General Music Chat

Some ppl will dismiss this out of hand, simply because of where it's from. DO try & muddle through it, because it has merit. I think it's only beginning to show the power of alternative news sources & social media. These can be powerful tools in the hands of the public, & it certainly explains the recent gov't attempts at controlling the net. We can expect a LOT more gov't intervention in this area, & must do all we can to fight it, in order to keep informed of national & international events, & to keep the corporate machine from misinforming us.
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The Liberal Media Strikes Again
Tuesday 01 March 2011
by: William Rivers Pitt, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed


If I hear one more person talk about the "liberal media" in America, I will probably vomit on them. It was a stupid and ridiculous thing to say last week - take a long look at which mega-corporations own which news networks, and you won't find a "liberal" entity anywhere on the list - but the events in Wisconsin have further underscored the absurdity of the statement.

It started in Madison when Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker tried to erase the long and excellent legacy of collective bargaining in his state, and thousands of union and public-sector workers rose up righteous to stop him. Fourteen Democrats from the state senate lit out to destinations unknown in order to deny Walker and his congressional GOP allies a quorum. Tens upon tens of thousands of people poured into the capitol to shout down Walker's ham-fisted power play, braving freezing winds and snowstorms to do so. Each day, the protests grew; one evening, firefighters marched to the capitol to the peal of bagpipes in a show of support. This past Saturday, supporters of the Wisconsin protest staged rallies in all fifty states to stand with workers in Madison.

On Sunday, Governor Walker ordered the Wisconsin capitol building to be cleared of protesters and locked down. As the deadline for clearing the building drew near, live-feed broadcasts from inside the building were cut off. Police poured into the building...and refused to clear the protesters in the name of union solidarity. The deadline came and went, and finally the word came down: the protesters could stay. The building erupted in thunderous cheers, and the action to stop Walker's power play continued for another day...until Walker abruptly locked down the capitol building on Monday:

About 60 demonstrators who had slept in the statehouse overnight remained inside as of noon Monday, and they banged drums, sang and danced in the rotunda. They had access to restrooms and, given the dwindling size of the group, appeared to have a decent supply of food. There was no indication that the police were preparing to arrest or eject them, and several said in interviews that they had no intention of leaving.

The events that have been unfolding in Wisconsin, culminating in this past weekend's national displays of support and capitol showdown, stand tall among the most remarkable popular uprisings in modern American history. Millions around the country have been energized, especially in states where similar anti-union legislation is pending. In Wisconsin, the people continue to peacefully own the streets, and without a quorum in the senate, Walker can only bluster and bluff.

Big story, right? Huge, in fact. No comparable event has taken place in America for decades, and the outcome of this showdown is likely to determine the fate of worker's rights all across the country. Unions are working hand in hand with public employees, liberals, progressives and regular folks to fight an egregious wrong, and thanks to social media, bloggers, citizen journalists and organizations like Truthout, the movement is catching fire from sea to shining sea.

So, of course, the so-called liberal "news" media has taken a complete pass on covering these events. The sun came up on Monday morning to find every TV "news" network, as well as every newspaper outside of Madison, covering the Oscars wall to wall with nary a mention of the political action taking place in Wisconsin. The Russian media is covering the story with more alacrity than their American counterparts. Were it not for the alternative/online news media, the protests in Wisconsin would be taking place in a virtual information blackout.

Take a moment, please, and cast your mind back a year or so.

Remember the first stirrings of what came to be termed as the "Tea Party" uprising? Never mind that it was created by powerful conservative corporate entities like the Koch Brothers. Never mind that the "Tea Party" was nothing more or less than the GOP base with a new coat of paint. Never mind that virtually everything they were yelling about was based on lies and deliberate misinformation. Never mind that most of them really didn't know what they were talking about, and couldn't spell to save their lives.

Three blivets wreathed in American flags and automatic weapons could stand on a streetcorner with signs reading "Keep Your Damn Government Hands Off My Medicare," and they would find themselves surrounded by camera crews from CNN, MSNBC and, of course, Fox News. But put 50,000 people a day out on the streets of Madison, put tens of thousands more on the streets in every state in the union, and those same news cameras are suddenly too busy covering the Oscars and Lindsey Lohan's ongoing crime spree to make an effort at coverage.

Hm.

I wonder why this is? We have a huge story in the making here, rife with old and new politics that cuts across virtually every segment of American life - blue collar workers, unions, protests, Tea Party governors, fleeing Democratic senators, teachers, budget issues, new media, old media, and the power of simple shoe leather - and yet those who represent the protesters in Wisconsin had to fight like wolverines to get just one of their representatives onto the Sunday political talk shows. Just one. As far as the American "news" media is concerned, Wisconsin simply doesn't exist.

Know what I think?

I think they're scared.

I think the corporations behind the "news" media are conservatives down to their DNA, but understanding that is a matter of simple logic and observation. They made the "Tea Party" into a legitimate political phenomenon by dint of total-saturation coverage. But now, they are trying to disappear the Wisconsin protests by ignoring them entirely. Is it because they don't like the idea of workers having the right to collectively bargain? Definitely. Is it because this national action scares the ever-lovin' crap out of them?

I think absolutely yes.

Keep it up Wisconsin. Keep it up, alternative media. Keep it up, America.

They are scared down to their corporate-owned socks, and as this movement grows, it will be impossible to ignore.
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Gee...I wonder what Charlie Sheen's up to, now...

Wisconsin isn't a big story or deal to me at all. It boils down to a simple reality. At the time the union deals were signed (many years ago) the economy and the prediction of future economies made it possible for the deals to be fiscally sound. The severe recession we're in simply doesn't allow the current union contract to be financially sound. It's a simple reality that an entirely new financial structure has to take place, otherwise we're all going to go broke. There's simply NO money to pay the retiress AND the current union employees. They can jump up and down and scream until they are blue in the face but in order to continue to be financially sound they are going to have to make drastic changes in their salary and retirement structure. If they are unwilling to make those changes then the union will have to be dissolved, PERIOD.

The retirees' funds were not matched by the state, bob. That money is ALL their own - money THEY invested in their futures, from what I've read. If that money is NOT there, then the state has "mismanaged" (i.e., STOLEN) that money.

Ppl keep talking about all of these "drastic" changes that need to be made, without looking at the problem. You cannot trust the spin being put on the problem by the "free" press. 2-3 months ago, when Walker took over as guv, there was a SURPLUS. There would STILL be a surplus, if he wasn't making so many plans that require extra expenses.

On top of that, the union has made every concession to his plans except for one - the right to continue BEING a union. Once he has wiped out their ability to bargain in the future, he has literally killed the union.

The wrong questions are being asked. What are these grandiose plans that require so many sacrifices, for example? And how does the union's collective bargaining affect those plans?

It is just old-fashioned class warfare, plain and simple. The "liberal" media is owned by conservatives. That is old news. The disparity of coverage of unions versus "Teabaggers" (that was their original self-chosen name, remember?) is just further evidence. Honestly, I haven't even paid much attention to anything on TV. It is all too predictable.

HOWEVER, you have to look at the bigger picture of this scenario. People are beginning to stand up and say something. What happened over in Egypt and now Libya is waking the public up. You will begin to see more protests like these. Like Phil said, that was their money, and I guarantee if you did an accounting, you'd find a lot of pilfering going on by those in charge of the fund. If they get smart and get down with the pow wow and educate themselves, it can be a very good time indeed. Just make sure everyone gets on the same bandwagon.

Chaeya

I find it telling that foreign media are following this story closer than our own. Is this not an American news story? Are the American ppl not entitled to info regarding this serious issue?

HOWEVER, you have to look at the bigger picture of this scenario. People are beginning to stand up and say something. What happened over in Egypt and now Libya is waking the public up. You will begin to see more protests like these. Like Phil said, that was their money, and I guarantee if you did an accounting, you'd find a lot of pilfering going on by those in charge of the fund. If they get smart and get down with the pow wow and educate themselves, it can be a very good time indeed. Just make sure everyone gets on the same bandwagon.

Chaeya

What is kind of interesting is that all this looks like what happened after revolution in Cuba. Americans believed revolution could happen here too, and nearly succeeded in the Sixties!

Those teachers did not pay a penny into their retirement funds. The bartering was such that the state (taxpayers) paid into their fund. Neither did they pay any medical or even their own union dues. The state (taxpayers) pay their union dues and all their medical insurance.

They never bartered with their employer (the taxpayers) rather they bartered with those elected through union funding (Also paid by the taxpayers) to give them raises and deals completely leaving out their employer (taxpayers) from any bartering.

So it is as. We'll give you millions to get you elected, and then you can give us millions back after you get elected.

Who gets burned at both ends? The real employers of both of those parties of this cozy relationship, the taxpayers who have absolutely no say what so ever when it comes to wages or benefit packages that are bargained for behind closed doors.

And just how great is this investment in the schools system there? I believe I heard they are 44th in the nation. So we have some of the highest paid lowest performing jerks screaming for more money while the rest of us have to adjust our standards to the conditions of the economy. And that "more money" that they demand.... where does it come from?

It comes from the meager pittance that you have left in your billfold that your living expenses didn't consume.

Sounds like a good deal to me.

No, SG. the way it works is like this - the state employee has X amount of dollars of income. THEY determine how much of that income goes into their retirement account. (Overall, in average, even WITH the retirement accts, they make less than ppl do in the private sector.) That money was NOT matched by the state, btw, as is often common in the private sector. They also determine how much goes into their health care packages. The remainder goes into their take-home pay. Yes, some of this money goes for union dues, as well, but that does NOT mean that "the taxpayers are paying it." It comes out of their total pay. It was their right to vote in a union, SG, just like any other worker.

Btw, SG - the STATE is MAKING money on the interest from ths retirement accts, since they are holding those funds. That $ is used to pay for the distribution of those funds, but I'd bet that there IS a surplus from that, as well, that goes into the state coffers.

Therefore, they DID donate 100% of the funds in their retirement accts.

They agreed to cuts & higher co-pays in their health care. There is no way that having their money stripped from the retirement accts, money that came out of their pockets, could be construed as "fair," or "moral."

This money was fairly bargained for, when the economy was doing well. It is THEIRS, & theirs alone. They HAVE made every concession the governor has asked for, save the right to collectively bargain. They are NOT the bad guys, here.

You act like you ought to be able to vote on the wages of every gov't employee. How much should a janitor get? A bus driver? Yes, those costs are taken care of by our elected officials, AS THEY SHOULD BE.

The one thing I can possibly understand, is the gov's position on whether the state should have the right to terminate a "bad teacher," which, I suspect, was the original impetus behind this mess. In that respect, there is a way to handle it without destriying the union. It's called "bargaining." Yes, the contract SHOULD have a bit in it about testing of teachers, & how things should be handled when there are some who don't do their jobs well. The gov't was very remiss in not having that in the original contract. It ain't the fault of the workers or the union. Take it to the table & work it out. Don't unilaterally decide that the workers' rights should be simply erased over a single issue.

It all started in Jersey, pay attention to the governator stand on government employees benefits structure and his proposal.

I didn't vote for this guy but I'm kind glad he was elected, he put a 2% cap on property tax as a home owner I welcome it.

This guy is taking no prisoners, he's cutting the fat, the reduntant, the government services overlapping, the waste and the corruption.

He said that he doesn't care if doesn't get reelected but while he's the governator he's going to stop the practice in new jersey to have a financial struggling segment of the population paying for government employees high standard benefits.

BTW in Jersey teachers pay nothing toward their health care insurance, they get full medical, dental, prescription for the insured and family for life. more over most of them can retire at 55 nice deal ain't it?

Clearly something needs to be done at federal level, state and local the government is too intrusive, combersome, expensive inefficientand corrupt.

Anyway for those interested check out the New Jersey governator MO.
is he the right man for the kink problem working people are faced with in this economy or is he just a blowhard?

Next election I'm voting for him, one of his quote says " Don't ask me if I'm going to get reelected ask me why I should be reelected"




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkuTm-ON904
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx723c9uBr0&feature=related

By te time a teacher is 55, most of them have been at work for 30 years or more. I think a worker in ANY capacity for 30 or more years should have the ability to retire. Don't you?

There's a hell of a lot to be said for dedication & loyalty, in my book. I never had it, though...never found that one job...

By te time a teacher is 55, most of them have been at work for 30 years or more. I think a worker in ANY capacity for 30 or more years should have the ability to retire. Don't you?

There's a hell of a lot to be said for dedication & loyalty, in my book. I never had it, though...never found that one job...

I've had plenty and it went unappreciated. F*ck 'em. Employers by and large don't give a damn about employees anymore, so worker loyalty and quality of service suffered.

philbymon,

I disagree with almost all of your response. The stats about teacher pay and benefits were quoted many times on the news in Wisconsin.

The second thing is this. Who do you think pays for government? You act like the taxpayer is out of the equation. You are so wrong. We the taxpayers are the ones paying those lavish salaries and retirement plans of public service workers. Not our representatives, not the school districts, no one but the tax payers.

But in a sense you are right. At least when it comes to how much we shell out at their demands. Tax payers have no say in the matter. Teachers want to live at almost twice the average pay of private workers in that state and the little guy footing the bill has no say whatsoever.

How long do you think any employer would hire you if you made for twice the pay and benefits that he was getting? Especially when it comes out of his pocket. Get real. Government only prints, steals, and squanders money, it doesn't earn it. Taxpayers are the ones who always get screwed by politicians and public service unions. No one else.

Now if we could rate teachers on job performance, or even if we could fire the inept ones, then perhaps that would be different, but it isn't. And if they had to come to us as opposed to one they bought and paid for through union dues, which we also ended up footing the bill for, then I would consider that fair.

Teachers should get a raise. They complained that they should get raises here a couple of weeks ago, because they said the private sector was giving some raises. I agree in tit for tat. I think that if the private sector gets raises, so should they. Right?

As soon as private sector benefits match teachers benefits they should get a raise.

As soon as they pay the same amount of their wages for health care that a worker in the private sector does, they should get a raise.

When private sector wages match what they make for less than 9 months of work, they should get a raise.

When they can get fired for crappy performance like a worker in the private sector can, then they deserve a raise.

But as long as it is as it is, screw 'em. They're screwing us.

There's a hell of a lot to be said for dedication & loyalty, in my book. I never had it, though...never found that one job...

Use to be an asset I don’t know how valuable dedication is now in this globalised economy riddle with labor outsourcing, doubt very much that the Indian on the other end of the service phone when people call to troubleshoot a problem he’s got that job based on dedication.
It can be argued people with a calling and dedication were rendered obsolete by multinational corporations and some government agencies, I don’t know how many Americans are aware of the practice of hiring teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, researchers and others from abroad.

Yeah I think somebody who has worked for 30 years should be allowed to retire especially those who are involved in physical labor not just teachers firemen cops and government employees but… here is the irony IMO, most of these people in the private sector are not able to retire coz their paid contribution for the retirement is not enough to sustain them even in the most basic life necessities while government employees have no such problem also because government employees benefits extend not only to the worker but to the spouse as well for life even though the spouse never contributed a cent toward those benefits.

Q: Where do you think this money comes from? A: Private sector.

I guess the battle being waged these days in Wisconsin, Jersey and elsewhere in the country has crystallized this double standard, what we’re seeing is the private sector saying to government employees… enough, what the private sector is asking I think is to use one rule one measure for everybody, either bring the private sector to the level of the government employees benefits standard (which is totally unsustainable) of bring government employees benefits standard to the level of the private sector.

Look the government at any level thanks to its inefficient cumbersome and blind bureaucracy has been abused by everybody, Unions, defense contractors corporate America financial, pharmaceutical, insurance, health providers, energy, oil and others, the last thing we should do is institutionalize these abuses by condoning the double standard that the government employees are proposing.

After that we should tackle the abuses that Corporate America inflicts on all of us, but for that a man with balls is needed.

Balls anyone?