The AP, along with its "member” outlets is the Establishment:People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices. It is impossible indeed to prevent such meetings, by any law which either could be executed, or would be consistent with liberty and justice. But though the law cannot hinder people of the same trade from sometimes assembling together, it ought to do nothing to facilitate such assemblies; much less to render them necessary. - Adam Smith, Wealth of NationsThe AP “wire” is a continuous virtual meeting of all major American journalism outlets. It has been going on since the middle of the Nineteenth Century. To whatever extent the interests of journalists diverge from the interest of the public, to that same extent the AP must by now be a conspiracy against the public. The AP Stylebook "sets the rules for the language of news reporting” and it is a mechanism of collusion among journalists.The interest of the public is outlined in the preamble to the Constitution, in the Declaration of Independence, and also in the first two paragraphs of of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense:
SOME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher.Any failure of the government to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, or secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity makes great copy and is a boon to the journalist. This alone is proof positive that journalism’s interest and the public interest are not congruent. Journalism loves bad news because it interests the public; the public is “interested” in bad news precisely because the events (more or less accurately) chronicled by journalism run counter to the public interest.Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one: for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries BY A GOVERNMENT, which we might expect in a country WITHOUT GOVERNMENT, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built upon the ruins of the bowers of paradise. For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other lawgiver; but that not being the case, he finds it necessary to surrender up a part of his property to furnish means for the protection of the rest; and this he is induced to do by the same prudence which in every other case advises him, out of two evils to choose the least. Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others. (1776)
“Any failure of the government to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, or secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity....” So, I don’t see any mention of a level playing field or equality there. What’s up with that? ;-) Must be in the daffynition of the general welfare (state) clause huh?
Preach it! End the AP, Now!
And NOW the gender bullies are saying their wild claims are backed up by Science....