Could this be the end of "Big Media"?
By louisehartmann
Media moguls like Rupert Murdoch suffered a blow yesterday in their bid to take over the nation’s news media. The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit struck down an FCC rule that allowed companies to own both a newspaper and a broadcast station in the same market. Back in 1997 – the FCC relaxed laws regarding cross-ownership in the media.
But the court said yesterday that rule change by the FCC was done improperly without giving the public enough time to weigh in on the matter. Corie Wright – policy council for the group “Free Press” - said after the ruling, “the court wisely concluded that competition in the media – not more concentration – will provide Americans with the local news and information they need and want.”
Could this be the end of "Big Media"?
Up next is the Supreme Court.
Comments
#2
If the far right have taken over the republican party, is it too much of a stretch of the imagination to suggest that they have taken over the democratic party as well?
#3
The marriage between Religion and Capitalism or said another way Theocracy and Corporatism produces Fascism. Although Benito Mussolini was a bright fellow it was Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922) who gave to him the fully developed doctrine of Fascism. Mussolini sold the doctrine to Franco (Catholic Spain). And Hitler adopted and adapted the doctrine substituting himself as the Godhead. That's a bit different I think than what you said on your radio show today. Peace
#4
Not a stretch at all....I believe that the ruling class uses both parties as a tool to get what they want and to oppress the rest of us. It is a bad cop...good cop ploy. The bad cop...the Republicans are used to badger and bludgeon us for immediate results...then when the people are so ticked off and want to rebel....along comes the "good cop"....the Democrats who pretend to be less rapaceous, and maybe even on our side once in a while, sell us hope and want us to believe that they are the only alternative. The result is that the "cops" get what they want and we the people get raped silly and left dismayed and confused....again...and again...and again. Would the Republicans have been able to have bailed out the banksters with the $700 billion bailout if McCain had won in 2008? Obama was the slick and lugubrious "hope we could believe in" that ended up screwing us all in the end. Voting Democrat will only get us a temporary pretend reprive which ends up only slightly slowing down the goals that the ruling elite have in turning us all into paupers and slaves and results in retarding any edge we might have in any meaningful rebellion using means that will make a difference. We need to do something really drastic to break that pretend democracy that has only become the tool of the rich against the poor. We need to get really, really, mad and tell them that "we won't take it anymore".
By the way... in addition to something I mentioned in previous posts about that company in New York that had about $750,000 stolen out of their bank account by hackers...and the recent court ruling that the bank was not at fault and could not be held liable for it....there is yet another ridiculous banking "scandal" that I believe was mentioned in today's show. A man was mistakenly arrested and thrown in jail because the Chase bank believed the man was trying to pass a bad check (written by Chase Bank). He lost his job and his car..and the bank, a year later, still has not even said "I'm sorry!"...according to this article....
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/07/07/man-mistakenly-jailed-for-trying-to-cash-check-at-chase-bank/
#5
How the City of London Controls World Power ...Monday, May 02, 2011 – by Staff Report
This is bound to shed more light on the issue than any other.
Just listen to where Washington D.C. fits in. You will be amazed!
"Find out more about how the power elite has built their base of global infrastructure for controlling world economies, media, politics and religion. Watch this telling video presentation."
http://www.thedailybell.com/2355/How-the-City-of-London-Controls-World-Power-.html
You will now understand WHY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION NOR ANY OTHER LAW OR REGULATION.
For all those nations who have "Crown land" in their countries, you now know that land does not belong to the Government nor to the Queen, and you now know why anyone who tries to settle on Crown land or "government land" will face bulldozers on their residences.
And now you will know just who crashes stockmarkets and WHY.
#6
Interesting little video but be sure to click on the "OUR FOUNDATION" button to get a better idea of what this all is really about.....maybe before you watch the video.."
example:
"At last, here’s an easy way for you to help out in the fight against socialism, tyranny and the welfare state"
I'm all against tyranny but not necessarily against moderate socialism or the moderate welfare state but I think the "free market" needs to be heavily regulated...yes...by government. Some web sites, in my opinion, are all about treating a free market as the god we all have to follow....which is why we are all in such a mess today. That, and the brainless adherence to any god myth...especially the ones you can't see...unless you are off your meds or on them or imbibing shrooms...then you have bigger problems.
Just more to confuse the "little people" into acting as useful idiots for those rapaceous wolves who want all your money....or don't want to pay you a fare wage...they are all into making lots of money and want everyone else to believe that "it's all the fault of Welfare Queens" and ignore the real mega-Welfare Queens of corporations who get out of paying their fair share of taxes and continually steal from the people....and their commons....to amass great personal wealth and let the rest starve and die off of treatable diseases they can no longer afford to have taken care of. The greedmeisters are tricksters and will get you working against your best interests with fanciful tales and conspiracies that will confuse you.
I believe there are partial truths in many "conspiracy theories" ...some more so than others. but the bottom line is....look a little further to see just who it is putting out these conspiracy theories and what do they stand to gain....are they just trying to trick you out of your best interests..your money...life savings? Look for the clues....look at all the people on these web sites ...who they are...what they do....and do you get the impression that they would represent your best interests.....or do they just want your money? Do they want to sell you on risking your hard earned money on their schemes because they have convinced you that they will protect you from the wolves (when the reality may be that "THEY" ARE THE WOLVE$)? The Bernie Madofs of this world are alive and well and still in business....he was just the tip of the iceberg!
#7
Big Media BM,
General Dynamics GD,
Big Oil BO,
Dick Cheney DC.
#8
We will continue to experience the reshaping of America of, by, and for the will of the 5 right wing Supreme Courtesans. I will bet $1M these 5 courtesans will re-instate the FCC rule, and that their reasoning will lack common sense - as have most of the rulings by the Roberts court. Any takers?
Meanwhile, no matter what Obama does during the next 1+ years, it is imperative he be re-elected in 2012, lest anyone care to see a Michelle Bachmann or Sarah Palin on the court or in the White House!
#9
I was looking over the comments for a book titled, "Democracy Incorporated: Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism" and thought one was especially interesting. Compared to totalitarianism, in which everyone rallies around a leader and a cause (whether or not they want to), inverted totalitarianism encourages us to be distracted ("...go shopping") and to be politically disengaged by claiming government is the enemy ("The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help"). These ideas are not at all compatible with democracy. Big media gives us both distractions and reinforcement for the corporate message of government being bad. In the past couple of years lower courts have made many good decisions, only to have them overturned by a corporate friendly judge.
Supreme court=corporate friendly judges
#10
The End of Big Media? I wish! These people won't roll over and play dead, they have too much money yet to use to buy politicians. It will not be easy to unclinch their fingers from around our necks. I sure hope the answer is a big "yes" however.
#11
Of course "The Government" is not one unchanging evil monolith that taxes hard-working people so that they can continue to feed the "lazy worthless masses" as the Republicans would like us to believe. The Government works out just fine for most of the wealthy people, CEOS, banksters, and corporations that are on the dole. That part they don't want you to know about. But of course, we do! Corporate welfare is alive and well and taking over. We need to somehow keep stressing that it is not "the government" but more specifically "the corporate welfare government" differentiated from "our government" that needs to be denigrated and not the one that is by the people and for the people. The Republicans are good at using psycho-active sound bites( and bytes), no matter how idiotic or inane, to color issues to their favor. Maybe we need to start calling the Republicans Satanic Monetarists...bumper stickers....T-shirts...whatever. For hypocrites who wear religion on their sleeves..this should really torque their jaws a little.
#12
Well, if Obama rapes us out of our social security, I will definitely not vote for him again...no matter what. If he does that., then he will most likely not appoint a supreme court justice progressive enough to suit anyone but the Republicans anyway. In fact, I believe he is a Republican. He has certainly given away everything else.
#13
Well, we KNOW how thigns will go at the "supreme court"- don't we!
What a joke...
#14
WOW- where is the rest of THAT story hiding?
#15
What ever the Supreme Court decides we have to realize WE CAN QUESTION IT!!!
http://neocon-panic-attacks.blogspot.com/2010/10/scotus-justice-stephen-breyer-assumes.html
#16
"I, _________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
Thom: I have to disagree with you in the spirit of the law/Constitution regarding the Supreme justices and over-ruling of legislation.
Legislation is law. The Supreme Court justices take an oath to uphold the Constitution. When a case comes before the court that requires either that they uphold that legislation, or law, or the Constitution, by their oath of office they are required to stand for the Constitution. How can they judge by the law if the law abrogates the Constitution itself. Obviously they must defend the Constitution.
Justice Marshall wrote in his opinion in the Madison Vs Marbury decision... "The question, whether an act, repugnant to the constitution, can become the law of the land, is a question deeply interesting to the United States; but, happily, not of an intricacy proprtioned to its interest. It seems only necessary to recognize certain principles, supposed to have been long and well established to decide it."
"That the people have an original right to establish, for their future government, such principles as, in their opinion, shall most conduse to their own happiness, -----"
I hesitate to break into the track of the words for the sake of brevity because those words are all incredibly important.
"If then the courts are to regard the constitution; and the constituin is superior to any ordinary act of the legislature; the constituion, and not such ordinary act, must govern the case to which they both apply.
Those then who controvert the principle that the constitution is to be considered, in court as a paramount law, are reduced to the necessity of maintaining that courts must close their eyes on the constitution, and see only the law."
I think that this is your requirement by not looking to their oath as well as to the exact wording of the Constitution.
Yes; Thom; Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, etc. are not true to the Constitution, nor perhaps can they be, as bent as they are by other forces. They should be relieved of the duty that they cannot help but violate. They know that they are doing politics rather than judgement and that is unforgiveable.
"This doctrine would subvert the very foundation of all written constitutions. It would declare that an act, which, according to the principles and theory of our government, is entirely void; is yet, in practice completely obligatory. It would declare, that if the legislature shall do what is expressly forbidden, such act, notwithstanding the express prohibition, is in reality effectual. --------."
The man is looking through the SPIRIT and purpose of the law, that foundation of Justice as seen in the purpose of our Constitution, the Preamble. As intelligent men were invited to do the same, one would hope that avoiding that purpose would soon stop and we could begin to use the purpose of our Constitution on our behalf as a people. Hopefully, you would read the decision slowly, yourself, to see the wisdom of the writing. Yes; the Supreme Court is either Supreme or it is just another clerical exercise.
Bob
#17
Pres. Obama is going too fast and thinks his thoughts are, uh well founded. I just avoided superior. However; the problem of loss of humility is a dire one with this man. It takes some slowing down and the fast version has no depth and therefore yes; the reasoning of the shallow/selfish/greedy can make sense at that speedy and proud level.
Obviously the man could do better but he has been attracted to the VIP's from the very first to validate his position and he is using the criteria of the right to do that.
Government in the dictionary is not listed under business. So we do not run government like a business, no more than we operate a family like a business or a church at it's existence level. Government is not family and so we don't do all of the same things that a family does. If we don't keep those very important differences at a decision making level, we obviiously will see what the far right does see in their blindness. The simple old dictionary might just help. Government is a government. The President , is not a CEO of the government as that position does not exist. He is a public servant with the presiding position in the government of the United States. He has to get back to that.
Bob
#18
That these men know exactly what they are doing and that it is indeed political was proven by the Citizens/United case in which they had to reach and create a reason to judge and go beyond it's requirements. That alone is impeachable for a Justice.
Bob
#19
Unfortunately, the legislate-from-the-bench fascists who comprise the majority of the Supreme Court will side as they always do: with the corporations and against humanity. But at least this lower court ruling in favor of humanity is welcome sign that not all of our courts have been packed with robo-judges.
#20
Amen, the ONLY voice speaking up for US is Bernie Sanders!! Reagan was the first to apply the bludgeon and extortion to enable the Greedy and Unscrupulous to destroy Our Once Proud Nation. The Republicrooks are what they have always been, rampant Greed and Corruption, using any dirty, unscrupulous, treasonous means to plunder what Honest, Hard Working Americans built. The Democrats are GUTLESS and don't even pretend to represent decent America. The President (Hope & Change) has betrayed US at every turn, we are left with the inevitable return to the
Feudal System!!!
#21
Ah, Thom...I think you said it: Up next the Supreme Court.
Right? Right. Right...
And there's the rub — for maybe the next couple of SCOTUS appointments at least. The lower courts can rule in favor of the best interests of the majority, but we already see where the Roberts Court wants to steer this country, and it's definately not to end Big anything. I don't know if WTP can pull this off, but we need to keep the Nominator In Chief in friendly (more liberal) hands not just in 2012 but maybe 2016 or 2020 to ease the SCOTUS back to merely being right-of-center, rather than the 5-4 Hard Right space they currently occupy.
#22
No way, if this goes to the Supreme court. they've already shown they value "corporate free speech" over any other.
Let's see what happens with the Murdoch scandal; if Obama "justice dept' starts and investigation, there may still be hope. but I think the only way will be if the US is embarrassed enough to by Britain's investigation.
Murdoch is flying over today to "contain" it. It ought to cost him a pretty penny. But hey! He's one of the most important MOTUs so, i doubt much will come of this. Remember how many time s we thought we had Kkkkkarl Rove and he slimed away from us?
#23
I watched a very interesting, and disturbing, documentary on HBO called Hot Coffee. It is about how companies are using tort reform and a clause in all contracts saying that we can not sue companies in a court of law but have to use mandatory arbitration in the event of a dispute. The movie goes on to say that this practice has become so prevalent and sneaky that most people don't realize that they sign away their rights of protection under a court of law.
The arbitrator (an independent, company-paid "judge" not part of the traditional legal system) is paid by, and selected by, the companies who get you to agree to mandatory arbitration. The documentary also says that since the arbitrators are paid by the companies...they have an interest in siding with the companies...and have even been blackballed by companies that didn't like the way a case was ruled. In fact, according to the documentary, Halliburton has won 80 percent of their cases through arbitration. And even if they lose...the awards to the plaintiff is not worth much.
A common practice has been to, for example, send you little piece of paper along with your monthly bill (a credit card bill, or telephone, or gas bill for examples), that has the clause which says, in small print, that you agree to mandatory arbitration clause if you use your credit card, or object, after receiving this this notice and bill. Most people just throw away all of the "junk" inserts which usually include lots of sales fliers.
If you buy anything now...no matter what it is...or start a checking account...or whatever...you will likely have to agree to this mandatory arbitration.
In the movie Hot Coffee...there were several examples of victims of this system...but one was about this young 19 year old girl who went to work for Halliburton (or KBR...which was owned by Halliburton...Dick Cheney's old company). She was sent to Iraq with the story that she would be put in a trailer unit with one other woman. Turned out that they put her in a barracks with 400 men. She said she was drugged and gang raped...had to have reconstructive surgery from it...was then put in a shipping container for 24 hours without food and was not allowed to leave with armed guards guarding the unit. She convinced one guard to let her use his cell phone and she called her father...who called Senator Poe...and they managed, eventually, to get her released. She had been threatened and the "rape kit" was "disappeared" when it was handed over to the Halliburton people.
So after a lot of pressure by Senator Poe and others to have a jury trial, despite objections by Halliburton who even tried to have the Supreme court prevent a trial, she loses her case.
This is one of the latest articles (July 9th, 2011):
http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/07/09/jamie_leigh_jones_loses_rape_c...
Bottom line...if you have people you care about...especially if they are young females....then you should think very hard about this case...and how a rich and powerful company using the mandatory arbitration clause can virtually get away with anything.
I believe that most companies now use the mandatory arbitration clause...does that mean that precedence is being set that will allow the Clarence Thomases of this world to go way beyond just making smirky verbal sexual advances...to actually raping or even maiming or killing their employees....and get away with it? Well, I guess if someone like Clarence Thomas can make it to the Stupreme Court then anythng is possible.
#24
How about this......economic martial law....closing all the banks....Gerald Celente on RT....very, very, scary....buckle up kids we are in for a very rough ride...very soon. Suitcase nukes....dirty bombs....blow back all throughout the western world? Or is it yet more staged terrorism by the fascists to justify the draconian measures they want all along?
http://www.trendsresearch.com/SubscriberArea/gerald-celente-on-adam-vs-t...
#25
Partial transcript of the Trends Research Institute July 7, 2011 interview by Adam of Gerald Celente:
Adam: "...I want to ask you about a couple of things we are seeing in China....we're seeing a lot of real estate over-development there....possibly some bubbles. As Americans are starting to fear the coming criss-crossing of the US and China in who's first in terms of the world's greatest economy...do you think there is going to be a stumbling block for China on the horizon?"
Gerald Celente: "There is...let's look back to 2008... the panic of 2008 .....People are forgetting that China has played the same game that the United States did, that the Central European banks did...they pumped trillions of Yuan into their economy to keep it afloat. They created a bubble! No one likes to lose! They kept the Ponzi Scheme going. And what's going on in China is the same thing that is going on....there were something like 137,000 uprisings or revolts (incidents) last year."
"History is already being re-engineered...you know what they call what happened in the Middle East....in Northern Africa? THEY call it the "Pro Democracy Movement"....it has nothing to do with democracy.....it has everything to do with a lot of people who can't make enough money to put a roof over their heads, clothes on their backs, and food in their mouths....particularly as food prices are hitting all time highs."
"We're seeing revolts happen everywhere. The reason the governments haven't toppled yet in Europe, for example, is the people are still feeling the same pains as the Middle East and China..in different ways but....they are still under the illusion that they have a democracy. So they think they are going to change it at the ballot box...but they are wising up to that as well....
for instance in Spain, they know it's a charade...in Greece, they know it's a charade....in Portugal, they know its "democratic government" is a charade. So what we're going to see more and more?....we saw the "Arab Spring" as they call it.... get ready for the "European Summer", and the "Winter of World-Wide Discontent"!"
....This is going to be wars of mass destruction...of suit-case sized nukes, of dirty bombs going off, of biological warfare...
Adam: "Then is it an exaggeration to say then what you are describing is ...the people of the world versus the interconnected governments...?"
Gerald: "You got it!"
...just think of what will happen when there is a "blow-back" attack in Europe or the US in revenge for all the hundreds of thousands we killed in the Middle East.
The draconian measures that would take hold in another "terrorist strike" (which would likely kill many more than just the 3000 on 9/11) could "shut down the economy completely"...like "economic martial law"...."closing down all the banks."
Adam: "So this is the war (which will be) fighting the "last war" against the people, or using fear, or using scare tactics, using false flags to make the people more afraid and more dependent right?"
Gerald: "HEY, WE GOT OSAMA BIN LADEN!! He's wearing cement shoes and swimming with the fishes..."
(said sarcastically and with a God-father accent).
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