Posted on 04/20/2020 5:35:39 AM PDT by Kaslin
There’s a new virus spreading through the halls of Congress -- bailouts. First it was small businesses, then big businesses, then even federal agencies. The latest to put their hand out in a desperate attempt to grab taxpayer money is the media.
Last week, a coalition of groups led by the News Media Alliance and the National Association of Broadcasters wrote to Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell asking for cash. Your cash. My cash. These industry groups are so upset that we’re not sufficiently supporting their businesses that they’d like to use the power of government to take our cash by force.
Let’s make something clear: saving the media would destroy the media.
How could we ever trust the media to accurately cover elected officials who voted against their funding? How can you “speak truth to power” when you’re also pleading with that power for cash? Are we really to believe that promises of public funding for the media wouldn’t earn endorsements from editorial pages each election season?
And can you imagine the debate over which news outlets will get funding and which will be denied? Does anyone desire to live in a society where the only successful news outlets are the ones that are the best at currying favor with politicians?
The real tragedy is that good journalism is essential for a free society. Unfortunately, our current media options offer a terrible product -- and the public knows it. A recent Gallup survey showed that 84% of Americans believe the news media have a critical or very important role to play in a democracy. But while the demand is there; the supply is lacking. Gallup found only 41% of Americans actually trust the media and just 33% of Americans viewed journalists as honest and ethical.
Can you imagine how much those numbers would plummet if they took our money by force?
If the media's financial position is as precarious as they claim, we should celebrate. This is a “feature” of free markets, not a “bug.” Once the unpopular news outlets crumble, space in the marketplace will be freed up for new options.
Claims that media outlets are “essential” and cannot be “allowed to fail” should be ignored. I think we would all agree that food is even more essential than journalism and we allow restaurants to fail all the time.
Unpopular restaurants often close and are replaced by popular restaurants. If the government propped up the unpopular restaurant they would simply be denying consumers the opportunity of purchasing a product they prefer. The numbers are quite clear here, Americans do not want the product being sold to us by the mainstream media.
For what it’s worth, some newspaper owners were already eligible for aid from existing programs in the Cares Act. Wasn’t that sufficient?
Gannett, regardless of what we think of their coverage, deserves accolades for opposing this bailout. As reported in the Washington Post, spokeswoman Stephanie Tackach acknowledged, “Maintaining our independence is critically important.”
I’d politely request that they maintain their independence from my wallet.
Since the 6 mega corporations who own ALL of the media in the US are controlled by the CIA (and they really are), then why don’t we just give the hundreds of billions of “bailout” money to the CIA and let them sort it out? (sarcasm).
“Since the 6 mega corporations who own ALL of the media in the US are controlled by the CIA (and they really are),- - - “
We all have opinions of this and that, but your: “and they really are” suggests you believe this as fact, not opinion?
OK, how do you know this to be fact?
I would be more inclined to believe the major news media is controlled by way of leftist funding and influence.
Starting to get the feeling that all of these “bailouts” will ultimately badly harm the country. Can see the national debt doubling from $20 to $40 trillion and serious inflation. The politicians realize they have a printing press and a media that will not criticize or meaningfully investigate. Buy gold.
Let ‘me eat cake!
The only thing I would give them is my boot on their face. That is what they deserve.
My first recollection of the media being dishonest started with Walter Crookedkite giving false narratives about the Vietnam war for the express purpose of affecting American public opinion.
Then when Watergate happened the media really got their public opinion changing operations in order.
Their “news” coverage steadily worsened as time progressed as they realized they were getting by with it.
The gloves came off with Trump. They no longer care how anyone perceives their honesty. They openly lie and do not care. And now these jackasses want the very people they are harming to pay their way.
There is a precedent for this. Back in the hardline ChiCom days, the family was made to pay for the bullet of those being executed for crimes against the state.
redfreedom: I would be more inclined to believe the major news media is controlled by way of leftist funding and influence.
I am not sure you two are actually disagreeing on the point.
The f’n media can ask Xi “Pooh En Lie” Jinping for more money. He already owns them.
Certainly there are many billionaires who are not married to the radical left, those who want accurate and honest media for this country; who could,or would, buy up the worthless and dishonest media we see today. Where are you? What’s stopping you?
The ...media can ask Xi “Pooh En Lie” Jinping for more money. He already owns them.
^^^^^^
This.
Why in the world would we GIVE money to these lying thieving commie rats who would like 1/2 the country to die and are already paid by the Chicomms. They can ask Winnie the Xi to upgrade their paychecks if they want more money.
This better not happen.
Trump: You want bailout money?
You must tell the truth from now on.
Corrupt media: No way!
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