveyor of massively biased and "fake" news: it is a peddler of conspiracy theories; it smears Special Counsel, Robert S. Mueller, III and it is a promoter of populism and white nationalism. Never have we faced such an assault on our environment and public lands, our climate, our health, our civil rights, our press, our financial security, our national security, America's standing in the world and world peace. MAGA -- my rump! A good portion of the blame can be placed on the FOX propaganda machine. FOX News is a danger to our democracy.
Back to my insurance policy cancellation. Like many, I have long been outraged at FOX News and Mr. Blow's reminder got my blood to a boil. I searched to determine who FOX News' advertisers were and found that insurance providers, including my own, occupied the fourth, sixth and seventh positions as largest advertisers during February, 2018. Like many, I too spend a great deal of money on auto and homeowner policies. "Damn," I thought, "Here's an opportunity to make a statement where it hurts." I promptly put our policies out to bid, selected a new and highly reputable provider that did not advertise on FOX, and cancelled my existing policies (at a substantial savings to boot!). I informed the customer service representatives of the reason behind my decision. I then wrote to the company's investor relations department informing them of my cancellation and saying that I could not support a company that supports FOX News and their "fake" news, lies and vitriol. Oooh that felt good! Who's next on the list?
We have a congress that refuses to hold the administration accountable. We can turn to corporate America for help. There are numerous good corporate citizens and there are those that continue to press their own selfish agenda. We must vote in November and in the meantime we can vote with our wallets against right-wing media and those companies that support them. Check the list for yourselves and see where you can make a difference -- Just make a difference!
We cannot tire of the fight. We must continue to RESIST this dangerous, corrupt and bigoted administration. We must keep marching, keep signing petitions, keep calling our members of Congress, keep boycotting, keep donating and keep volunteering. We are making a difference.