Liberals have theorized for a long time that Republicans just want America to be stupid so that they will blindly follow their corporate puppet masters. I’ve been willing to give conservatives and Republicans the benefit of the doubt on that topic. But now I’m beginning to wonder if there is some truth to the rumor.
The latest organization to come under attack from the right is National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System. Both were formed to ensure that there was a source of independent information available to the public. They originated with colleges and universities and sought to inform the public about new developments in a wide range of topics.
Just as Criminal film maker James O’Keefe did the dirty work of the far right in stings against Mary Landrieu--a Democratic Senator from Louisiana, ACORN, and CBS, he’s at it again. This time he pretended to represent a contributor and managed to get the NPR fundraiser to say on tape a lot of things that a lot of liberals have been saying about the Tea Party. So far the fundraiser has been fired and the head of NPR has resigned. And congress is talking about defunding NPR and PBS.
From my vantage point that’s beginning to look a lot like censorship by one political party which thrives on voters who can’t think past the nose on the end of their collective face. Keep them stupid, they’ll never figure out that corporations are depriving them of a living wage so that those at the very top can live lives of luxury in the last unpolluted corners of the planet. And for good measure throw out some line about liberals coming to take their guns, or hating them because they are Christians, or killing babies, or turning their kids into Gays, or supporting those pesky unions who keep clamoring for fair wages, decent benefits and decent working conditions for workers. If they are focused on emotional issues like guns, gays, abortions, school prayer, they won’t notice that the middle class is sliding into oblivion and with it the nation.
Homework
History of NPR
PBS Website
O'Keefe v NPR
The latest organization to come under attack from the right is National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System. Both were formed to ensure that there was a source of independent information available to the public. They originated with colleges and universities and sought to inform the public about new developments in a wide range of topics.
Just as Criminal film maker James O’Keefe did the dirty work of the far right in stings against Mary Landrieu--a Democratic Senator from Louisiana, ACORN, and CBS, he’s at it again. This time he pretended to represent a contributor and managed to get the NPR fundraiser to say on tape a lot of things that a lot of liberals have been saying about the Tea Party. So far the fundraiser has been fired and the head of NPR has resigned. And congress is talking about defunding NPR and PBS.
From my vantage point that’s beginning to look a lot like censorship by one political party which thrives on voters who can’t think past the nose on the end of their collective face. Keep them stupid, they’ll never figure out that corporations are depriving them of a living wage so that those at the very top can live lives of luxury in the last unpolluted corners of the planet. And for good measure throw out some line about liberals coming to take their guns, or hating them because they are Christians, or killing babies, or turning their kids into Gays, or supporting those pesky unions who keep clamoring for fair wages, decent benefits and decent working conditions for workers. If they are focused on emotional issues like guns, gays, abortions, school prayer, they won’t notice that the middle class is sliding into oblivion and with it the nation.
Homework
History of NPR
PBS Website
O'Keefe v NPR
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