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- NoahVail, on 10/12/2007, -11/+54I knew there was a reason to stay out from under the bushes. Its true, though- we have an official Republican News Channel now. It seemed pretty obvious in 2004 that we were headed into fascism. Will people recognize this crap as crap? I mean, get real- we have a guy named Tony Snow giving us snow-jobs from the White House instead of from Fox News. Duhh-uh! Wake up people...
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+34The Government Investigating the Government. Anyone want to place a bet on who wins?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -8/+38Hell, Dick Cheney even shot a guy!
- maino82, on 10/12/2007, -2/+29"You have no idea what fascism really is."
He knows exactly what facism is and how it starts. Every dictator in history has used their countries' fear and ignorance against them, and slowly began filtering the news that people heard through the government's rose-colored glasses. This may only be a small step toward facism, but it's still a step. The only way we can stop it is to find a way to make the government accountable and make them realize that the American people will not just sit by and let this happen. - Araya213, on 10/12/2007, -2/+26From Merriam-Webster
Facism - a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
Sounds exactly like the direction the US govt is going. The economic regimentation part is expecially famillair. - goodoldharris, on 10/12/2007, -4/+25Fascism is right. But as usually happens, normal people won't realize it or act against it until it's way too late.
- gronne, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23It's about time someone started looking into this. Add this the fact that media outlets around the country are being bought out by bohemiths like Clear Channel and that's a very dangerous combination. Too much power for one entity is a bad thing.
- martalli, on 10/12/2007, -3/+20"You have no idea what fascism really is. I hope one day you get to experience real fascism"
With such great propaganda, we might just get a chance. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15I think if you watch TV now days you can see who won
- TheCasablancan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+118 Years ago, many diggers were in middle school or just starting out in highschool. They were more concerned with homework, girls, the latest Quake 2 patch...
Some of them had no idea that their country was being overrun by people trying to control every aspect of their lives.
But it's not 8 years ago anymore. It's now. And we can only more foreward from here. - kozkos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10One side being wrong doesn't imply the other side is right. They can both be wrong.
You have a Pepsi/Coca Cola democracy; tough luck for those people who want beer, milk or wine.
Gore Vidal:
"There is only one party in the United States, the Property party. . .and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit stupider, more rigid, more doctrinaire in their laissez-faire capitalism than the Democrats, who are cuter, prettier, a bit more corrupt---until recently. . .and more willing than the Republicans to make small adjustments when the poor, the black, the anti-imperialists get out of hand. But, essentially, there is no difference between the two parties." - MarkCiccone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10I watched the videos, and it's so blatantly obvious they are propaganda, no respectable reporter would ever file a report like those.
- macmaniac, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13Its rather ironic that the NYTimes is reporting about prepackaged news when some of its own reporters where found to be completely fabricating stories just a few years ago.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11If I had done that, I'd still be doing time.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Strange that only a few hours after I posted this.
This story turns up on CBS News
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/16/national/main1900602.shtml - Saintlink, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9This smells like something that commarde Stalin would publish. We live in scary times.
- oMeSSiaHo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Its not just reported on Digg. I remember hearing about this on NPR and even the Daily Show. I guess since those are "liberal" new sources they dont count?
I can believe people dont understand the danger of this. We are supposed to find out the truth from the media and now thats being manipulated by the government! Even reporting the news now is supposedly against the law (the NYT being accused of treason). I guess its good they found the killer for Ramsey. Now the news can focus on the 10 year old murder of someone we didnt hear about before it happened instead of elections two months away. - Kerr, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Ignorance my friend kills...in the case of Bush, well his ignorance is killing thousands per day.
- labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@brick71
"All of you sheep out there who soak up"
Having a sharp critical analysis of Bush polocies is not action that is associated with a 'sheep'.
In fact, if you look at the average traits of a Bushover (Bush Fanatic) you see the following
- Never questions the media
- Strong amount of faith in our government
- Does not review or even like facts
These are traits often attributed to 'sheep'.
Critical analysis of policy is something usually attributed to 'intelligent people'.
For the record, im a conservative - a real conservative, not a Bushover. - labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@storm8956
"Facism - a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition"
Lets review this definition and see if it related to the US.
Political philosphy/movement -- check
exalts nation and often race above the individual -- NSA wiretapping, patriot act, check
centralized autocratic government -- States rights, yea right. Check
headed by a dictatorial leader -- Bush will be done in 2 years, so no check
severe economic and social regimentation -- 1% of people own 50% of corporate stock? Check
forcible suppression of opposition -- debateable. Lets not give it a check.
So out of the 6 criteria the US exibits 4 of the behaviors.
What would it take for the US to exibit the next two?
If the neo-conservatives continue congress/presendent control
If the punishment for protesting increases.
As a people, we need to work to prevent this and remember Moody expression
"CONSTANT VILLAGANCE" - labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"You have a Pepsi/Coca Cola democracy; tough luck for those people who want beer, milk or wine."
That sums up the US government in a nutshell. - labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@jellygraph
There is a difference between a conservative and a Bushover.
A conservative does not support big government. A conservative does not support excessive spending. A Bushover follows neo-conservative philosphy without thinking relying only on blind faith.
Which are you? - Schug, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5So, CBS likes to copy the New York Times?
- DarkPhoen1x, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I can't believe how widespread and huge this is. Is this country nothing but sheep anymore?!
I grow more and more discouraged about this country's future every day. - Schug, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5The government isn't forcing the news stations to not disclose their source. The stations themselves just don't want to look like dicks for putting them on.
- kozkos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Old news indeed, but what's your message:
- old news, you already knew about this, or
- funny how this story is still not widely known amongst common mortals - DarkPhoen1x, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5An election that I believe (and if you can read, you know that there is considerable evidence to support this) was rigged.
- labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Hell bush does not need to force Fox News. All he has to do is ask and they are happy to bend over backwards for him.
Watch this documentry
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8775995341064689390&q=outfoxed - kotton, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6@chuckroasthere
That is really strange considering the fact the NYT article you submitted is from March of last year. Really good read tho, maybe CBS realizes the power behind digg and is trying a new approach by covering similar topics that have been dugg?? - labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@iceperson
"Hell, find me any country that isn't as fascist as you seem to think the US is."
That is a logical fallicy called argumentum ad populum.
Just because other countries also exibits Facist traits does not make it acceptable in the US.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum - labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6@YouDiggMe
"Hell, Dick Cheney even shot a guy!"
More than that. Dick Cheney shot a guy, and the guy apologized to Dick for being shot.
That takes a lot of power for you to shoot someone and then they say "Im sorry sir, I did not mean to have my face get in the way if your gun" - o0joshua0o, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This makes me think of the news segments in the movie "V for Vendetta" that spin everything in the government's favor.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3We already have this process.. Every 4 years.... Its called an election
- labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@fooplex
"Oh I must have missed the part where news was being filtered by fascists. "
Hey you got a cool name foo.
To learn how the media is influenced by money, I suggest watching this video.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-150420992294819321&q=Chomsky
It is based on a book by Noam Chomsky called "Manafacturing Consent" which is a critical analysis of the media organizations and how they are influenced by outside sources (like money).
Spend an hour and watch this video, or minimize it while your at work and just listen to it. Its really quite well done and researched. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Now there is doubt that he might not be the killer... Sadly he might just be another freakin nut job...
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Communism comes bundled free with your United States President!
- SDE06, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2God bless the internet! we don't have to rely on the crap being served everyday on national news, just read a few articles from BBC UK or independent.co.uk and you'll all get a somewhat clearer picture... can't wait for IPTV to actually watch live euronews reports...
- warpedone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Shouldn't these "news" items be covered by the same rules as informercials?
- kotton, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4The government or Bush whoever you want to blame isn't forcing anyone in a "bend your arm behind your back" kinda way, but as news company's or rather conglomerates become larger, because of the government relaxing monoply and corporation size laws, you get censorship and inter-company business that cant talk bad about another because it would be bad for the company as a whole. Not to mention the fact that the "top" guys dont want any of the smaller guys to piss the government off because then the company as a whole could faces serious financial issues.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I would really like to hear USA government point of view. Can we collect questions from Digg users and submit questions about this to USA government?
- Fastfwd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is really disturbing and scary. Just skip the influence of corporate ownership and straight up broadcast government financed propaganda. I’ve been contemplating going to a media awareness summit that is scheduled to address this issue: http://www.acmecoalition.org/page.cfm?ID=134
This isn’t the main area of interest for me, but I’m glad to find this article that provides such detail of the issue. Kudos to Digg. I wouldn’t have noticed this article otherwise.
I agree with the above posters, this is reminiscent of ‘V for Vendetta.’ The above summit will have a session that is conducted by the The Center for Media and Democracy. - alyson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I first learned of video news releases in college a few years ago. The research of PR Watch/ The Center for Media and Democracy may be of interest if you'd like to know more about prepackaged news: http://www.prwatch.org/fakenews/execsummary
- crweaks23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Here is a comment off the CBS news site that I thought was worthy of re-posting here:
"Public opinion does have an effect. If you object to a news program or company product send an email or a letter telling them what you think. Let them know specifically why you have decided to BOYCOTT the local station, cable network, etc. THEN contact their ADVERTISERS telling them you will boycott their products. I used to work in advertising - even ONE COMPLAINT has a huge effect. If everyone did this routinely there would be changes."
If everyone on Digg did this, it would at least make the stations think twice before airing this material. Anyone not at work right now want to draft a letter and gather some addresses? - jellygraph, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4*Puts on conservative whacko pro-bush hat on*
oh you liberals, always complaining and making up stories and winging about everything. pre-packaged stories is a great idea, because it prevents terrorists from poisoning our media with lies and propaganda. if you don't support the idea, move somewhere else, where a terrorist like you will be more welcomed. - storm8956, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@labmouse42
hey, thumbs up for referencing chomsky. i think you somewhat misunderstood where i was coming from. i realize that the US fits a good amount of the criteria for a fascist government, especially given how we exploit ourselves in and outside our country (we found THE TRUTH and we are gonna teach it to everyone), but my point is that this is just what our democracy is becoming. and our country has evolved so quickly that we cannot possibly go back to how things we before. look how we have the military industrial complex, dominating corporations like wal-mart and yes, these prepackaged news segments. nothing illegal being done, as pointed out by fooplex. but yes, money is a huge influence as many other hidden elements are. that's why i say simulated democracy (in reference to postmodern french philosopher, jean baudrillard, who was part of the inspiration behind "the matrix"). nobody is really controlling where our country is headed because there are so many factors involved now and we are just kinda doing a bunch of irrational stuff for the betterment of certain parties (not Americans). it just kinda scares me a bit when people try to pin the blame on a specific person and play things up like a grand conspiracy. what we need to do is stay smart, be independently informed, beware of division and judge things you hear not on how they are presented but based upon your own philosophies on the issue. - crweaks23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Hell, just send them links to these comment boards...
- iceperson, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3"Lets review this definition and see if it related to the US.
Political philosphy/movement -- check
exalts nation and often race above the individual -- NSA wiretapping, patriot act, check
centralized autocratic government -- States rights, yea right. Check
headed by a dictatorial leader -- Bush will be done in 2 years, so no check
severe economic and social regimentation -- 1% of people own 50% of corporate stock? Check
forcible suppression of opposition -- debateable. Lets not give it a check."
Now please do a recap of the EU using the same criteria. Hell, find me any country that isn't as fascist as you seem to think the US is. - stokkkid, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0How was that?? America, land of the free??????
- Jaymoon, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2The New York Times calling foul play on fake news?
Ha. - jimmiejaz, on 10/12/2007, -7/+6
Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged TV News
By DAVID BARSTOW and ROBIN STEIN
Published: March 13, 2005 -
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