We Don't Look into the Eyes of our Slaves Anymore....
By Louise
Now that Vivendi and General Electric have struck a deal, cable giant Comcast is expected to to buy a controlling stake in NBC-Universal making it the biggest proposed media merger in recent memory. Comcast, the largest cable company and the largest residential Internet service provider in the US would be adding the NBC, Universal Studios, MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, Telemundo, the Weather Channel, Hulu.com, 27 television stations and a host of other properties. In a era of monopolies that crush innovation, stifle competition, and lock new businesses out of the marketplace - and in particular when that marketplace includes an important part of our commons like the NEWS, why are we allowing such a merger to take place? Isn't it time to reverse Reagan's policy of ignoring the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, and, like with Jimmy Carter busting up AT&T, go back to bringing some of these transnational behemoths back down to size?
Last week New York based China Labor Watch put out a report that claims Wal-Mart’s five supplier factories in China subject workers to “illegal and degrading conditions.” The report also focused on Wal-Mart’s pricing structure. In the company’s attempt to keep prices low, the factories must manufacture goods with cheap labor and poisoned and unsafe workplaces that would be illegal in the US. Walmart's slogan is "Save Money. Live Better," they just didn't intend for that for their workers. At least Jefferson looked into the eyes of his slaves - we instead have outsourced our slaves so we don't have to see them.
Comments
#2
we've become a nation of cowards and it began 50+ years ago.We're afraid to look them in the eyes because like an animal they will sense the fear and attack without consequences.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.
Images of Thom
At Mondragon - both the mountain and the cooperative city - in Spain (written about in "Threshold" book)
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"In an age rife with media-inspired confusion and political cowardice, we yearn for a decent, caring, deeply human soul whose grasp of the problems confronting us provides a light by which we can make our way through the quagmire of lies, distortions, pandering, and hollow self-puffery that strips the American Dream of its promise. How lucky we are, then, to have access to the wit, wisdom, and willingness of Thom Hartmann, who shares with us here that very light, grown out of his own life experience."
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Oh no.
I have worked for NBC for 25 years and received raises about 1 or 2% behind the rate of inflation.
My peak earning was 23 years ago.
Comcast has a bad record dealing with union employees and pays around 1/3 less than than other companies with similar services.
I guess I'll take one more big step down the ladder even if I keep my job.