My dad taught me to read as wide a variety of information as possible
and then weigh it all and form an opinion. While I was active in
local Democratic politics I never thought of myself as a Democrat. I
have always been an American, and in later years a Citizen of the
World.
On 2/19/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Each publication and now each website, is slanted toward the point of view
of the people who fund and operate it, whether it be The Militant, The
Grayzone, The New York Times, or the Wall Street Journal. There are some
journalists whom I trust more than others, but I still need to listen to the
different takes on reality of the sources that I trust and try to sort out
what I think the truth might be. And there are many issues on which I must
admit that several versions sound reasonable and I can't choose among them.
From my point of view, anyone who automatically pledges loyalty to a
particular political party, point of view, or leader, is vulnerable to being
manipulated to believe or think what may be in the interest of others, but
not in his or her or the majority of people's interest.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2021 12:11 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: and the people elected this bozo
Well Miriam, what can I say. My dad controlled the radio dial when he was
home. And dad was also a thoughtful Marxist. Walter Winchel was one of a
number of broadcasters dad listened to. Soert of like my listening to Thom
Hartmann. His views are often to the Liberal Establishment side, but well
thought out and good thought provokers.
I used to take the Seattle Times, and on my way to work I'd often buy the
New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, just to get the thinking of
other segments of America. And remembering that all of them, the papers and
the radio and the TV were owned by the Establishment. So I was receiving
information filtered through the Establishment's filters. The radical
publications, like the Daily Worker, were difficult for me to read. They
relied on the same old terms and clichés. But even so, those publications
were difficult to find on the news stands. Most everything was aimed at
supporting the Establishment. We could disagree on how, but we always
understood that the goal was the same, protect and promote the
Establishment.
Carl Jarvis
On 2/18/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I remember Walter Winchel as being a gossip monger, not a newscaster.
No one listened to him in our household.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2021 7:54 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: and the people elected this bozo
I remember edwaard R. Murrow. My dad liked him, so we watched. I
took a fancy to the Peacock. Actually, I liked Murrow's calm, fatherly
voice.
When I was older I tuned in Huntley Brinkley. The last newscaster
with "the sound" of a newsman, was Bob Edwards, NPR.
I still rant about the network's treatment of Edwards.
During the War, we ate dinner in silence while my dad listened to the
news.
"News and Views with John B. Hughes". Later on I took a course in
the history of the theater, at the U. of W., taught by Glen Hughes,
John's brother. Glen would hold forth in a 400 seat arena in which
there was standing room only. He is credited with developing the
Theater in the Round.
Walter Winchel was also a favorite of my Dad's. "Good Evening Mister
and Missus North and South America, and all the ships at sea, this is
Walter Winchel with the News!
There was the Red Network and the Blue Network. And the Golden West
Network. And the Don Lee Broadcasting Company.
Lots and lots of news. But that came to an end when the war ended.
Everyone longed for the Good Times, but they weren't so crazy about
hearing about them. Bad news and calamity pulled in the audiences. .
On 2/18/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Do you remember a program called, See It Now with Ed Murrow? That was
in the 50's, I think, a half hour or a whole hour, I can't remember?
That was analysis of a news story. CBS News when William Pailly ran
CBS, was excellent. That ended at the end of the 60's, I think.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2021 5:22 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: and the people elected this bozo
Miriam,
True. But my point is that until Radio became popular, the fast
talking hucksters were kept outside by a closed door. To get
schmoozed you had to go to the schmoozer. The Bible thumpers were
still confined to Blue Tent Revivals, and the Televangelists were
still waiting for God to invent TV.
Mister Rogers and Captain Kangaroo had not yet signed up sponsors.
I think it was in the mid 70's that Minnow was head of the FCC,
talking about the Wasteland. They decided that straight news, even
half an hour, was too boring and worst yet, news did not pay for
itself. So they made it an hour long entertainment show. And of
course the time allowed for advertising was increased. . And no one
seemed to notice that the quality of the entertainment slid downward
to a fourth grade level.
Carl Jarvis
On 2/18/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I keep reading articles about how and when the media changed, and IMiriam,
do think that there was a change in the mid 70's as the news
departments on TV channels changed and news became part of
entertainment. You no longer had in depth news coverage. But the
thing is that the powerful have always used whatever communication
methods were at hand, to influence and control the population. It's
just that TV is more powerful than radio and the Internet is,
apparently, more powerful, in some respects, than TV.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2021 1:31 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: and the people elected this bozo
Looks like enough voters believe Boyd to have put him in office. As
they also did for Trump. That speaks to our twisted belief
regarding Freedom of Speech. We have allowed our communication
channels, both public and private, both entertainment and
educational,to be corrupted by the powerful Corporate Oligarchy that now
rules America.
While Wordsmiths have always been around, the development of radio,
followed by TV and the Internet, have opened our doors and windows
to all the slick talkers on Madison Avenue. From early childhood we
plop our young in front of the TV, snuggled right close to the Spin
Doctors, and we buy them the games and toys that reinforce attitudes
that we would never have welcomed into our family.
And here's the real joke. We allow "equal time" to the attitudes
and views of the corporate chiefs giving them equal time, when they
already control the entire Media.
But that doesn't make it right, nor does it make their attitudes and
social systems good for America. Although at the moment we are
losing the fight, we still have strength in numbers.
Carl Jarvis
On 2/18/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Disgusting! But I wonder how many Americans agree with him.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2021 12:20 PM
To: blind-democracy <blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-democracy] and the people elected this bozo
And to think that the People of Colorado City, Texas elected this
lazy, selfish excuse of a human being to run their city's government.
And buy the way, isn't the good mayor advocating Anarchism?
Carl Jarvis
Tim Boyd, the mayor of Colorado City, Texas, put on Facebook: “The
City and County, along with power providers or any other service
owes you NOTHING!
I’m sick and tired of people looking for a damn handout!... If you
are sitting at home in the cold because you have no power and are
sitting there waiting for someone to come rescue you because your
lazy is direct result of your raising! [sic]…. This is sadly a
product of a socialist government where they feed people to believe
that the FEW will work and others will become dependent for
handouts…. I’ll be damned if I’m going to provide for anyone that
is capable of doing it themselves!... Bottom line quit crying and
looking for a handout! Get off your ass and take care of your own
family!”
“Only the strong
will survive and the weak will parish [sic],” he said.
After an outcry, Boyd resigned.
True. But my point is that until Radio became popular, the fast
talking hucksters were kept outside by a closed door. To get
schmoozed you had to go to the schmoozer. The Bible thumpers were
still confined to Blue Tent Revivals, and the Televangelists were
still waiting for God to invent TV.
Mister Rogers and Captain Kangaroo had not yet signed up sponsors.
I think it was in the mid 70's that Minnow was head of the FCC,
talking about the Wasteland. They decided that straight news, even
half an hour, was too boring and worst yet, news did not pay for
itself. So they made it an hour long entertainment show. And of
course the time allowed for advertising was increased. . And no one
seemed to notice that the quality of the entertainment slide downward
to a fourth grade level.
