The sorry state of corporate journalism sagged to an even lower low this month when the Washington Post banned publication of a piece by its own Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Ann Telnaes.
And the Sickness that is Donald Trump continues to invade America. The Billionaires all looking out for each other. Coming next? The Trump Tax Cuts! Brought to you by Donald Trump and his Billionaire Blood Suckers! Dedicated to sucking every bit of money from every American everywhere! Your money is ours and by God we will not stop until we have it all! Go Eat Cake!
What will it take for people to understand what a minority (MAGA & Co.) has inflicted on the rest of us? And that the Liar-in-Chief was bought and paid for by people who never have to worry about paying the rent, put food on the table, stay healthy etc.? For his next birthday, the old clown will probably ask the Muskrat to buy Greenland for him! Keep spreading the word, Jim. Knowledge is still power, that is why the plutocrats hate independent journalism!
Corporations never die, just as they never lived but when they suck up the power of money from the living they are irresponsibly in control, and when they go bankrupt the living suffer the mess left behind and pay for their losses evermore.
However knowing how cowardly and thin-skinned the plutocrat class is is a fault line we can weaponize. Mr. Bezos and Mr. Musk are particularly sensitive to the slightest criticism, which means we should lampoon them at EVERY opportunity. I for one LOVED Ms. Telnaes' cartoon. You GO girl!
The issue about which Jim writes/speaks has contemporary roots in any number of times and places. My personal take on it, though, was that this "trend" was well underway when I resigned from my radio news position in 1995; it wasn't more than a year later that more than one former reporter/editor/camera person told me, "You wouldn't recognize the business now!" 30 years and counting for the demise of many, many news outlets, except those who "report" what people want to hear - from all political and social angles, I might add.
As I explain in my main comment, the 1sr Amendment limits government interference; it doesn't guarantee rights for all Americans. The airwaves were considered public property, therefore under govt. regulation. Thus the fairness doctrine (to a point; nothing too far from consensus.)
But the licenses go to those who can afford them--corporations. Because corporations are legally people, we can't force them to make room for different opinions any more than I can force someone to listen to me when I disagree with them.
IMHO media tried to be fair because the common good was still valued. Now that's all but dead it's only about the interests of the powerful and wealthy few.
Jim, thanks much for the compelling accuracy of your analysis of the importance of elegant reporting that carries TRUTH writ large with a wit that cannot but invite a vast grin! Bravo, good man!
Thanks, Jim, for your continued steadfast commitment. You'd think some Bozo (hmm, Bozo?) with as many billions as he has would not be so scared of a cartoon.
Trump is ruling by fear. I heard Zuckerberg say he had been approached by a Trump member who told him that they were coming for him. Using his political might, he could cause all these tech billionaires a ton of trouble. It was easier to pay Trump, off than get additional headaches.
Most Americans are under the impression we have unrestricted rights of free speech and freedom of the press. We often contrast this to places in the world that have no such rights. In reality, we have no such thing!
Read what the 1st Amendment of Bill of Rights actually says: "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..." In other words, GOVERNMENT can't interfere. It says nothing about non-governmental entities.
There is no absolute right binding all Americans to the same standard regarding private opinions. I can't insist that you give me equal time because I disagree with you. Then consider corporations are legally people--they have the same rights as actual, physically real humans. We can't force them to let us speak.
We can appeal to their sense of fairness (ha!) We can refuse to do business with them; might work if there are enough dissenters and good alternatives. But the reality is vital voices like Jim Hightower and Chris Hedges have been pushed to the margins where their blogs are hosted by platforms like Substack. No guarantees there, either.
Ann is a wonderful cartoonist and a keen observer of our politics. I love her honesty and integrity. Bezos and all the tech titans have sold out for their own profit/greed reasons. When is enough, enough. Obviously, their greed has no bounds. These people, who I once admired, have lost all my respect. I feel sorry the people who have to work for them.
Fear & intimidation by "Trump the Terrible" affected Jeff Bezos one of America's wealthiest and powerful oligarchs who has ambitions of his own.That means that "We the people" are the last line of defense for our tottering democracy.Now is the time for patriots to seize the moment and resist and defend.
Since so many have cancelled subscriptions to the Post, do you think he would sell it? and canit be crowd funded so the people who work there could buy it?
And the Sickness that is Donald Trump continues to invade America. The Billionaires all looking out for each other. Coming next? The Trump Tax Cuts! Brought to you by Donald Trump and his Billionaire Blood Suckers! Dedicated to sucking every bit of money from every American everywhere! Your money is ours and by God we will not stop until we have it all! Go Eat Cake!
Speaking in bumper sticker, 'Whoever has the most when he dies wins.' and conversley, is still dead.
What will it take for people to understand what a minority (MAGA & Co.) has inflicted on the rest of us? And that the Liar-in-Chief was bought and paid for by people who never have to worry about paying the rent, put food on the table, stay healthy etc.? For his next birthday, the old clown will probably ask the Muskrat to buy Greenland for him! Keep spreading the word, Jim. Knowledge is still power, that is why the plutocrats hate independent journalism!
I am also mourning the Charleston Gazette-Mail no longer carrying Gary Trudeau 'Doonesbury'.
Corporations never die, just as they never lived but when they suck up the power of money from the living they are irresponsibly in control, and when they go bankrupt the living suffer the mess left behind and pay for their losses evermore.
And many thanks to YOU, Jim Hightower, for not complying in advance!
However knowing how cowardly and thin-skinned the plutocrat class is is a fault line we can weaponize. Mr. Bezos and Mr. Musk are particularly sensitive to the slightest criticism, which means we should lampoon them at EVERY opportunity. I for one LOVED Ms. Telnaes' cartoon. You GO girl!
The issue about which Jim writes/speaks has contemporary roots in any number of times and places. My personal take on it, though, was that this "trend" was well underway when I resigned from my radio news position in 1995; it wasn't more than a year later that more than one former reporter/editor/camera person told me, "You wouldn't recognize the business now!" 30 years and counting for the demise of many, many news outlets, except those who "report" what people want to hear - from all political and social angles, I might add.
As I explain in my main comment, the 1sr Amendment limits government interference; it doesn't guarantee rights for all Americans. The airwaves were considered public property, therefore under govt. regulation. Thus the fairness doctrine (to a point; nothing too far from consensus.)
But the licenses go to those who can afford them--corporations. Because corporations are legally people, we can't force them to make room for different opinions any more than I can force someone to listen to me when I disagree with them.
IMHO media tried to be fair because the common good was still valued. Now that's all but dead it's only about the interests of the powerful and wealthy few.
Jim, thanks much for the compelling accuracy of your analysis of the importance of elegant reporting that carries TRUTH writ large with a wit that cannot but invite a vast grin! Bravo, good man!
Thanks, Jim, for your continued steadfast commitment. You'd think some Bozo (hmm, Bozo?) with as many billions as he has would not be so scared of a cartoon.
Trump is ruling by fear. I heard Zuckerberg say he had been approached by a Trump member who told him that they were coming for him. Using his political might, he could cause all these tech billionaires a ton of trouble. It was easier to pay Trump, off than get additional headaches.
👍
Most Americans are under the impression we have unrestricted rights of free speech and freedom of the press. We often contrast this to places in the world that have no such rights. In reality, we have no such thing!
Read what the 1st Amendment of Bill of Rights actually says: "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..." In other words, GOVERNMENT can't interfere. It says nothing about non-governmental entities.
There is no absolute right binding all Americans to the same standard regarding private opinions. I can't insist that you give me equal time because I disagree with you. Then consider corporations are legally people--they have the same rights as actual, physically real humans. We can't force them to let us speak.
We can appeal to their sense of fairness (ha!) We can refuse to do business with them; might work if there are enough dissenters and good alternatives. But the reality is vital voices like Jim Hightower and Chris Hedges have been pushed to the margins where their blogs are hosted by platforms like Substack. No guarantees there, either.
Jim, I could not agree with you more. Props to Ann for calling the genuflecting as she sees it.
I find this extremely frightening. Trying to cling to some hope. American exceptionalism? LOL and ROFL (more like ROFCrying).
Ann is a wonderful cartoonist and a keen observer of our politics. I love her honesty and integrity. Bezos and all the tech titans have sold out for their own profit/greed reasons. When is enough, enough. Obviously, their greed has no bounds. These people, who I once admired, have lost all my respect. I feel sorry the people who have to work for them.
Fear & intimidation by "Trump the Terrible" affected Jeff Bezos one of America's wealthiest and powerful oligarchs who has ambitions of his own.That means that "We the people" are the last line of defense for our tottering democracy.Now is the time for patriots to seize the moment and resist and defend.
Listening to Billy Bragg 'Ideologies Clashing'.
Since so many have cancelled subscriptions to the Post, do you think he would sell it? and canit be crowd funded so the people who work there could buy it?