The Rupert Murdoch NewsCorp scandal is a loud and overdue warning bell about what has long been Murdoch's standard for professional ethics in journalism.
In 2004, I created Outfoxed to expose Rupert Murdoch's war on journalism. Outfoxed examined how media empires, led by Murdoch's Fox News, have long been running a "race to the bottom" in news delivery. The film provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangers of ever-enlarging corporations taking control of the public's right to know. Through exploring Murdoch's burgeoning media kingdom, the film examined the negative impact had on society when one person controls a broad swath of media. Clearly, the story didn't end there.
We've moved far beyond only hearing from the canary in the coalmine. As we now see layer upon layer of corruption exposed, the full extent of the story remains unknown. News of the World is shuttered. BSkyB is temporarily no longer in play for full Murdoch takeover. There are questions about how deep and how complicated the corruption spreads. We know that the voicemail of a murdered thirteen-year-old was hacked. We know bribes were paid to police. We know that soldiers killed in action and their families were also targeted for illegal spying. And now US senators have moved to call for a Department of Justice investigation into whether American citizens were additionally targeted; including whether 9-11 victims too had their phones hacked.
As I follow the unfolding story, it reminds me not only of the warning call of Outfoxed, but also of Brave New Foundation's latest project, an expose of the corruption and power of the Koch brothers. The conglomeration of too much power in the hands of ethic-less ideologues is a shared theme. When this happens in the world of journalism, and when this happens in the world of politics, the public inevitably pays the highest price.
A recent segment of Koch Brothers Exposed examined the intricate right-wing echo chamber the brothers fund in order to propagate policy lies into the mainstream debate. Unsurprisingly, Fox News was a key outlet through which they could accomplish this.
Such pooling of power and control has caused our political and journalistic institutions to lose integrity and to move away from the service they should provide to society. At what point do we say enough to such ideological conglomerate control of journalism and democracy? If the rash of stories this week isn't enough for us to seriously reconsider the role of corporate control of our society, I don't know what will be.
The ever-exposed corruption of Murdoch's empire, along with the ever-exposed corruption the Kochs cause our democracy, can no longer run unchecked. With clear eyes we need to examine the power distribution such entities have, and what must be done to bring ethics and standards back into our public sphere. We need to do this now and with the seriousness a fight for the survival of democracy requires.
Follow Robert Greenwald on Twitter: www.twitter.com/robertgreenwald
Look no further then our election system. Where special interests, and corporate money determines who gets on the ballot, and who gets elected.
Those unwilling to compromise their integrity for campaign cash, don't stand a chance of holding high office. (There are SOME exceptions, but they are notable because they are such a rarity)
Those who are elected to represent the people of the United States, can't............ because they are beholden to those that paid for their campaigns, and will be funding their re-elections.
It really is as simple as that.
"No man can serve two masters" ......that goes for every member of Congress, when push comes to shove they represent the interests of those that fund their campaigns, NOT the majority of the people that voted them into office.
Campaign finance reform. It's not just a slogan. It's the only real way to get our government back and end the corruption that has effectively lead to it being bought out from under us.
Grover Noquest and his ability to "Buy" the "Soul's" or whatever he he takes from the GOPers in Congress in their signing his "No Tax Pledge".
Then he induces "FEAR", that if they break's his pledge, he'll run an Opposition Candidate in the next election.
Apparently he believe's he helped former President Bill Clinton in to Office, while helping former Pres. "GWB-I" out, because he raised Taxes.
New Information on the Koch Brother's is out in this week's "Nation Magazine", and Grover Norquest at "Time Magazine", Print and On-Line editions.
With Rupert under seige and greater Exposure of the Grover and the Koch Bro's, maybe the "Ice has Cracked" just enough get bigger with time.
Just think, if Rupert bought Facebook, what More damage could be Done to the World, with the Koch Bro's Money!
Follow Robert on Twitter... @robertgreenwald
....It's coming from the silence
on the dock of the bay,
from the brave, the bold, the battered
heart of Chevrolet:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
It's coming from the sorrow in the street,
the holy places where the races meet;
from the homicidal bitchin'
that goes down in every kitchen
to determine who will serve and who will eat.
From the wells of disappointment
where the women kneel to pray
for the grace of God in the desert here
and the desert far away:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A......
John Jay, the son of a rich New York Whig loyalist turned patriot and author of the Federalist Papers
said to the effect; This country out to be ruled by those who own it......
Not much doubt who runs the country today......