America's Corporate Takeover

[doni_georgia]

Several people have posted their disgust at the media for their blatant bias. The media is biased, but we have to look at the reason - the coporate takeover of America. Our government has been overthrown in a gradual silent takeover over the past several decades. We are now seeing the full effect of this board room coup d'etat. What once was a government of the people, by the people and for the people has become a government of the CEOs, by the lobbyists, and for the millionaires.

Our founders knew that a free press was at the core of a democracy. The press played a vital role in addressing America's discontent with the British crown. Groups like the Sons of Liberty used the power of the pen to call people to arms. Thomas Paine once mused that a free press was the collective mind of a nation's people. James Madison echoed this belief when he stated that a free press was responsible "for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression."

Under British rule, the press in the colonies followed the authoritarian model of the press, meaning that the press belonged to the King - not the people. The founding fathers of this nation had a different picture of the press, one where the press belonged to the people, devoid of government control.

What we have seen with the corporate takeover of the media, and our government's embrace of corporate influence is a return to the authoritarian model of the press. One might argue that the government doesn't really control the press, but if the very corporations who are the politicians' bread and butter control the press, the end results are the same.

What's the solution? The influence of corporations on government has to be addressed. Campaign finance is a start. But eventually someone has to address the devastating effects of deregulation. Finally, Americans have to say they have had enough and boycott companies that use their financial power to control American politics.

I've had enough. My family is in the process of making a huge turn towards simplifying our lives. It won't be easy, but like our forebears, we have to take a stand against tyranny. There are many groups out there who are standing up to this "corporatization" of America. Join the effort, or start your own. Just get on board.

[doni_georgia]

1. Kick from Doni's husband

Shamelessly kicking my wife's post.
Mac in GA

[yowzayowzayowza]

2. Solution:

The devaluation of commercial media. Thank you for your contribution.

[sangh0]

3. FIrst step - Cut your cable

Cable corps donate to the RNC.

[doni_georgia]

6. Yep, that's why we have sattelite n/t

[cheshire]

4. That's what I've been saying for weeks. Thank you

[Zorra]

5. Great post. Don't give rw corporations your money. Ever.

Don't watch rw media. Ever.

Supporting the rw in any way is aiding and abetting the enemies of the US.

"Live simply so that others may live"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. It's a new feudalism.

When everything is privately owned, there will be only a few hugely wealthy "owners" -- those who are now rich, well-connected CEOs and investors -- and they will become the new version of the medieval barons and counts and earls. They will own all of the land and control all of the wealth. The rest of us, whose wages and employment rights will have been completely eroded by years of union-busting, outsourcing and downsizing, will own almost nothing and will be completely dependent on and enslaved by the new nobility. We will be the new serfs, uneducated, poor, working for peanuts, and without the benefit of any regulation. The only people who benefit from our labor will be the barons -- answering only to the new king, who once was a democratically-elected president. Welcome to the new Middle Ages.

[doni_georgia]

9. Exactly !

What frustrates me to no end is to see those who are hurt most by this feudalism embracing it. I teach in the inner city. These kids will do ANYTHING for the right logo. These kids' parents are either unemployed or working for minimum wage at Wal-Mart or McDonalds, yet the kids have to have the Nikes. To me, it is tantamount to a slave electing to tattoo "Property Of . . ." on his forehead. That's how I view wearing labels.

[moondust]

11. Peasants in the field.

"Tall white mansions and little shacks." Neil Young, Southern Man

[Cats Against Frist]

8. I'm with you

The countdown is now approximately 10 months until I start my own farm, buy a gun, take an axe to the television, and bid the "national psyche" farewell.

They say that boycotts don't work -- but what about the "low carb" fad? I've read that breadmakers took a hit, while nut farmers and ranchers are happy as fat clams. Almost every restaurant has had to offer a low-carb alternative on their menu.

Lifestyle changes reflect purchasing. Purchasing DEFINITELY hits corporations where they live. People should relish their consumer power much more. I completely agree.

[Green Lantern]

10. Boycotts do work

Even just the threat of a boycott can shift prices.

This is a great thread. The Greens have similar threads also. They are working on a number of solutions that may help. Includes boycotts, local and state law changes that will take away a lot of sting (see Cal and environmental standards for vehicles.)

It will take concerted action, legal remedies-new laws plus lawsuits) and boycotts and support of local merchants, etc. There are millions of us to do this-but it must be done before the serf part is in place for them-if not then it will take another kind of effort. Bombard Congress ala the FCC giveaway. Change state laws to stop favoring taxs shift onto us, stop the granting of tax breaks to big corps. If they threaten to leave-let them-they are already taking our jobs overseas.

Return educational material on labor struggles to the schools.

Consumer action against "brand names". Support our college kids in their anti-sweatshop efforts.

It must be a concerted action. It must hit them in the pocketbook, in the law, in the media. (Which reminds me-how about a Soros or someone helping establish a new network or nationwide paper or radio net?) We can really crank it up if we want. Look at the last 20-25 years-in 1980 GM ruled. Their products (of which I owned several) sucked. Japanes products began to take off. Now Toyota is challenging for #1` in the world. The corps don't like that.
Start alternative energy setups that are low cost, easily installed etc etc that will cut the petros' throats.

Boycott the oil and gas corps. Cut all purchases out from Exxon for 6 months. See how long their prices stay up there.

Much more-sorry-didn't mean to write a book. Greens are very very active in these areas.

[Senior citizen]

12. Welcome aboard, Doni and Mac!

No, it won't be easy. But it might be easier than you think because so many people are doing it. There are lots of books, magazines and websites to help. This is how a consumer culture fights a revolution for freedom. When people boycott the big corporations, the corporations don't have jobs to export, profits to give to RW pols, or money to pay to have protesters beaten up. And when corporations don't have profits, and deficit-spending nations can't bail them out, they disappear--no matter how big they are. I saw the documentary film, "The Miami Model," and the huge AFL-CIO turnout at the Miami FTAA protests was very heartening. It was also telling that the union workers, even the elderly retirees, were treated just as brutally by the cops as the young anarchists. Right now I'm reading, "The Children of NAFTA," by David Bacon, which tells, among other things, about how Mexicans (both citizens and immigrants) in the U.S. saw their farm work moved to Mexico, where the people were threatened that if they didn't work harder for less money their jobs would be sent to China. The picture of the 6-year-old working in the green onion field is heartbreaking, but the stories of cross-border cooperation between unions and NGOs is inspirational.

There are all kinds of sacrifice. You can sacrifice your life for big oil, or you can sacrifice some junk that was never really satifying anyway to regain our freedom.

Thank you!

:bounce: :bounce: :grouphug: :yourock: :toast: :hi: :kick:

[Sugarbleus]

13. Wow, dynamic post! great reply threads too..

I agree with the gist of all here. I too believe in living much more simply. I HAVE TO for the most part because of the level of my income;I used to lament that condition... but today, I cherish it!

I do wish I had my own property, but be that as it may, I can still contribute to this effort by way of the things I DON'T buy. We've taken inventory of so many things we don't "need" and cut them out. I drive a vehicle that is 10 years old. It is in tip top condition because I keep it that way...it passes smog and the registration and insurance on it is a pittance compared to what it was when it was new. The body is fading a bit but who cares.

I shop in thrift stores and garage sale for lamps, etc, and furniture I can refinish--it's fun too. I make things and grow things. I'm starting to shop in Whole foods markets much more.

If I want a pretty little "bauble" of some sort, I buy from a local shop/artisan.

We don't subscribe to premium cable tv...we would purchase a satellite system and install solar panels, but again, we don't own our property. I do what I can and live with less and I like it.

I'm proud of how we make out and how I can make my surroundings and lifestyle pleasant without buying into the "Corporate American Dream".

I'm glad others are thinking this way too... :D