When a Great Power Goes Mad

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/032808.html


Deeper Trends

In evaluating this corrupt political/media elite, a historian might want to go back even further and wonder how someone as eminently unqualified and unfit as George W. Bush became president of the most powerful nation on earth.

How did a technologically sophisticated country like the United States with a relatively free press get led down this dangerous path? Why did so many American voters in 2000 believe made-up stories about Al Gore’s supposed delusions, like the apocryphal quote, “I invented the Internet”?

Indeed, how did a seemingly endless supply of myths and half-truths take root in the American psyche?

Going back even a bit further, how were Americans sold on the happy tales of Ronald Reagan’s presidency as the blood of U.S.-supported dirty wars in Central America and elsewhere was washed from the nation’s memory bank?

Why in a media environment with 24-hour cable news programming has intelligent dissent against U.S. foreign policy been so marginalized and excluded? Why are editors and producers so afraid of allowing some of these voices to be heard? How has such a destructive “group think” been allowed to take hold?

One of the obvious answers is fear – at least fear that one’s career would be irreparably damaged by wandering too far outside the safety of the herd.

And while running with that herd, it’s understood that there’s much greater safety in veering right, given the well-funded conservative attack groups that have devoured the careers of many independent-minded journalists who refused to bend.

[gateley]

1. Wow K&R. nt

[seemslikeadream]

3. An obvious reason why the mainstream U.S. press can’t handle this truth

No need for national guilt. No need for accountability. No reason to purge the editorial offices of leading newspapers and TV networks. No reason to talk about impeachment or war-crimes tribunals for committing the "supreme" crime against world peace. No need for any of that.

[annabanana]

2. How it happened? Why it happened? That won't be so hard to see

from the distance of time. The huge mergers of our media outlets... their acquisition by massive companies who's only use for them is to enhance their bottom line. Do you think it really matters to GE if NBC makes money? It's real value to them is as a propaganda organ, making it possible for them to make real money from the military. (The manufactured distraction of the American public?....Priceless.)

The overruning of government by well heeled lobbyists.

"Of, By & For The People" is a fond memory..

[frogcycle]

4. The Assault On Reason n/t

[Orwellian_Ghost]

5. K&R

When has it been otherwise here in the Homeland?

[seemslikeadream]

6. smells like genocide to me

Mar. 27

An Iraqi supporter of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr holds photos of her imprisoned relatives during a protest in Baghdad's Sadr City. Thousands of Sadr City residents demonstrated against a crackdown on militiamen loyal to Sadr in Basra and Baghdad by Iraqi government forces.