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The News of The Year in Review, March 6, 2014

Author’s note.  What can someone do if he/she is displeased with the political state of affairs in our State and Nation? There are many commentators and political pundits who express all sorts of opinions and criticisms. The question I ask myself is what can the  ordinary person do to influence the way our governments perform? I ask this question because while many people express frustration and disbelief about what is happening in America, it is no easy task to figure out what an individual can do to bring about change.

 

Does one complain and talk around a dinner table? Does one organize groups or participate in protest actions? Does one write letters to elected officials? Does one donate money to a candidate or group? To participate in the democratic process, I believe it is incumbent to figure out something to do to respond to decisions and policies that one is troubled by.

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Even though elections are close to totally rigged, it is essential to vote and to advocate that everyone should vote. We need to combat attempts to limit voting. We need to advocate for an absolute right to vote without hindrances. Any official who attempts to restrict voting should be labeled as a traitor against democracy. Either one is for a participatory democracy or one is an enemy of democracy. Today there are far too many enemies. Most reside in the Republican Party.

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Compared to the expressions of discontent that occurred in Egypt, Libya, Greece, Thailand, and in Tiananmen Square, we Americans have been docile and passive. One might think that the relatively recent Moral Monday demonstrations in North Carolina actually should be the norm across this country as a reaction to the numerous assaults on democracy and to the economic inequality largely caused by an unfair tax system. The behavior of the Republican legislators in the Red States to restrict voting, to lower taxes for corporations and the rich, and to deny citizens the opportunity to have affordable health care is really obscene and gross. Shouldn’t our reaction be that their behavior is repugnant? Should not these folks should be cleaned out of their elected offices.

 

How interesting to see the negative reaction to the Arizona legislation that was going to permit private business owners to discriminate against gay persons. Certainly lots of individuals hooted and howled. But, was it not the pressure from corporations that worried about the negative effects on their bottom lines that brought about Governor Brewer’s veto. Just what does that say about the state of affairs in the US. My take is that social issues are typically wedge issues that political parties use to divide Americans. When a social issue affects big businesses, the corporations’ economic concerns tamp down socially divisive issues.

 

While social issues are undoubtedly important, aren’t the bottom line issues that affect the lives of all Americans and of our democracy the economic ones? Martin Luther King was best known for his crusade against racial discrimination. The media and too many Americans tend to forget that he equally advocated for economic fairness and opportunity for all. Today, social issues are not a threat to our democracy. The lack of economic equality, tax preferences and loopholes for the wealthy, and the absence of real budgetary priorities to provide education and jobs to all are the issues that are bringing down our once exceptional society.

 

Economic opportunities, jobs, and economic inequality are the issues that triggered the mass demonstrations that we have seen in countries around the world. Maybe we Americans should bring business as usual to a halt in our Country until our elected officials stop playing disingenuous lip service to these issues. The richest Americans typically pay a lower tax rate than most middle class persons. At least 25% of the corporations in the Fortune 500 pay little or no taxes. Yet, we see Republicans scoff at any changes unless they are revenue neutral. We see Democrats largely buy into the Republican’s no new tax approach that protects the wealthy and big corporations. The Republicans have a collective will to protect the interests of the wealthy. The Democrats have little or no will to stand up for the ordinary American.

 

We, who are watching this charade in disbelief and disappointment, need to make our voices heard. We cannot stand by while our politicians sell off our nation’s resources, privatize governmental functions in sweet heart deals to the wealthy and politically powerful, and allow our environment to be destroyed by the fossil fuel energy industrial giants. We need to have Moral Mondays in all State Capitals. We need to barrage our elective officials with letters. We need to find candidates who will represent us rather than look at elective office as a steppingstone to greater riches from job opportunities being dangled in from of them by their campaign donors.

 

What is it going to take to get our citizens to hit the streets like we did to protest the Vietnam War and the injustices of racial discrimination in the 1960s? Whatever one says about the Tea Party, its members were angry and energized. The Tea Party got media attention and made its mark on town hall meetings. Of course, it also had a lot of money poured into it by right wing conservative groups. And, let us not forget the Occupy movement. Without big money and outside professional managers, it garnered media attention and forever made citizens aware of the economic inequality and the power of the 1%.

 

It does not matter whether one expresses dissatisfaction through demonstrations, letter writing, or supporting a new brand of politician. What matters is that we no longer remain silent and passive.

                                                                                       

The Big Economic News in the Last Two Weeks.

 

In mid February Comcast announced its intention to acquire its cable rival Time Warner. Each company is considered media giant and the two are the Country’s two biggest cable operators. Comcast already owns NBC and Universal film studio. Comcast already has over a 50% market share of the triple-play market for tv, telephone, and internet. If this purchase receives regulatory approval by the US government, Comcast will control over 30% of the Nation’s cable market. The big question is whether this consolidation will be denied because it flies in the face of the anti trust laws. Don’t be surprised if it is approved. Anti trust laws, once the guardian against allowing big corporations from dominating a market, have seen a marked decline from the days of more vigorous enforcement. Without vigorous anti trust enforcement, free market capitalism is a fantasy that politicians banter about.

 

Comcast has been quick to note that this consolidation would not be anti competitive. According to Brian Roberts, the Comcast CEO, the deal is “pro-consumer” and will assist Comcast’s efforts to implement faster innovation in what he asserts is a highly competitive and dynamic market.

 

Media consumer groups are dismayed that this deal is being proposed. The pro consumer groups assert that the market is already over consolidated and would unacceptably further reduce competition. The approval would likely result in higher prices to the customer and will increase the cost to any independent channel or business that wants to reach Comcast customers. And

 

Comcast has a lot of political influence in Washington. Its chief lobbyist and executive vice president, David Cohen, is a major democratic fund raiser. He has been invited to State dinners at the White House. He, like Brian Roberts, has a personal relationship with President Obama.

 

The cable tv market once was a more competitive market with many small companies obtaining franchises from cities across the United States. Albany’s once had a small  cable franchisee named Century Cable of Northern California. Back in the 1980s cities, like Albany, received a franchise fee for the use of its right of ways and for granting permission to the cable operator. Cable rates were subject to a city rate review and the company was required to comply with customer service standards. The cable companies joined forces to seek regulations to preempt local control. The Federal Government enacted the Telecommunications Act of 1985. Then the small companies were bought up. The consumer, us, saw rising prices and diminished customer service.

 

The Comcast consolidation with Time Warner, if approved, will certainly be good for the executives and shareholders of Time Warner and Comcast. But the so called free market will become the playing field for a handful of large media corporations. The consumer will be deprived of choices and will continue to pay even higher prices. Cable prices are already obnoxiously high even by standards of other industrial companies. The pricing today for tv, phone, and internet typically costs the American consumer 2 to 3 times more than consumers pay in other industrial nations. And, the speed and other innovations are more advanced in those countries.

 

This proposed consolidation makes mockery of the concept of free enterprise. Nineteen of the twenty largest markets in the US would be served by one cable company. Free enterprise only exists where the consumer has many choices to choose among. At the moment a customer could choose an inferior DSL or satellite company, but Broadband is considered the best technology for media due to its speed and bandwidth. Most communities, like Albany, have no more than 3 or 4 media companies to choose among. This is not free enterprise. This is a corporate oligarchy. Consumers should have at least 7 to 10 companies to choose among. Without a real range of choices, we need to demand that our government impose much more regulatory control. A good first step would be Federal legislation that eliminates Federal preemption provisions so local governments could adequately address the needs of its citizens.

 

What can we citizens at least do at this time. Write letters to Senators Feinstein and Boxer. Communicate with your local Congressperson.

 

A Few Notable Quotes Regarding Recent Events in the Ukraine.

 

John Kerry, commenting on the Russian invasion. It is really a stunning, willful choice by President Putin to invade another country...You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on completely trumped up pretext.”

 

Hmm! And, this comes from the man who voted for the invasion of Iraq when he was a Senator.

 

And then there is President George W. Bush, commenting on his meeting with Putin several months prior to Russia’s invasion of its neighbor Georgia in 2008. “I looked in his eyes and saw his soul.”

 

I guess George missed seeing that part of Putin’s soul planning for the invasion of Georgia. 

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