One Statement, Two Lies

© Stan Spire 2009


“The death of newspapers is a threat to our democracy.”

Lie #1: You don’t live in a democracy. The next time you recite the Pledge of Allegiance, pay attention to what you’re pledging allegiance to. It ain’t to the United States of America and the Democracy for which it stands. Americans never had a democracy. If they did, a president would be chosen by the popular vote, not metaphysical Electoral College mathematics. Our system of government is more like a plutocracy or even a kleptocracy.

Lie #2: Newspapers have been doing such a great job lately of protecting our “democracy.” How about Bush-Cheney operative Judith Miller, a “reporter” at the New York Times, who was more than happy to repeat jingoistic BS to promote a war in Iraq. White House to Judy: “There are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.” Judy in the NYT: “Iraq has WMDs.” A White House Official on TeeVee (“Meet The Press”): “It was reported in the New York Times that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.” The American public: “Iraq has WMDs targeted at us! We have to invade!” And let’s not forget how financial MSM “reporters” were to so close to their Wall Street sources, too close to warn readers about a depression on the way.

The real threat to “democracy:” bizgov ends up controlling the Internet so that independent voices are suppressed.