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Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Street Jo... - 6/28/2007 4:27:35 PM   
Lordandmaster


Posts: 10943
Joined: 6/22/2004
Status: offline 		Have any of you been following the Wall Street Journal saga?  There's a very good article about it by Ken Auletta:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/07/02/070702fa_fact_auletta

One aspect of this whole fiasco that I really enjoy is watching those sanctimonious assholes at the Journal squirm.  The free market is exactly what they've been preaching for decades, and now when it comes back to bite them in the ass, in the form of a multi-billionaire who wants to buy their company and change how they themselves do business, they start squealing like schoolboys.  The free market works for everyone else but not for them?  Fucking hypocrites.

One aspect of the fiasco that I DON'T enjoy, however, is the recognition that ordinary people no longer have easy access to unbiased news.  In the Auletta article, Murdoch freely admits to tilting the news, using his media outlets to settle personal scores, and advocating political agendas that advance his business interests.  Those of us who take the time to find independent reports of current events aren't fooled by any of this bullshit, but most people have neither the time nor the inclination to do so.  What exactly are we as a society going to do about this?  Are we just going to sit back and let corporations tranform the news into insidious propaganda?  We object mightily when governments do it, but why are we so reluctant to object when it's a private corporation?
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/28/2007 5:40:46 PM   
Sinergy


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Joined: 4/26/2004
Status: offline 		 
I am curious at what point a lawsuit will be filed against Murdoch accusing him of violating anti-trust laws.

It worked to get Microsquish to shut the fuck up.

Sinergy

_____________________________

"There is a fine line between clever and stupid"
David St. Hubbins "This Is Spinal Tap"

"Every so often you let a word or phrase out and you want to catch it and bring it back. You cant do that, it is gone, gone forever." J. Danforth Quayle


(in reply to Lordandmaster)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/28/2007 5:48:05 PM   
Level


Posts: 25145
Joined: 3/3/2006
Status: offline 		Could this be the tilting point? Surely there are more than just the WSJers that don't want Murdoch buying them.

_____________________________

Fake the heat and scratch the itch
Skinned up knees and salty lips
Let go it's harder holding on
One more trip and I'll be gone

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(in reply to Sinergy)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/29/2007 3:26:09 AM   
Vendaval


Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		Thank you for posting this, LAM.  I think that most of the apathy comes from an "out of sight, out of mind" mentality
and the desire to continue to live in ignorance and denial.  (Keep sucking that glass teat and masturbating with the X-Box!)  
 
Truth is frequently painful and even dangerous.  Not everyone has the ovarios or the juevos to face pain and danger.


quote:

ORIGINAL: Lordandmaster
We object mightily when governments do it, but why are we so reluctant to object when it's a private corporation?


_____________________________

"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
"WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE


http://KinkMeet.co.uk

(in reply to Lordandmaster)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/29/2007 1:56:51 PM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lordandmaster

In the Auletta article, Murdoch freely admits to tilting the news, using his media outlets to settle personal scores, and advocating political agendas that advance his business interests. 



This man has played a significant role in winning and losing elections in Britain - genuinely. He has a particular agenda, his call.

In truth, though, he can't win and lose elections without the consent of the people. 

He bought Thatcher in the 80s. The crack was he would spew their propaganda in return for not being referred to the competitions commission when building his media empire.

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/29/2007 3:27:14 PM   
seeksfemslave


Posts: 4011
Joined: 6/16/2006
Status: offline 		Good on ya' Rupert. We all know that Liberals , tho' I cant believe the WSJ is Liberal, don't like it it up 'em. I speak of the metaphorical steel bayonet. lol.
The pork sausage may or may not be viewed with disdain!!!

(in reply to Lordandmaster)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/29/2007 5:40:36 PM   
Sinergy


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Joined: 4/26/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: seeksfemslave

Good on ya' Rupert. We all know that Liberals , tho' I cant believe the WSJ is Liberal, don't like it it up 'em. I speak of the metaphorical steel bayonet. lol.
The pork sausage may or may not be viewed with disdain!!!


I have read this a bunch of times and have no idea what you mean.

Check out the following link to learn how to make meaningful assertions.

http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/games/career/bin/ms.cgi

Sinergy


_____________________________

"There is a fine line between clever and stupid"
David St. Hubbins "This Is Spinal Tap"

"Every so often you let a word or phrase out and you want to catch it and bring it back. You cant do that, it is gone, gone forever." J. Danforth Quayle


(in reply to seeksfemslave)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/29/2007 5:51:04 PM   
mnottertail


Posts: 60698
Joined: 11/3/2004
Status: offline 		Can you imagine the devastation to the folks that can afford to watch a portfolio of individual stocks day to day?  Jesus, the humanity----translatin' all them quid an' sterlings and crowns and thruppendy bits into real money?

Too bad the Nips got no money, we could sell them that and the Rockefeller Center again, good for a laugh and a buck, then buy it back at  a low price when they can't get 'er done!!!!  Wait a fuckin' minute guv!!! Ain't that called laseeze  fair  captalism?  Ain't that what made this here izzat great?




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(in reply to Sinergy)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/29/2007 6:45:42 PM   
Griswold


Posts: 2739
Joined: 2/12/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lordandmaster

Have any of you been following the Wall Street Journal saga?  There's a very good article about it by Ken Auletta:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/07/02/070702fa_fact_auletta

One aspect of this whole fiasco that I really enjoy is watching those sanctimonious assholes at the Journal squirm.  The free market is exactly what they've been preaching for decades, and now when it comes back to bite them in the ass, in the form of a multi-billionaire who wants to buy their company and change how they themselves do business, they start squealing like schoolboys.  The free market works for everyone else but not for them?  Fucking hypocrites.

One aspect of the fiasco that I DON'T enjoy, however, is the recognition that ordinary people no longer have easy access to unbiased news.  In the Auletta article, Murdoch freely admits to tilting the news, using his media outlets to settle personal scores, and advocating political agendas that advance his business interests.  Those of us who take the time to find independent reports of current events aren't fooled by any of this bullshit, but most people have neither the time nor the inclination to do so.  What exactly are we as a society going to do about this?  Are we just going to sit back and let corporations tranform the news into insidious propaganda?  We object mightily when governments do it, but why are we so reluctant to object when it's a private corporation?


Well said.

All your superlatives, by the way...are superfluous.

It's money.

You would do no less.

(Nor would I).

Spend it...save it...pick a fund....you'd fight for the best return.

(So would I).

So would you.

(in reply to Lordandmaster)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/29/2007 7:25:30 PM   
Lordandmaster


Posts: 10943
Joined: 6/22/2004
Status: offline 		Uhh...your point?

(in reply to Griswold)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/30/2007 1:21:29 AM   
seeksfemslave


Posts: 4011
Joined: 6/16/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Sinergy
quote:

ORIGINAL: seeksfemslave
Good on ya' Rupert. We all know that Liberals , tho' I cant believe the WSJ is Liberal, don't like it  up 'em. I speak of the metaphorical steel bayonet. lol.
The pork sausage may or may not be viewed with disdain!!!

I have read this a bunch of times and have no idea what you mean.
Check out the following link to learn how to make meaningful assertions.
Sinergy


Another name for it is " being hoist on your own petard" he he he he he
As for your link ...I dont know what you mean either, I suspect its taking the piss so I intend to get some retaliation "in" at the first opportunity lol

(in reply to Sinergy)
Profile   Post #: 11
RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/30/2007 5:08:50 AM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: seeksfemslave

The pork sausage may or may not be viewed with disdain!!!



How many letters, Seeks?

This ain't the place to read out clues from yesterday's The Times cryptic crossword.

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to seeksfemslave)
Profile   Post #: 12
RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/30/2007 6:05:35 AM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lordandmaster

Those of us who take the time to find independent reports of current events aren't fooled by any of this bullshit, but most people have neither the time nor the inclination to do so.  What exactly are we as a society going to do about this?  Are we just going to sit back and let corporations tranform the news into insidious propaganda?  We object mightily when governments do it, but why are we so reluctant to object when it's a private corporation?



If the US is anything like Britain, the news was transformed a good 20 to 25 years ago. Not just the news, but communication media in general. Turn on the television and rampant consumerism is justified at every turn; whether it be a sit-com, the news, adverts etc. I can't remember an advert being aired which said something along the lines of "stop and think about how much you consume and the consequences", or a sit-com where the characters didn't conform to designer-label wearing, wine snobs with aspirations of a stately home and a ferrari.

I don't know what he earns in the US, but in Britain he paid no net tax on £2.3 billion profit between 1987 and 1997. Yeah, he's all free trade and neo-liberalism - providing the deck is stacked in his favour.

The only people who can do something about it are the people who sold their souls to big-business and in the process allowed this to happen in the first place - politicians. They have the power to rein in the likes of Murdoch. They'll be taking a risk due to the potential social and political costs, but Brown has already made noises that he's prepared to take him on by referring him to the competitions commission. It's a long shot because there are many more where Murdoch comes from, but it's a start.

Personally, I think most people have dreams and aspirations which extend beyond money, but are increasingly programmed to consume anything in their path and are starved of an alternative view. When a Canadian group funded an advert around checking consumption, they were told by all of the US television companies that they do not screen advertisements that are inconsistent with US business interests. That's some obstacle blocking the path to providing an alternative view for society. I suppose these television companies are businesses and have business aims first and foremost - what do they care about social responsibility?, in their world people exist to be bought and sold.

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to Lordandmaster)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/30/2007 7:05:14 AM   
Vendaval


Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		 
What is the competitions commission?  Does that investigate monopolies? Do you have anti-trust laws in the UK?


quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

The only people who can do something about it are the people who sold their souls to big-business and in the process allowed this to happen in the first place - politicians. They have the power to rein in the likes of Murdoch. They'll be taking a risk due to the potential social and political costs, but Brown has already made noises that he's prepared to take him on by referring him to the competitions commission. It's a long shot because there are many more where Murdoch comes from, but it's a start.



_____________________________

"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
"WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE


http://KinkMeet.co.uk

(in reply to NorthernGent)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/30/2007 7:39:11 AM   
philosophy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval


What is the competitions commission?  Does that investigate monopolies? Do you have anti-trust laws in the UK?




..yup, though it does beg the question, why is there only one monopolies commission?

(in reply to Vendaval)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/30/2007 7:54:38 AM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: philosophy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval


What is the competitions commission?  Does that investigate monopolies? Do you have anti-trust laws in the UK?



..yup, though it does beg the question, why is there only one monopolies commission?


Supposedly, they exist to enforce fair competition, and prevent the abuse of a dominant market position e.g. blackmailing the government. There is a cap on market share of around 25%. Murdoch owns something like 30% of the media. Add to that the other bloke - Conrad Black - another one who isn't British - and the British media is over-run with people who exist purely to serve their own business interests. The Competitions Commission is a government body, and businesses are referred for preventing fair competition. Thatcher and Murdoch came into an agreement built on the mutual love of power.

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to philosophy)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/30/2007 8:08:52 AM   
philosophy


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Joined: 2/15/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

Add to that the other bloke - Conrad Black - another one who isn't British -


.....ah, but watch this space, 'cos old Conrad may be going down.......

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/black_conrad/

(in reply to NorthernGent)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 6/30/2007 8:55:13 AM   
NorthernGent


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Joined: 7/10/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: philosophy

quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

Add to that the other bloke - Conrad Black - another one who isn't British -


.....ah, but watch this space, 'cos old Conrad may be going down.......

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/black_conrad/


'Hold my hands up to being ignorant on this one. 'Will be interesting to see the outcome.

I agree with LaM, these fuckin' predators crying when they find themselves on the receiving end. They're not remotely interested in free trade and the freedom to succeed or fail. Mind you, I'd be worried about the prospect of Murdoch increasing his share of the pie.

On the media/news issue: the liberal sections of the press are concerned about sales/market share, too, and they're not in the business of jeopardising their position.

How much do we know about the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in places like East Timor as a consequence of the sale of British and US technology. Not a great deal has been reported in the liberal media. There are places you can read about such things in the British press - The Morning Star is one - but they have been completely marginalised as loony-left, commie, wishy-washy, socialist, lazy PC brigade for daring to report such things about the British government and corporate allies. They are Socialist, of course, but there is no serious counter-argument to their point of view - lazy, meaningless phrases are sufficient to persuade the majority.

I suppose there are levels of towing the line, and the liberal media will provide a limited amount of objection to the status quo.

A US equivalent is the New York terrorist attack, I wonder how much of the US liberal media urged caution rather than bombing places.

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to philosophy)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 7/30/2007 9:26:12 AM   
Lordandmaster


Posts: 10943
Joined: 6/22/2004
Status: offline 		Update:

Looks like they're going to hold their noses and take Murdoch's money.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070730/ts_afp/usmediaindustry

(in reply to NorthernGent)
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RE: Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of the Wall Stree... - 7/30/2007 10:59:57 AM   
SugarMyChurro


Posts: 1912
Joined: 4/26/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lordandmaster
Are we just going to sit back and let corporations tranform the news into insidious propaganda?


I share your concern. I do, I really do. But NorthernGent has already done a pretty good job of showing how that moment has come and gone - it's a done deal.

Of interest to me was the fact that NorthernGent placed that moment at some 25 years ago. Yet the term "yellow journalism" goes back at least as far as a hundred years ago when Pulitzer and Hearst were going at it. This style of journalism is one of the most telling subtexts in the classic film "Citizen Kane." Kane wields political power because he first controls the means of directly influencing how the people think and feel about all kinds of issues; Kane tells them what to think and feel via his newspapers!

So, it's not that I don't care - I do. But, 'twas always thus...

(in reply to Lordandmaster)
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