The net, the media, and other free press matters

dr. elsewhere here

So much news has been exploding out there, it's really near impossible to keep up.

But keep up we must, as that is precisely what will ultimately thwart the forces of greed, corruption and destruction that have gained such a powerful stranglehold on this country's government.

But those forces are not entirely dumb. They have figured out that when the people can keep up with their criminal activities, it makes life much harder for them. Interestingly, they understand the power of Jefferson's wisdom, but instead of celebrating it, they fear it:

Were it Left to Me to Decide Whether We Should Have Government Without Newspapers or Newspapers Without Government, I Should not Hesitate a Moment to Prefer the Latter.

Consequently, they have launched offenses on the two most important fronts in their war on democracy, freedom, and our First Amendment.

One of these, let's call it the Eastern Front, is the threat to net neutrality. I've been watching for those subtle but insidious little newsclips that lead those already in power closer to the goal of controlling the net. For example, in just the past 24 hours, Chertoff has claimed the net could be a terrorist training camp, quickly followed by the FBI encouraging internet providers to keep track of customer activity.

So tonight, do not fail to watch Moyers on America, where he trains his American eagle eye on the attempts of corporate media to impose "market" standards on the net, and the real threats this poses to the freedoms we enjoy here.
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And if Moyers does not sufficiently freak you out about this topic, try this little trip through a probable future.

On the Western Front, there is another threat to our First Amendment right to keep up with the shenanigans of the ruthless and greedy, and that is a threat we thought we'd won handily a couple of years ago, but like cockroaches, these creeps just will not die. Remember when the FCC heard arguments regarding the demands of the corporate media to expand ownership rules? Remember just how soundly we trashed them, in the public arena and in the courts? You'd think that would have sent the message and they'd have just let it go and adjust.

Well, you'd think wrong. They're baaaack!

Yep, there is now in progress yet another round of arguments about media ownership in play (I brought this up last month), with actual real town meetings on the subject being conducted around the country. FAIR has a recent review of the situation, including the exposure of the FCC's suppression of a report that showed media concentration reduces local news reporting. And be sure to submit your comment to the FCC, letting them know how you, the people, feel about how the increasing centralization of media ownership encroaches upon your First Amendment rights.

These issues are utterly key to the future of our democracy, folks. Jefferson was absolutely right; we need a free press far more than we need a government.