Big business owns the media because big business is the only
outfit that can afford large-scale advertisements!
The average, everyday citizen cannot pay 33 million dollars
a minute to sell something during a Super Bowl Game.

BIG business was once someone's small business which eventually grew into the great American dream for them. I do not begrudge anyone their personal success story.

As an example, Cindy McCain's parents initially sold everything they owned to get $10,000 to start their own business, which now is worth a fortune.

Broadbrushing big business as bad to me seems like a form of socialism. I believe fully in capitalism, where people do what they want with the companies they privately grew. I do NOT believe our government should bail out faltering PRIVATE companies. I do not believe our government should have much to say about the running of any PRIVATE company, except where it comes to the safety and protection of its employees (like child labor laws). More extensive laws should certainly protect public companies to protect stockholders, which include pensions, life savings and even money invested by individuals working at low wage jobs.

Big government is what scares me. Right now we have more entitlement policies which perpetuate individual & corporate poor decision making. What ever happened to ethics and personal accountability? The working middle class is clearly disgusted with their pockets being picked again and again to support poor decision making. To be clear, I am NOT talking about disabled vets, the aged, the truly handicapped or the victims of disasters.

Yes, mortgage companies and credit card companies should be held accountable for extending credit to people who have not demonstrated creditworthiness. These companies should NOT be bailed out by the government. And those who accept such credit and then get into payment difficulty should not be bailed out by the government.

Our government is not here to be Big Daddy, but that is just what is has become. And more is planned for the future. THAT is scary!!!

We live in a country where some who describe themselves as "poor," are obese from too much take-out food. My single young adult nephew and his 2 girlfriends and their seven children receive all kinds of government assistance and none of these adults work for a living. I was raised in a tenement projects and I still have family ties to the kids of some I was raised with, now grown up and receiving their own government checks. One liberal poster said I was passing on urban legend. Wow! He/she has no idea how many collect government checks who are young, able-bodied, and able to work. They can afford cigarettes and beer, but they cannot afford medicine, housing or food for themselves or their children.

So IF they vote, they'll vote for the one who will pay for their personal needs, so they can have money for their personal WANTS.

I see a need for much government reform. There is far too much wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars. I think both Democrats AND Republicans should forbid lobbying period. But NEITHER side will do it because of the personal benefits to the legislators who depend on them. Lobbyists spent tens of millions of dollars wooing both parties at each convention. Obama stayed out of it. McCain said he did not condone it. Neither side made loud negative noise about it.

It's not about big business. It's about big government and poor choices by an ever increasing number of GOVERNMENT legislators and PRIVATE individuals who feel entitled to "free" material things they have not earned...

CORRECTION: In the third paragraph down, the sentence, "More extensive laws should certainly protect public companies to protect stockholders, which include pensions, life savings and even money invested by individuals working at low wage jobs"

SHOULD read: "More extensive laws should certainly hold public companies responsible for protecting stockholders, which include pensions, life savings and even money invested by individuals working at low wage jobs."

DJ, thanks for all the informaiton. I appreciate you for sharin git and educating us here at BWS.

What can we do to change this? Any suggestions?

This erosion of their (and our) USA started while (and before) we were growing up loving it.

Common sense has alerted some of us, for years, that things aren't working for the good of the common wo/man. The snowball coming down the hill has been obvious for anyone who had/has their eyes and ears open. More important, we've allowed it AND been part of it.

Shouldn't this read more like: The major media are all owned by corporations, which contract with government - government being the go or stop point.
Point to remember: corporations and governments are made up of 'people.'
How many of us buy shares in these corporations that make profits, after lobbying and having protective laws passed? How many of us wouldn't take advantage of asking a favor of a friend or family member of a corporation or government if we felt it would promote a personal cause?
We, the people, watch TV - how often do we let them know what they do is not to our liking?
We, the people, listen to radio - how often do we let them know what they do is not to our liking?
We, the people, read the books and other printed materials, listen to the recordings, go to the movies and ballgames... how often do we rebel against what we're fed?
We, the people, buy stock - how often do we vote in shareholder matters?
We, the people, empower them by handing them money through every outlet.
Another question: Aren't broadcast networks licensed by the public, not 'owned' by corporations?

This statement makes it too simplistic... there's more to it than this, but there's no way to put all in one post without timing out multiple times.

We, the consumers, are their bottom line. We, the shareholders, are their beneficiaries and their investment dollars. So, in a profitable way, they do care about us. Corporate legislation protects small corporations, as well.

... and there is probably a proportionate number of Dems and Reps on corporate boards and the same for active shareholders. It would be interesting to see honest results of a study done on the political affiliations of each and every major corporate head, board member and shareholder... even more interesting to learn how they truly feel about you and me.

What better way than to live beneath our means, and not buy, buy, buy? Does it not stand to reason that we are the corporations, whether we like it or not, by way of financing their empowerment?

It's not as simple as this. Journalist are more apt, than not, to speak the words of the 'corporation' they work for. My reasoning question is, if the corporations are primarily 'republican, major power brokers,' why do major media have a primarily liberal slant, esp. if the way things are going now are beneficial to them too? In truth from my reasoning, neither party has altruistic fundamentals. We should not unconditionally trust any party.... after all they are made up of 'people' just like corporations and governments.

We, the people, let it happen. We, the people, have bought ourselves into this, our state of affairs.

As I've said before, I believe our interpretation and evaluation of what we hear and see is the big problem. Education is the key. But, there's a big BUTIF in the middle of that...

These are my opinions...

If I could add Media Mogul Ted Turner's classic take on this:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0407.turner.html

Bad bad government!
Bad bad big media!
Bad bad big companies!
Gotta crush em!


My opinion? I agree with gims. WE let it happen. WE elect our Washington representatives (those of us who actually bother to vote.) WE add to the ratings of the cheaply-made reality shows and other forms of non-quality programming. WE buy the latest and greatest from the biggest companies, whether the products are made in the USA or not.

It all starts with us.

Not every small business is as fortunate. Big business can shut the doors of small businesses wanting to become big business (or even just profitable). I've been on the receiving end of this. Big businesses have buying power unavailable to the small businesses, unless the latter joins buying groups or pays affiliated markets to get discounts... this doesn't come cheap, either.

If growing a company were as simple. It's a crying shame anyone who wants to grow a company has to be political, but they do.

A&C) If government didn't bail out 'some' private companies (although I'd not call any company on a scale big enough for the government to bail out, private) everyone would feel and live the repercussions. No, it's not fair that some companies have a safety net, but to consider the alternatives is scary, too.
B) The issues in -B- would be hard to execute without government being involved in company business as represented in -A-.
A,B&C) BUT, once government does step in, it should NOT leave the parties involved unaccountable... they should be taking names and kicking bu**s.

Me too!!!

They went out the window to be replaced with greed and power.

A sister, who is taking a psych class, asked me how I felt about this very thing Sunday night. Needless to say, I had a lot to say. I've seen this at work, myself. My sister's question was whether it was 'nature or nurture' - I should have added the word 'government' in my 'nurture' answer.

Even if Obama and McCain absolutely believed against lobbying and have every intention of stopping it, they won't --- they won't be able to, at least it won't happen in our lifetime. It's too involved, and networked too broadly, to be abruptly stopped.

I think it is wonderful that the favored percentages for the candidates has stayed neck and neck... that is the first of many messages that need to be sent to anyone and everyone who wants to hold a public office. It would be even better if the highest percentage was under 'undecided.' What better, and long coming, MESSAGE could be sent than if everyone voted 'independent.'

These are my opinions.

Josie -- My focus is on corporations, not "big business" though I might have used that combination of words. As I said, I"m not anti-business, but anti-corporate control of media. One of the points I made was that corporations are granted the right to free speech in this country. I think that's a problem. I can give you examples for why I think that, but you can also figure it out.

Of course you're more afraid of big government than of big business. After all, media messages are not created by government in this country.

Gims, I totally agree that the bottom line is that individuals are the ones that can make the change. That's what I said in my very long post.

This is what I said: "The solution: We the public need to recognize our collective power. We need to hold these corporations accountable."

from Gims: "The major media are all owned by corporations, which contract with government - government being the go or stop point."

True, Congress makes the laws. They set up the FCC which grants broadcast licenses (and have limited authority over cable) and the FTC has some authority over broadcast advertisements (it's only supposed to step in if they're fraudulent). And yes, the licenses technically belong to the people. And even though since the 1920s citizens have wanted public stations (starting with radio) -- like NPR and PBS that everyone is praising on another string in this forum -- Congress has crumbled to the lobbyists for Corporations -- first the networks (CBS and NBC) and then the National Association of Broadcasters (laws passed in 1927 and 1934). Congresspeople are afraid to go against broadcasters -- after all, who really has more power? It all happened again in 1996 -- How many of you heard about that new law? Probably not many, if any, because it happened without citizen input and without reporters knowing about it. Print media have nothing to do with government contract.

From Josie: "My opinion? I agree with gims. WE let it happen. WE elect our Washington representatives (those of us who actually bother to vote.) WE add to the ratings of the cheaply-made reality shows and other forms of non-quality programming. WE buy the latest and greatest from the biggest companies, whether the products are made in the USA or not.
It all starts with us."

That's what I said, but more tersely.

from Jabber:
"Big business owns the media because big business is the only
outfit that can afford large-scale advertisements!
The average, everyday citizen cannot pay 33 million dollars
a minute to sell something during a Super Bowl Game."

Lots of assumptions here: It's not a given that the system of TV we have -- with large-scale ads reaching a national population -- is the only possible one. What about public broadcasting? What about small-scale, low-powered broadcasting? What about locally owned stations as opposed to networks? What about taxes on TV sets like they do in some countries, rather than advertisement-supported broadcasting?

People power is not the same as socialism or communism. Right now, for example, the internet is relatively free, but pay attention because media companies are trying to change that (the legislation that has a tiered system, that gives preference to phone and cable companies rather than anyone who wants to start a blog of a web site.

The Ted Turner link in my post addresses smaller scale & independent broadcasting among several other related issues.....

I wish the answer were as simple as American citizens acting collectively to make some necessary changes for the good of us all. Such resolution would require sacrifice and self-discipline. Since we live in such a melting pot society with more facets than the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian, I do not think any majority of us will ever:

1) boycott most of the major TV stations until our voices are heard for increased quality programming,
2) write in "none of the above" on voting ballots if the candidates do not meet our local/regional/national needs,
3)purchase only local, small business or generic brand products until big corporations recognize the needs of the consumers who use their products.

It's just too easy to go with the status quo for many.....

I, too, am about six decades old and have propelled myself through the alphabet soup of academia MY own way. I feel my many experiences outside that realm have taught me so much more about the real world, yet I am glad to have journeyed through endless chapters of "textbook learnin'," if only to view how others see their world.

Regarding socialism & communism: Those ideas can only take root when people allow it. We have seen it happen in history. And we have seen history repeat itself. If we allow our government to become Big Daddy more and more, will there be any incentive left for the common man to be all that he/she can be? I think not.

Sadly, so true!... and some would probably think, 'they aren't, why should I?" and/or "while they're preoccupied, we can take it all."
Not to say it's impossible, though... there may come a tipping point, a point of reference that M. Gladwell wrote about.
heehee, should we think 'revolution?" J/K
I don't have credentials of any kind - at all, at all. Just a curious disposition. I hope I don't come across sounding stupid... but, I do want to share how I feel... in return, hoping to hear how others feel.