I am sitting here checking out some news to cover, and I can hear the rain outside. It is very relaxing to hear as I prepare tomorrow's only article. It is the remnants of Hurricane Oho, the tail end, as Oho has headed up to Alaska. Earlier, while driving about, I had listened to news of the House Speaker's race, followed closely by the news of Oho. I started laughing because I thought they had announced the hurricane's name as Hurricane A##hole. I do have some hearing deficits, but still . . . Maybe it is Washington that has Hurricane A##hole . . . right in the Republican conference room.
Puzzle — Today’s took me 3:04 (average 5:04). To do it, click here. How did you do? For those that don't know, we always do the 48 piece classic.
Short Takes
Alternet — Why won't the media acknowledge and report the truth rather than made-up issues is the burning question on Paul Krugman's mind in his column Friday. He was spurred by Representative Kevin McCarthy, no longer in the running for Speaker of the House, who guilelessly boasted that Benghazi was all about hurting Hillary Clinton politically, which most sentient beings knew.
IMO, the media should be reporting the facts, reporting the news, NOT being the news. For example, Fox News aka Faux Noise, or for me just plain Faux, is a prime example of so called media being the news rather than reporting the news. At best, the work of O'Reilly, Hannity and the multitude of other on air personalities, is opinion, not news. They are the Republican/TeaParty propaganda wing.
Common Dreams — In what privacy advocates are hailing as a landmark victory, California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a sweeping tech privacy bill which will require police in the state to obtain warrants for access to telecommunications data, including emails, text messages, GPS coordinates, and other digital information.
"This is a major win for privacy and for Californians. With so much of our information existing online, it's important that our communications are protected from government access to the strongest degree possible," said G.S. Hans, policy counsel and director for the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT).
Now, if more states, indeed more countries, take similar steps, would we still have the feeling of 'big brother is watching'? That a person's communication in electronic form is treated differently than that on paper is absolutely ridiculous.
Alternet — Socialism is not about “free stuff,” but cracking down on these corporations that exploit their workers and then rely on the government to make sure they don’t starve. It is not about being lazy and slacking off, but about demanding a fair share and getting paid decently for one’s labor — it is yet another right wing fallacy that people get paid what they’re worth, and that only lazy people are poor. Socialism is about working people, not slackers. It is about fighting capitalist realities like the fact that the top 25 hedge fund managers in America make more money than all of the 157,800 kindergarten teachers combined. Are investors who produce no value really worth that much more than teachers?
I couldn't agree more with the author. Being a Canuck, I am accustomed to a more socialist view of what life should be. Mahatma Gandhi said “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” I would alter that slightly to be “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its people and animals are treated.”
My Universe — h/t Sarah D
16 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 10/10/2015”
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5:40 Dang, those little things are fast when you are trying to catch them. And I wasn't (fast).
Alternet – Publicly admitting that the Benghazi furor is all about politics, nothing about truth, would be a very good reason for withdrawing from consideration for Speaker. But I don't think it was McCarthy's reason. I think he was subtly "blackmailed" into withdrawing by threats to expose his real "family values." I think any arrogant Republican (but I repeat myself) would think he could get out of a political gaffe. And, with the support they get from the media, he would likely be right.
Which brings me to the original questions. Facts and truth are no longer the job of the media. I am sure there are still a few who think it ought to be – but they have to work for bosses – none of whom is interested in anything except ratings. Which comes down to who can make up the best story. But even this state of affairs would not be a problem if voters would realize it, and particularly that it is not just Fox, but all of the media. Even NPR is said to stand for "not progressive really." And the little I watch of PBS suggests that it is kind of trying but not doing so well.
Common Dreams – Well, now, this is a good thing, and is more like the Jerry Brown I once supported for President than some of his recent actions have been.
Alternet 2 – It's far from new for people, especially wealthy people, to see the poor, whether wage slaves or just slaves, as lazy and slacking off. (Do you suppose somewhere inside of them they are smart enough to see that they themselves could not stand it and would seek any means of escape, real or fantasy?) Something recently reminded me of an incident from C.S. Lewis' "The Pilgrim's Regress." Taken as a whole it quite skewers this point of view, but just a little from it:
Vertue: "…I don't remember that you said anything about servants when you were outlining the good life last night."
Sensible: "…When I speak of the art of life I presuppose the ordinary conditions of life which that art utilizes."
Vertue: "Such as wealth.
Sensible: "A competence, a competence."
Vertue: "And health, too?"
Sensible: "Moderate health."
Vertue:" Your art, then, seems to teach men that the best way of being happy is to enjoy unbroken good fortune in every respect. They would not all find the advice helpful."
Universe – I was BORN ready.
Brown actually signed more than one major tech privacy bill, the last of the ones on his desk in the last 24 hrs. Also signed the strongest no racial profiling bill in the country.
Grayson filed a formal complaint on the Benghazi hearing since that violates House Ethics Rules and potentially corruption (and there is still an independent ethics group give the abysmal record of appropriate investigations and findings under the past two committee chairs).
The problem isn't socialism but rather that the socialism is limited to the most wealthy instead of shared throughout society.
Kitties always welcome.
And Brown just signed no guns on campus bill today!
Thanks for the update on the bills gov. Brown signed, JL. I heard there were quite a few on his desk and some had deadlines coming up.
AlterNet: Most of the time, I read the local paper. I don't really watch television media anymore. I find the constant roll over time after time, and the naysayers irritating at best. I agree, it's all about ratings, lies and all.
Common Dreams: I sure wish Texas would approve a law like this. There's a lot of info out there in the digital world, and a lot of hackers too just waiting to grab your info.
AlterNet2: Great article. I'm passing this on to some teachers I know. GO, Bernie!!
My Universe: Of course, my kitty wouldn't have it any other way.
Love your comment about the hurricane. It's probably true about the Repugs too. Enjoy your day, and Thanks, Lynn for this.
I guess I was concentrating more on my driving than on the radio, which is a good thing. But between that and a hearing problem . . . well I just started laughing.
Yes, your "hearing problem" made my day!
And I agree that Jerry Brown is sounding much more like he did "back in the day"…
Anyone surprised about the Bengazi announcement? Or the fact that they're in such disarray that they can't get a Speaker?
Thank you again for keeping this site active everyone! And please send our best to the old Tom!
“Facts? We don’t need no stinkin’ facts!”
And sad but true, that attitude is not JUST confined to Faux Noise. It’s pretty pervasive with all MSM journalists – especially those intent on shilling GOP Talking Points. We need look no further than David “Dances-with-Rove” Gregory:
Or how about Chucky Todd, when he praised Rethuglicans about successful they were in lying to Americans about ObamaCare, but excused him and fellow “journalist” from any culpability in not even trying to expose the truth:
See? Neither Gregory NOR Todd says it’s THEIR job to find the truth or expose Rethuglican lies.
Wait … what’s that you say? We should look to see what the “Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics” has to say about that?
Well, all right – if you insist (and it sounds like a DAMN GOOD IDEA to me):
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/weblines/4111.html
Gee … Gregory, Todd, et al – you LIED!
Good example of why corporate ownership of too many media channels and sources resulted in additional buys to require sales to avoid market saturation and presumably unprofitable not to honor the code because then someone else would beat them to the real story and grab the ratings.
I cannot abide either or these two, I stopped watching Meet the Press while Gregory was on, then watched one episode with Todd. He is no better than Gregory.
Alternet: Krugman is so right. The "newmen" on most tv channels are just talking heads, there are very few serious reporters anymore, they can't be, since their companies are all owned by corporations who tell them what to report. I no longer watch the Sunday morning "news" programs because they are all skewed in one direction or another, no really honest reporting.
Common Dreams: Good for Jerry Brown and the California legislature. I wish Kentucky would do the same.
Alternet: I shared this on Facebook. Too many middle income people are willing to jump on the "welfare queen" without realizing she is really a large corporation. EVeryone seems to need someone else to make them feel superior. I am probably biased since I spent my working years in one form of social work or another. What I remember is people who wanted a better life, not living on goverment subsidies.
My Universe: That kitten has all ready started his weekend!
Fall has started here too, Lynn, and some days can be really gloomy if it's overcast all day, but when I'm inside and relaxing the sound of the rain can be very soothing. With some luck our Fall can be really beautiful and colorful but nothing nearly as spectacular as in New England and Canada. I hope you get to enjoy some this weekend.as athank you for keeping TomCat's site running smoothly and well.
Alternet:: By using the Republican fear mongering with "THE Deficit" at it's center, Paul Krugman shows like no other how the Right is always instilling fear in its base for anything the Democrats do, and are helped tremendously by their propaganda machine, the media, to do that, but whenever their fear-inducing predictions turn out to be lies, or they are guilty of doing exactly the same thing they've accused the Democrats of, the silence is deafening. And in their delusions of victory, members of the GOP are even "honest" enough to boast about the lies and the ruses they use to try and break Democratic careers. And, like Krugman, we all know it's lies and ruses, but they still have the upper hand, so why should the GOP be bothered? Chances are they'll still have Congress and with some (bad) luck they'll have the presidency too.
Common Dreams: Gov.Brown finally has done the right thing and signed this bill for California. Kudos to him for signing this bill. However, this should have been a federal bill, of course.This is one of the few areas where I agree that the government has too much power.
Alternet: Of course I'm in full agreement with you on this one, Lynn, as I also come from a country where socialism was alive and well until the right wing came to power and most of the left has inched closer to the right each election. I used to be proud that we treated ALL workers fairly, but greedy capitalism, that special brand that seems to stem fro America, has left its marks here too. But my blood pressure still rises whenever The GOP abuses the word "socialism" and gives it one of their lying spins.
My Universe: I'm so glad this adorable picture came at the end, it makes me so sleepy…
Sleepy, it is only mid afternoon your time! Well have a well deserved Lona cat nap! You've been very busy keeping me supplied!
Puzzle ~ 2:59 Cute little guy!
You beat me by 5 seconds! 🙂
Thanks everybody! The new articles are up.