I don't get how anyone could be so naive as to long for an "independent press", particularly someone as old Bill Moyer.
"I'm going out telling the story that I think is the biggest story of our time: how the right-wing media has become a partisan propaganda arm of the Republican National Committee," says Moyers. "We have an ideological press that's interested in the election of Republicans, and a mainstream press that's interested in the bottom line. Therefore, we don't have a vigilant, independent press whose interest is the American people."
Set aside the blatant lunacy of characterizing the mainstream media as "right-wing" and just consider the more subtle delusion of "a vigilant, independent press whose interest is the American people". Lots of people seem to want that, and anyone who does so reveals a profound ignorance of How The World Works.
This isn't rocket science, so try to follow along. People need food and shelter; therefore, people have to spend their time doing things that provide food and shelter. One way to do that is to get a job (stay with me, lefties), and some jobs are in what's called "the media". Where does the money come to pay reporters' and journalists' salaries, buy food, and provide shelter? That's right, media consumers. Ergo, "the bottom line" that Mr. Moyer so ludicrously maligns.
Unfortunately, reporters and journalists don't volunteer to work for free, which means someone has to pay them, which means they aren't independent. I somewhat doubt that Mr. Moyer was donating his time to PBS, even though the whole network is basically a welfare program for journalists and ideas who/that couldn't compete in the free market. Mr. Moyer didn't have to worry about the evil "bottom line" because his salary was paid involuntarily by "taxpayers like you":
PBS receives its funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, non-profit corporation created by Congress through the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. The CPB oversees the dispersal of the funds set aside by the government for all public broadcasting, including television and radio; it distributes direct grants for the operation of public radio and television stations. CPB’s appropriation of funds for PBS alone totals approximately $250 million per year; state governments allocate $300 million; and federal grants and contracts contribute another $70 million.
It sure is easy for leftists to condemn us lesser folks for aspiring to earn our own wealth while they ride high on the public hog. So to Bill Moyer, farewell. My tax dollars insulated you from reality for so long that I doubt you'd be able to survive without whatever retirement plan I'm buying for you.
I appreciate that you at least noticed Moyer's departure. I would not charactarize Moyer as luny and happen to disagree with you. By your logic, firemen, teachers, police, construction workers, etc...
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"couldn't compete in the free market"
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I quit reading after that statement because I thought it showed a "profound ignorance of How The World Works".
Kudos anyhow and I'll check out the rest of your site.
whatever: Actually, it's pretty tough to become a fireman, and even many police jobs are quite competitive. Teachers, of course, would be mostly helpless in real jobs. I don't know much about construction workers, but I don't imagine it's a very competitive field or they wouldn't need so many unions.
When I read, "...couldn't compete in the free market...." I felt sick and scrolled down to write this comment. Michael Williams needs to go back to school and learn how to do research....say by researching Bill Moyer's biography.....and discover Bill Moyers work record, where he did and still is competing in the free market. Michael Williams represents the right wing media with his underhanded attack...totally untruthful....totally not acceptable....except by uneducated Americans that don't want to take the time to think.
sadly, I stumbled upon your nicely designed website and got a peek into how America is becoming a nation of right wing fundamentalists. Beyond conservatism, this kind of thinking is how we are unabashadly wearing our self righteousness like a badge that proclaims our superiority to all others.
Based on what I read here, I have a couple questions for you.
Are all people leftiies that do not reside within your framework of thinking? And why do you insinuate that "leftis" do not work? I see no evidence that this would be true, but perphaps in your enlightened wisdom you can help clarify it for me.
Thanks,
Red
Your website headline quote is rather curious and interesting. You use "Defender of the Faith" the title of Henry VIII,cduring his move to separate from the Catholic Church. Are you not aware Henry's main motivation for separation was to get a divorce? A positive result would certainly be more political power, but primarly he was after a male heir. I am certain you know this which makes your blogsite curious and makes you look ignorant and dogmatically one-sided. You choose to fucus upon what you like about an individual rahter than look at the whole picture. Henry VIII might have been a dfender of faith, but what faith? I doubt his quest was spiritual. He had many courtesiansand potential wifes. When he could get a divorce he went from one to another. If the wife didn't produce a male ( and he was responsible for that process mind you ) he get rid of the wife, quite literally. i am sure you will research this history and find other facts and quotes that support Henry just like FOX looks for things to support the rightist position. But don't you see? That is not how one derives at the truth. You seek a position or opinion and research all documentation to support that opinion and through out the rest. That is bad science and study. You want to know what's really wrong with America today. People like you who are too niave or too lazy to do real research and study. If our country maintains that mentality we become more ignorant and less adaptible and weaker in the market place that you seem to hold so sacred. So continue to look at one side, Mr. Williams you are doing a great sevice in sending your readers down a road in which the United Sates losses it's middle class, becomes dependent upon intellect from other countries, NOT JUST OIL, and we see our children, grand child, great grandchild etc. picking their meals from the trash can cafeteria. I do take solace, however, in the fact that as undemcratic a 'defender of faith' Henry VIII was, his country stands poised to be a part of the largest economic and and intellectual union in the world and history. I guess that is why Europeans look at our country and smile, they've been through their own growing pains, wars and periods of ignorance.
PS.
I do wiegh more than a duck....so I guess I get burned at the stake eh?
Keep up the good work. Enjoyed your article on Bill Moyers.
Mr. Williams is typical of the arrogance and ignorance that seems to prevail(at least the minority who vote )in the US. Bill Moyer has an astonishing record of journalism, intellectualism, patriotism, etc. For an ignorant and arrogant person to have a platform on which to criticise such a great person is an indication of how much trouble this country is in. When this country falls flat on its face economically, spiritually, diplomatically, militarily we will all realise how the loony right has damaged the country. Unfortunately, only in destruction will we know.
John Kurilla
JK: First off, assuming that I -- and not Bill Moyer -- am the "ignorant and arrogant person" to whom you are referring, that I have a platform to speak is one of the great features of our Constitution. Maybe you should check it out sometime. Second, my platform is far superior to Mr. Moyer's because I allow critics such as yourself to come into my space and spend my money to denigrate me. That we can have this discussion is a sign of American strength; that you don't recognize it is a sign of your intellectual weakness.
You are one of the many mindless americans who think they are intelligent. You missed the boat when they were handing out brains.
I am sure you are a senior member of the republican "DIRTY TRICKS UNIT.
Truly I say to you: those who, for egotistical motives, position themselves to the right of our socio-political spectrum and call themselves Republicans, suffer from a diminished capacity to reason out logically even the most basic subject matter. Call them masters of short cuts in human interaction.
Mr. Williams is so typical a specimen of conservative reasonong. Like a dyslexic sufferer, Republicans, like Williams, are able to process an ordinary concept only if they can turn it upside down. They see and understand the world only in their narrow and opaque point of view; that is to say: if you're not like me, don't have what I have or can't do what I can, then we should have nothing to do with one another. It is egocentricity and selfishness at their extreme most.
He calls a man like Bill Moyer "naive, old" simply because Mr. Moyer wishes the Press could adopt an independent posture in carrying out its social responsibilities. How narrow-minded can a person get?
He further accuses those of us who have a social conscience of condemning Republicans for "aspiring to earn their own wealth."
Yeah, right! But nine times out of ten, that wealth is acquired through slight of hands, parasitic tactics and complicit governmental policies.
Isn't it a pitty that a so-called open society like ours, can not function properly if you try to shut off SOBs like Williams once and for all?
To hear the way this man reasons things out, brings to mind Americans like Negroponte who goes abroad and train death squads into the art of pushing human beings off airplanes in mid-flight.
Some people might find the preceding thought ironic. But I say to you the only irony possible in this thought is to know that just a little while longer these bastards are going to be able to practice their craft in America and on American citizens. You just wait and see!
EML: Learn to spell. Buy a dictionary. Don't drink and write.
Just a comment for an old WWII vet. I just finished reading Moyer's artical"9/11 And The Sport of God". He appears to be somewhat confused as to what Good & Evil are about. The enemies of WWII were motivated and supported by evil, pure and simple. All of the atrosities committed during wars are a direct result of the evil forces. In his article, he neglects to even mention the Devil, put spend much ink on how terrible God is, and has been throughout the ages. I'm sorry to say he not coming from the God side of life but the dark,devil side.
sincerely J. Nardo