Bought and Paid For
If you think things changed on November 2, pick up a copy of today's Politico.
Which I just did.
And it sinks it just a little bit deeper.
Fundamentals still in tact.
Before November 2.
Big corporations firmly in charge.
And after November 2.
Big corporations firmly in charge.
From Congress.
To the White House.
To the press - down to your local Politico.
The November 4, 2010 issue of Politico carries about 25 articles.
Not one of which deals head on with the question of corporate crime or corporate power.
The same issue carries about 13 full page ads - at about $10,000 a page - from big corporations and lobbying groups.
Bought and paid for.
Let us count the ways:
Chevron: Big Oil Should Support Small Business. (Two page color spread.)
Altria: A company is only as strong as the people behind it.
Siemens: What can a century-old factory teach us about the future?
Boeing: Real Facts, Real Americans.
AT&T: One is the loneliest number.
Shell: Let's keep delivering heat to our cities. Let's Go.
CTIA The Wireless Association: With a 92% Approval Rating, You'd Think We'd be Satisfied.
Lockheed Martin: Meads - It's All About Ability: Capability. Interoperability. Affordability.
JP Morgan Chase: There are many ways forward for small business.
Ford: For every 52 cars Korea Ships Here, The U.S. Can Only Export One There.
Finmeccanica: The Symbol of Commitment.
BlueCross Blue Shield: From Annual Eye Exams to Free Glasses.
Goldman Sachs: Meet a Small Business Leader with a Recipe for Success.
Politico runs a couple of full page ads for itself, including one about a Politico conference titled "What's Next for Technology - How Washington will Act on Key Policy Issues in 2011."
Sponsored by Qualcomm.
WTOP, the local hyper corporate news radio channel, runs a full page ad, touting itself as "the fastest way to reach the corridors of power."
Perversely, the only direct attack on the Washington corporate power structure comes from a full page ad from the libertarian Cato Institute, admonishing President Obama for not eliminating federal programs we don't need.
It then runs a list of ten which Cato says "we don't need," including "military overreach."
"The Constitution envisions a U.S. military that 'provides for the common defense' of the United States, not one that serves as the world's policeman and nation-builder. By withdrawing our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, we could save at least $125 billion next year. Eliminating other unnecessary, overseas missions would allow for a leaner force structure and defense budget, saving at least $100 billion a year without undermining U.S. security."
And another one titled "Drug War."
"Since the start of the federal War on Drugs in 1970, we've spent hundreds of billions on a futile crusade that's done little to curb drug use and much to impair our civil liberties. In fact, a Cato study showed that Portugal's decriminalization of drugs actually lowered drug-related problems. Returning drug policy to the states - where it belongs - would save at least $15 billion annually."
So, the sun did come up after November 2.
And it snuck on through the crevices of a corporate funded Cato ad.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
If you think things changed on November 2, pick up a copy of today's Politico.
Which I just did.
And it sinks it just a little bit deeper.
Fundamentals still in tact.
Before November 2.
Big corporations firmly in charge.
And after November 2.
Big corporations firmly in charge.
From Congress.
To the White House.
To the press - down to your local Politico.
The November 4, 2010 issue of Politico carries about 25 articles.
Not one of which deals head on with the question of corporate crime or corporate power.
The same issue carries about 13 full page ads - at about $10,000 a page - from big corporations and lobbying groups.
Bought and paid for.
Let us count the ways:
Chevron: Big Oil Should Support Small Business. (Two page color spread.)
Altria: A company is only as strong as the people behind it.
Siemens: What can a century-old factory teach us about the future?
Boeing: Real Facts, Real Americans.
AT&T: One is the loneliest number.
Shell: Let's keep delivering heat to our cities. Let's Go.
CTIA The Wireless Association: With a 92% Approval Rating, You'd Think We'd be Satisfied.
Lockheed Martin: Meads - It's All About Ability: Capability. Interoperability. Affordability.
JP Morgan Chase: There are many ways forward for small business.
Ford: For every 52 cars Korea Ships Here, The U.S. Can Only Export One There.
Finmeccanica: The Symbol of Commitment.
BlueCross Blue Shield: From Annual Eye Exams to Free Glasses.
Goldman Sachs: Meet a Small Business Leader with a Recipe for Success.
Politico runs a couple of full page ads for itself, including one about a Politico conference titled "What's Next for Technology - How Washington will Act on Key Policy Issues in 2011."
Sponsored by Qualcomm.
WTOP, the local hyper corporate news radio channel, runs a full page ad, touting itself as "the fastest way to reach the corridors of power."
Perversely, the only direct attack on the Washington corporate power structure comes from a full page ad from the libertarian Cato Institute, admonishing President Obama for not eliminating federal programs we don't need.
It then runs a list of ten which Cato says "we don't need," including "military overreach."
"The Constitution envisions a U.S. military that 'provides for the common defense' of the United States, not one that serves as the world's policeman and nation-builder. By withdrawing our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, we could save at least $125 billion next year. Eliminating other unnecessary, overseas missions would allow for a leaner force structure and defense budget, saving at least $100 billion a year without undermining U.S. security."
And another one titled "Drug War."
"Since the start of the federal War on Drugs in 1970, we've spent hundreds of billions on a futile crusade that's done little to curb drug use and much to impair our civil liberties. In fact, a Cato study showed that Portugal's decriminalization of drugs actually lowered drug-related problems. Returning drug policy to the states - where it belongs - would save at least $15 billion annually."
So, the sun did come up after November 2.
And it snuck on through the crevices of a corporate funded Cato ad.
If you think things changed on November 2, pick up a copy of today's Politico.
Which I just did.
And it sinks it just a little bit deeper.
Fundamentals still in tact.
Before November 2.
Big corporations firmly in charge.
And after November 2.
Big corporations firmly in charge.
From Congress.
To the White House.
To the press - down to your local Politico.
The November 4, 2010 issue of Politico carries about 25 articles.
Not one of which deals head on with the question of corporate crime or corporate power.
The same issue carries about 13 full page ads - at about $10,000 a page - from big corporations and lobbying groups.
Bought and paid for.
Let us count the ways:
Chevron: Big Oil Should Support Small Business. (Two page color spread.)
Altria: A company is only as strong as the people behind it.
Siemens: What can a century-old factory teach us about the future?
Boeing: Real Facts, Real Americans.
AT&T: One is the loneliest number.
Shell: Let's keep delivering heat to our cities. Let's Go.
CTIA The Wireless Association: With a 92% Approval Rating, You'd Think We'd be Satisfied.
Lockheed Martin: Meads - It's All About Ability: Capability. Interoperability. Affordability.
JP Morgan Chase: There are many ways forward for small business.
Ford: For every 52 cars Korea Ships Here, The U.S. Can Only Export One There.
Finmeccanica: The Symbol of Commitment.
BlueCross Blue Shield: From Annual Eye Exams to Free Glasses.
Goldman Sachs: Meet a Small Business Leader with a Recipe for Success.
Politico runs a couple of full page ads for itself, including one about a Politico conference titled "What's Next for Technology - How Washington will Act on Key Policy Issues in 2011."
Sponsored by Qualcomm.
WTOP, the local hyper corporate news radio channel, runs a full page ad, touting itself as "the fastest way to reach the corridors of power."
Perversely, the only direct attack on the Washington corporate power structure comes from a full page ad from the libertarian Cato Institute, admonishing President Obama for not eliminating federal programs we don't need.
It then runs a list of ten which Cato says "we don't need," including "military overreach."
"The Constitution envisions a U.S. military that 'provides for the common defense' of the United States, not one that serves as the world's policeman and nation-builder. By withdrawing our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, we could save at least $125 billion next year. Eliminating other unnecessary, overseas missions would allow for a leaner force structure and defense budget, saving at least $100 billion a year without undermining U.S. security."
And another one titled "Drug War."
"Since the start of the federal War on Drugs in 1970, we've spent hundreds of billions on a futile crusade that's done little to curb drug use and much to impair our civil liberties. In fact, a Cato study showed that Portugal's decriminalization of drugs actually lowered drug-related problems. Returning drug policy to the states - where it belongs - would save at least $15 billion annually."
So, the sun did come up after November 2.
And it snuck on through the crevices of a corporate funded Cato ad.