Mar 10, 2011
It was tax day in 2009 that saw the first Tea Party protests, and the FOX-led media firestorm that's followed has made it seem as though the Tea Party's the only game in town if you want to complain about bailouts.
This year, though, as tax day approaches, a new wave of protest is sweeping the country. On February 26th, inspired by the UK, US Uncut actions took place at Bank of America branches around the country--and all 50 states held solidarity rallies to support Wisconsin's protesters.
Taxpayers connected with National People's Action and other community-based groups occupied a Bank of America, protested the Attorneys General and the Republican congressional leaders this week. and as James Mumm of National People's Action noted on GRITtv yesterday, this one actually represents the majority. And diversity.
Compare the coverage with what followed every Tea Party outburst and you'd weep.
In February 2009, when one CNBC correspondent spoke out from the floor of the stock exchange against taxpayers' help to beleaguered mortgage holders, Rick Santelli's "rant" went viral thanks to web-based front groups of the corporate-funded right. Tax day protests a couple of months later were covered live on FOX and by June's health care meetings, even a single wild-eyed ranter could snag prime time attention, on every show, on every network.
This time the attention's critical. The Empire Justice Center is predicting a "tsunami" of foreclosures coming, and Bank of America is refusing to write down mortgage debt. Republicans in Congress want to eliminate the Home Affordable Modification Program, which helps people keep their homes and Democrats are flagging in their support.
How big do protests have to be for money media to pick them up? We don't know, but we know it's out of all proportion when the critique goes against the super rich. Luckily the action's picking up. Now, will media spotlight? We in the independent media will do our best to keep up. But we're going to need your help.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
© 2023 GRITtv
Laura Flanders
Laura Flanders interviews forward-thinking people about the key questions of our time on The Laura Flanders Show, a nationally syndicated radio and television program also available as a podcast. A contributing writer to The Nation, Flanders is also the author of six books, including "Bushwomen: How They Won the White House for Their Man" (2005). She is the recipient of a 2019 Izzy Award for excellence in independent journalism, the Pat Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award for advancing women's and girls' visibility in media, and a 2020 Lannan Cultural Freedom Fellowship for her reporting and advocacy for public media. lauraflanders.org
It was tax day in 2009 that saw the first Tea Party protests, and the FOX-led media firestorm that's followed has made it seem as though the Tea Party's the only game in town if you want to complain about bailouts.
This year, though, as tax day approaches, a new wave of protest is sweeping the country. On February 26th, inspired by the UK, US Uncut actions took place at Bank of America branches around the country--and all 50 states held solidarity rallies to support Wisconsin's protesters.
Taxpayers connected with National People's Action and other community-based groups occupied a Bank of America, protested the Attorneys General and the Republican congressional leaders this week. and as James Mumm of National People's Action noted on GRITtv yesterday, this one actually represents the majority. And diversity.
Compare the coverage with what followed every Tea Party outburst and you'd weep.
In February 2009, when one CNBC correspondent spoke out from the floor of the stock exchange against taxpayers' help to beleaguered mortgage holders, Rick Santelli's "rant" went viral thanks to web-based front groups of the corporate-funded right. Tax day protests a couple of months later were covered live on FOX and by June's health care meetings, even a single wild-eyed ranter could snag prime time attention, on every show, on every network.
This time the attention's critical. The Empire Justice Center is predicting a "tsunami" of foreclosures coming, and Bank of America is refusing to write down mortgage debt. Republicans in Congress want to eliminate the Home Affordable Modification Program, which helps people keep their homes and Democrats are flagging in their support.
How big do protests have to be for money media to pick them up? We don't know, but we know it's out of all proportion when the critique goes against the super rich. Luckily the action's picking up. Now, will media spotlight? We in the independent media will do our best to keep up. But we're going to need your help.
Laura Flanders
Laura Flanders interviews forward-thinking people about the key questions of our time on The Laura Flanders Show, a nationally syndicated radio and television program also available as a podcast. A contributing writer to The Nation, Flanders is also the author of six books, including "Bushwomen: How They Won the White House for Their Man" (2005). She is the recipient of a 2019 Izzy Award for excellence in independent journalism, the Pat Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award for advancing women's and girls' visibility in media, and a 2020 Lannan Cultural Freedom Fellowship for her reporting and advocacy for public media. lauraflanders.org
It was tax day in 2009 that saw the first Tea Party protests, and the FOX-led media firestorm that's followed has made it seem as though the Tea Party's the only game in town if you want to complain about bailouts.
This year, though, as tax day approaches, a new wave of protest is sweeping the country. On February 26th, inspired by the UK, US Uncut actions took place at Bank of America branches around the country--and all 50 states held solidarity rallies to support Wisconsin's protesters.
Taxpayers connected with National People's Action and other community-based groups occupied a Bank of America, protested the Attorneys General and the Republican congressional leaders this week. and as James Mumm of National People's Action noted on GRITtv yesterday, this one actually represents the majority. And diversity.
Compare the coverage with what followed every Tea Party outburst and you'd weep.
In February 2009, when one CNBC correspondent spoke out from the floor of the stock exchange against taxpayers' help to beleaguered mortgage holders, Rick Santelli's "rant" went viral thanks to web-based front groups of the corporate-funded right. Tax day protests a couple of months later were covered live on FOX and by June's health care meetings, even a single wild-eyed ranter could snag prime time attention, on every show, on every network.
This time the attention's critical. The Empire Justice Center is predicting a "tsunami" of foreclosures coming, and Bank of America is refusing to write down mortgage debt. Republicans in Congress want to eliminate the Home Affordable Modification Program, which helps people keep their homes and Democrats are flagging in their support.
How big do protests have to be for money media to pick them up? We don't know, but we know it's out of all proportion when the critique goes against the super rich. Luckily the action's picking up. Now, will media spotlight? We in the independent media will do our best to keep up. But we're going to need your help.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.