So the Supreme Court is likely to rule it is a political question? That’s a slippery slope. Dr. Reich, can you appear on late night and explain this? It is these attacks which are the most frightening, the ones you can’t watch violently unfolding, the strategic deeply intricate plots that will not only ultimately work, but which the public will never even understand. Thank you for your brave and tireless service to our democracy.
So many threats to our democracy! The ultimate threat that I see is the Citizens United decision which said that corporations are people and money is speech. This introduced enormous influence of corporations, and super wealthy in our elections. We must pass an amendment to reverse this decision, and there is one in Congress now. We the people must come together to pass this amendment and reverse this damage to democracy.
Dec 8, 2022·edited Dec 8, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
Thank you for bringing this important topic. Moore v. Harper is a very big deal. But the Electoral Reform Act is bigger. This is because it is something that we can all do (an admittedly small) something about, namely, write our Senators and Congressmen. I recommend it. And I now will be doing so myself. Thank you, Robert. --- Supplemental: I just finished writing both of my senators and my congressman. At the very least it gives me the feeling of having done what little I can. Thank you again.
one thing we can do is $upport independent and local news media -- both have a better handle on events overlooked by the kochs and other elites and they also understand how these events contribute to overall corruption and to the global rush to fascism and authoritarianism.
I have lost much faith in our mainstream media. Besides the poignant points you bring up I see how much oxygen it has given to a traitorous ex president, it speaks of him as a front runner for the 2024 presidential campaign but little about the more than likely prospect that he will soon be an indicted one. How he can be taken seriously in this regard when his organization has been charged as criminal and yet more classified documents have been uncovered is, frankly, mind boggling. For any other candidate the media would be, correctly, stating that his campaign has been killed in its cradle. Not in his case, the media, by not pointing out the legal jeapordy he is in, is indirectly helping the clear and present danger he presents to our democracy to continue. Our mainstream media has clearly abdicated its role as our Fourth Estate.
I am a retired broadcast journalist (I have a face and voice for radio.). The final 10+ years of my career in journalism was spent embedded with and covering the North Carolina State Legislature. Received some industry recognition of which I am proud. That is all gone now, the studio office in the Legislative Building that once offered about 80 stations across the state as many as 500 short, broadcast stories per legislative session ... is dark.
The privately owned media is a business, self protecting, self enhancing. There are still a lot of very dedicated journalists trying to work within restrictions, less and less air time, trying to inform people who, according to studies, don't really want to be informed. Private business must make profit to survive. Profit in broadcasting is tied ALMOST directly to the ratings system. The ratings system feeds off what we refer to as "lowest common denominator programming." Consultants tell management that news coverage may attract a portion of an audience with at least a high school education and that does not move the ratings needle. Entertainment delivers an overall audience of all ages. You don't have to think, so painful. So, where is the soft drink giant going to purchase its advertising? Where will it get the best cost per thousand? The money drives the media. News production is personnel intensive. It costs very little to program only music or some idiot who runs his/her mouth. I do remember working for a large market all-news station that was never "number one ... one ...one" in the ratings (insert echo). But it had big ticket advertising aimed at that upper income, better educated audience. Even that has fallen out of favor among business owners/managers who seek a short-term spike in profit before moving on. Technology has also fractured the potential audience and station income ... local stations, with mom-and-pop programming, ie. the school lunch menu, coverage of the city council meeting ... give way to satellite music juke boxes.
Some television stations have increased coverage, but again, this is ratings-intensive, and journalists fight for air time to inform rather than just entertain. Consultants still provide managers with a buffer, someone to blame if ratings fail to bring in the money. I moan the loss of so many newspapers.
I believe it has to be a national law. Somehow the House needs to agree and possibly they could. The Senate leads the way. Otherwise it can be a fight through many states. And if Biden expands the Supreme Court, that would stop the illegal and immoral, unethical renderings of SCOTUS. One can only hope. A state by state fight of this issue is lengthy and takes up too much time. The Constitution must be upheld and if something is not clear, it must become a law. ???
While I might not grasp all the madness (requires a bit of reading) that is going on, I do know enough to recall Trump’s inclination he could overturn voters election. I do understand the issue and consequences of gerrymandering and I am in agreement with mainstream news and how they don’t really explain this type of issue very well.
As far as I see it, the Supreme Court should not have accepted this challenge, but our highest court has become far from what they should be and those who are of the Republicanism have already shown their partiality that defies their OATH!
Good luck with making this public and urging Congress still under Democrat control (in both senses of the word) to get a move on. I've passed it top a few US citizens.
So the Supreme Court is likely to rule it is a political question? That’s a slippery slope. Dr. Reich, can you appear on late night and explain this? It is these attacks which are the most frightening, the ones you can’t watch violently unfolding, the strategic deeply intricate plots that will not only ultimately work, but which the public will never even understand. Thank you for your brave and tireless service to our democracy.
So many threats to our democracy! The ultimate threat that I see is the Citizens United decision which said that corporations are people and money is speech. This introduced enormous influence of corporations, and super wealthy in our elections. We must pass an amendment to reverse this decision, and there is one in Congress now. We the people must come together to pass this amendment and reverse this damage to democracy.
Thank you for bringing this important topic. Moore v. Harper is a very big deal. But the Electoral Reform Act is bigger. This is because it is something that we can all do (an admittedly small) something about, namely, write our Senators and Congressmen. I recommend it. And I now will be doing so myself. Thank you, Robert. --- Supplemental: I just finished writing both of my senators and my congressman. At the very least it gives me the feeling of having done what little I can. Thank you again.
one thing we can do is $upport independent and local news media -- both have a better handle on events overlooked by the kochs and other elites and they also understand how these events contribute to overall corruption and to the global rush to fascism and authoritarianism.
I have lost much faith in our mainstream media. Besides the poignant points you bring up I see how much oxygen it has given to a traitorous ex president, it speaks of him as a front runner for the 2024 presidential campaign but little about the more than likely prospect that he will soon be an indicted one. How he can be taken seriously in this regard when his organization has been charged as criminal and yet more classified documents have been uncovered is, frankly, mind boggling. For any other candidate the media would be, correctly, stating that his campaign has been killed in its cradle. Not in his case, the media, by not pointing out the legal jeapordy he is in, is indirectly helping the clear and present danger he presents to our democracy to continue. Our mainstream media has clearly abdicated its role as our Fourth Estate.
Media coverage?
I am a retired broadcast journalist (I have a face and voice for radio.). The final 10+ years of my career in journalism was spent embedded with and covering the North Carolina State Legislature. Received some industry recognition of which I am proud. That is all gone now, the studio office in the Legislative Building that once offered about 80 stations across the state as many as 500 short, broadcast stories per legislative session ... is dark.
The privately owned media is a business, self protecting, self enhancing. There are still a lot of very dedicated journalists trying to work within restrictions, less and less air time, trying to inform people who, according to studies, don't really want to be informed. Private business must make profit to survive. Profit in broadcasting is tied ALMOST directly to the ratings system. The ratings system feeds off what we refer to as "lowest common denominator programming." Consultants tell management that news coverage may attract a portion of an audience with at least a high school education and that does not move the ratings needle. Entertainment delivers an overall audience of all ages. You don't have to think, so painful. So, where is the soft drink giant going to purchase its advertising? Where will it get the best cost per thousand? The money drives the media. News production is personnel intensive. It costs very little to program only music or some idiot who runs his/her mouth. I do remember working for a large market all-news station that was never "number one ... one ...one" in the ratings (insert echo). But it had big ticket advertising aimed at that upper income, better educated audience. Even that has fallen out of favor among business owners/managers who seek a short-term spike in profit before moving on. Technology has also fractured the potential audience and station income ... local stations, with mom-and-pop programming, ie. the school lunch menu, coverage of the city council meeting ... give way to satellite music juke boxes.
Some television stations have increased coverage, but again, this is ratings-intensive, and journalists fight for air time to inform rather than just entertain. Consultants still provide managers with a buffer, someone to blame if ratings fail to bring in the money. I moan the loss of so many newspapers.
I wasn’t there…but I guess God handed down the filibuster on Mount Sinai. Right?
I believe it has to be a national law. Somehow the House needs to agree and possibly they could. The Senate leads the way. Otherwise it can be a fight through many states. And if Biden expands the Supreme Court, that would stop the illegal and immoral, unethical renderings of SCOTUS. One can only hope. A state by state fight of this issue is lengthy and takes up too much time. The Constitution must be upheld and if something is not clear, it must become a law. ???
WE NEED THIS INFORMATION! Thank you so much.
Thank you, Robert.
I learned a great deal from this!
I have an idea:
Why don’t YOU run for President?
Seriously!
Jeff Becker
Thank you Professor. That is crystal clear. But it makes you wonder. What were they thinking in 1845?
GREAT artwork, Professor! A picture speaks a thousand words…. 🌻
While I might not grasp all the madness (requires a bit of reading) that is going on, I do know enough to recall Trump’s inclination he could overturn voters election. I do understand the issue and consequences of gerrymandering and I am in agreement with mainstream news and how they don’t really explain this type of issue very well.
As far as I see it, the Supreme Court should not have accepted this challenge, but our highest court has become far from what they should be and those who are of the Republicanism have already shown their partiality that defies their OATH!
Good luck with making this public and urging Congress still under Democrat control (in both senses of the word) to get a move on. I've passed it top a few US citizens.
New article might shed light on the bigger picture unfolding across the world...
https://impakter.com/planet-sustainability-choice-ours/
Media don’t, not doesn’t!