Having recently “published a report on 1,200 photos of U.S. torture that I have examined but the public at large has not seen,” activist David Swanson (AfterDowningStreet.org, 7/21/09) now relates how he
talked about the photos on a few progressive radio shows. I received calls from some advocacy groups that have been trying for years to get hold of these photos. But I received not one single inquiry from the corporate media. Even most good blogs ignored this story, despite a handful of prominent blogs promoting it. This started me thinking and fantasizing: What would the world look like if we had major media outlets that were worth more than a warm bucket of spit?
Imagine if the media monopolies were busted, a diversity of private outlets were free to compete, and public media were developed, including free substantive air time for election campaigns. Imagine media outlets with democratic accountability. Imagine media outlets that judged a story important if the majority of the public said so, and not if those in power said so.
The majority of the public favors single-payer healthcare. Corporate media outlets are crammed with endless, often pointless, stories about healthcare that never mention single-payer.
“Our existing media outlets (whose lead blogs follow more than bloggers admit to themselves) decide what’s important based on the preferences of a small number of powerful people,” says Swanson–“and the fact that these preferences almost always differ wildly from majority opinion does not lead to any rethinking of the acceptability of this approach in a democratic republic.”
For further imaginings on the potential of a non-corporate U.S. press, read the latest issue of the FAIR magazine Extra!: “The Future of Journalism” (7/09)
Actually, the “warm bucket of spit” comment has been modified over time due to our overly delicate sensibilities. The final word of John Nance Garner’s assessment of the office of the vice president was piss.
Everyday in this country thousands of people die because they have no insurance. Not because they don’t want it, but because they have no alternative.
Everyday in this country thousands of people lose the health insurance they had from their employers because the cost is just too high to keep.
Everyday in this country people go broke trying to hang on to all of the services they believe they need. To have a roof over their heads, or food on their tables, or a treatment that some insurance company said they would not allow.
Everyday in this country people are forced into bankruptcy because the illness they have keeps them from working and the insurance CEO says â┚¬Ã…“NOâ┚¬Ã‚Â, you will not be covered for a necessary test, or treatment, or medicine even though it is needed.
Is it more important for Congress to take their vacations than it is to help to end the suffrage that has been going on for far too many constituents for years?
Really, does Congress need a vacation more than the people who need a universal healthcare and a true healthcare reform for all the people?