Spoon's Rant

"BRING OUT YOUR DEAD!!" (one of all time favorite quotes from Monty Python..)

It's also getting some incredible air time this week as Ted Koppel and Nightline "Dead List Causes Uproar.." I'm amazed at how this issue quickly turned to flames going as high as the Congress of the government.. Personally, I'm sick that the Sinclair Broadcast Group decided to pull the Nightline episode, but it clearly illustrates the point I've made on here and My other blog:

Almost every media outlet is motivated by politics, power, or some sort of form where they increase their chances of advancement..

With that statement, I'm not singling out neither side.. Both ABC and Sinclair have their individual motives for what they are doing.. I just believe that ABC has the upper advantage because they will win out on the sympathy and morality angle.. Sinclair sees it as a political move to discredit the Bush administration, something that interferes with their access to the White House..

It's something a lot of the American people don't see because of the invisible lines that hold up the reporter's hand while holding the microphone..... They don't see the editing and revision work that is done by the superiors and editors of newspapers, news magazines and other media outlets..

The important thing is NOT to be fooled.. If the public were aware that we are nothing more than the audience of an elaborate puppet show, then that steals the steam from these press outlets.. Once you see the invisible cords and threads on your own - then that's when reality sets in and YOU make the personal choice to decide what you want to believe..

Think this through: how pathetic is this??

We try to place as much faith in what the media tells us - and yet we're really no different than that of some of these communist countries where information is so completely controlled.. The one main difference is that here - stories are generated based on the media outlet's ability to generate the best amount of revenue.. In a communist country, stories are circulated as long as they meet that countries political agenda.. Are we then all that different?? Again, think this through as we live in a society that is controlled by an inordinate amount of public officials and other politicians..

So, if there's control on what information is printed or aired, who is exactly in control here: 1.) The Public?? yeah - right.. 2.) The Government?? In ways we cannot begin to imagine.. 3.) The advertisers, the investors, the conglomerates, the board of directors?? Absolutely..

Back in the day - I remember learning about how the press was generally looked upon as a "reliable source" of information.. What never really got taught (at least in my years of public education, but let's not even go there in this rant!!) the dynamics of what generates the stories from the media.. But times have changed.. There is no such thing as "finding the truth" out there - not when major contracts, advertising dollars, and other conglomerates are considerably more influential when it comes to content..

That's why I try to tell everyone "not to always believe so blindly" into what is being reported.. I'm not saying that every reporter, every newspaper or magazine does this, but it really begs the question which "slant" a story unfolds - and who benefits, and why..

Think about that when reading an account of something.. Even if it's just a story about plants and the plight of one woman (or man) to save the Pedicularis sceptrum carolinum from extinction or something.. There's a reason and purpose for the information that is getting disseminated out there.. Don't believe me?? Then why does the DOJ, the Bush (and Clinton) Administration, among others - bar photographs and other depictions of the dead soldiers coming back from Iraq?? If this is not control - then please explain to me what it is..