Moyers warns of a corrupt and dysfunctional U.S. government and a corporate/media takeover.(videos)

[Dover]

On May 13th,
Tavis Smiley interviewed Bill Moyers about his new book, Moyers on Democracy.

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200805/20080513.html (Video)

Moyers talks about how our country is becoming a corporate run entity and how our survival as a democracy will depend on the people and the creation of an independent press.

In '86, he co-founded the indie production company, Public Affairs Television. The best-selling author's latest book is Moyers on Democracy.

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Olbermann/Moyers interview on Countdown:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/05/13/countdown-bill-moyers-on-democracy-our-bumper-sticker-media/


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It's not like we haven't had plenty of warning. I recall the 2000 tesitmony of Steve Case (exec. of AOL) and Gerald Levin (Time Warner) before a government panel at the FCC Commission during discussions of their merger, which was a rare opportunity to hear it right from the horse's mouth.
And it should be noted that nothing significant has been done within our 'government', to alter or regulate the reality that these two men described.



JULY 27, 2000


AOL chief executive Steve Case and TIME WARNER chief executive Gerald Levin
testified Thursday before a complete panel at the Federal Communications
Commission.

But candid comments made by Levin earlier this year during a media
roundtable have some lawmakers in Congress concerned that something is foul
with the latest greatest media marriage.

Levin recently warned: In the post-Cold War era there is only "American
cultural imperialism."

"There's no countervailing force, that's a significant problem," declared
the man who will become the most powerful media executive in history if the
AOL/TIME WARNER merger is approved by federal regulators.

Levin sees a future where major media corporations take on responsibilities
currently administered by governments.

"We're going to need to have these corporations redefined as instruments of
public service because they have the resources, they have the reach, they
have the skill base, and maybe there's a new generation coming up that wants
to achieve meaning in that context and have an impact, and that may be a
more efficient way to deal with society's problems than governments,"
predicted Levin.

A summary of Levin's past comments were circulated behind committee doors
this week, - "old-fashioned regulatory system" has to give way to a new "global concern."

"It does appear that Mr. Levin has greater designs than simply running an
entertainment conglomerate," said one Republican lawmaker who would like to
question Levin on his feelings about "American cultural imperialism."



MORE -

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1759

http://www.radioproject.org/transcript/2000/0014.html

Rich Media, Poor Democracy - http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/Rich-Media-Poor-Democracy.htm

[bananas]

1. k&r nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. little late to the party, I think

jee bus, anyone watching the "Pres. Debates" dolled up like American Idol realized it is wayyyyy past the point of "becoming" a corporate entity.
I honestly expected the candidates to be wearing Corporate logos...like race car drivers.
hmm...that would increase the visual appeal for those who can't follow compound sentences.

[Dover]

3. Moyers isn't 'late' - he's been warning about it for many years and continues to repeat his message.

Is anyone listening, or are they so invested in the party game they remain blind?

I agree that we are ALL late to recognize his message that the corporate takeover has already occurred, and now it's simply a matter of how to respond.

[tom_paine]

4. Holy shit! They're getting pretty open about it, aren't they?

Levin sees a future where major media corporations take on responsibilities
currently administered by governments.

"We're going to need to have these corporations redefined as instruments of
public service because they have the resources, they have the reach, they
have the skill base, and maybe there's a new generation coming up that wants
to achieve meaning in that context and have an impact, and that may be a
more efficient way to deal with society's problems than governments,"
predicted Levin.

If one considers the current role of the Toady Media, particularly Cable TV, it ALREADY performs a service to our authoritarian government, just as Soviet and Chinese media do for their governments in slightly different structural arrangement that nevertheless perform identical functions...to deny people the information they need to accurately assess their own government. To make sure that no dissenting viewpoints ever can reach enough people to matter.

What have we become? Why, the Sister Nation of Russia and China, of course. Strip away the window dressing, allow for the fact that for the moment we are treated more nicely than the enslaved of our Sister Nations (how much longer will that last, I wonder? I would guess no more than 50 years, and probably less than 25; if the Bushies hit us again as they did on 9/11 or our economy fully collapses...maybe much sooner), we are them and they are us.

[Vidar]

5. Moyers is a pleasant reminder that we still have a few real journalists.