Monthly Archives: March 2005

Dump Duhbya

there is little appetite for investigative journalism

alibi . march 3 – 9, 2005
A Culture of Secrecy
What has happened to the principle that American democracy should be accessible and transparent?
By Charles Lewis

For the most part, there is little appetite for investigative journalism. For the “suits” who control what we read, see and hear, besides potentially alienating the political power structure against their own company or industry, thereby possibly jeopardizing millions of dollars in future profits, this edgy enterprise journalism is not efficient or cost-effective. It simply takes too much time, requires too much money and incurs too many legal and other risks. Forget whether or not this is fair or accurate, or relevant given the civic obligation broadcasters and publishers have to the communities they ostensibly serve. It simply is, and it helps to explain why today we have so little independent, critical reporting and why instead we are mostly fed a steady diet of pap from morning to night.

The problem is made worse by the presence of brilliant communications tacticians in the White House who cleverly frame their controversial policy agendas, setting up the class’s stenography assignment for the day with bold, positive names: “No Child Left Behind,” the “USA Patriot Act,” the “Clear Skies” environmental policy, the “Healthy Forests Initiative.” Needless to say, such Orwellian word ploys–exacerbated by largely docile, straight news coverage–slip devilishly into common usage, leaving the public ill-equipped, unprotected and vulnerable to breathtaking, unabashed manipulation.
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Lewis, a former TV news producer, founded The Center for Public Integrity in 1990

Dump Duhbya

The era of fiscal conservatism is over

alibi . march 3 – 9, 2005
The Death of Fiscal Conservatism
Republicans can cut taxes. They just can’t stop spending.
By Greg Payne

The first three years of the Bush administration saw a 21 percent increase in non-defense spending — and that’s before the costs of the prescription drug benefit kick in. By contrast, Ronald Reagan oversaw a 6.8 percent increase during his first three years in office while that liberal scoundrel Bill Clinton had federal spending decrease 0.7 percent during a similar time frame. …

There was a time once—at least I think there was—when the Republican Party honestly considered itself a political force for limited government and fiscal restraint. That’s what folks like Ronald Reagan said the party stood for, anyway. …

The era of fiscal conservatism is over—political bullshit … aside. Some might think that’s great news. But who would’ve thought a conservative approach to spending would be the one thing Republicans could actually manage to cut out of government?

Theirs

The Messiah’s Senator

alibi . march 3 – 9, 2005
The Messiah’s Senator
By Jim Scarantino

On Valentine’s Day, Republican state Sen. Mark Boitano, who represents part of Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights, joined opponents of gay marriage in a press conference to promote “pro-family” legislation. The Albuquerque Journal photo showed a tense Boitano surrounded by gay rights activists. What the story did not mention is that for 30 years Boitano has been a follower of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who calls gays “dung eating dogs” to be “eliminated” or “burned.”

Boitano is so loyal, he helped crown Moon the Messiah in Washington, D.C., last year. …

Americans have the right to hold any religious belief. But when an elected official participates in crowning a self-declared Messiah while advocating so-called “pro-family” laws, it’s time for vigilance. Because Moon wants the U.S. Constitution replaced by “Godism,” to be administered by himself, it’s wise to at least question the agenda of all elected officials in his camp. We have every right to ask how they can uphold the Bill of Rights when the man to whom they swear fealty desires dictatorial theocracy.

At issue before the Legislature is not, and must not be, religious doctrine. It is the question whether two adults may form a particular contract. You only need a lowly county clerk to seal the civil contract called marriage. Religious unions, by the same token, are not government’s business. If it’s holy matrimony you want, the person to see is a minister, priest, rabbi, or even the True Father?especially if you’d rather not choose your spouse.
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Scarantino is an Albuquerque attorney and served recently as president of Mainstream 204, a national organization of moderate Republicans.

Kudos to Scarantino for writing this. Yes, you have the right to worship (or not). You don’t have the right to undermine the Constitution with your faith. mjh

loco

Albuquerque Call Center Wins Visit from Some Guy

From the Desk of the CEO of AOL

On behalf of myself, the board, and our shareholders, I feel required to thank you for your recent efforts in winning the call center competition. We considered giving you a raise (kidding) or a one-time bonus, but concluded it would be more fiscally responsible (ie, cheaper and more deductible) to pay $10,000 to a football player to try to inspire you into keeping up the drop-dead pace at which you have been working. Thanks to you forgoing bathroom breaks, I will get $10 million in bonuses this year. I can’t thank you enough. You are vitally important to our company, even though you could be replaced in an instant by someone making less money.

Next month we will be cutting your medical benefits again, but you will be glad to know we’re paying Dr Phil $100,000 to inspire you to accept your fate. When we abruptly close your call center to ship the jobs to a place where your hourly pay is considered good monthly pay, we will try to get you a free AOL CD as a token of our real appreciation. Now, back to work, lazy slaves! You can read on your own damn time.

Letters-to-the-Editor

anti-environmentalists

ABQjournal: Environmentalists Hijack Public Land Multiple Use By John Dendahl, For the Journal

Unconfused by embarrassing facts, Richardson remains a panderer to obstructionists.

There are myriad reasons familiar to nearly all of us why we should develop domestic sources of oil and natural gas. Despite dated, obstructionist hype, the needed development can — and will — go hand-in-hand with sound environmental protection. …

Richardson needs to tell his “environmentalist” pals to take a long, enjoyable hike….

Ah, Dimdahl, the coo-coo in the conservative clock.

Some time ago, anti-environmentalists (people who will sacrifice anything public for private profit) started mouthing these words: “needed development can go hand-in-hand with sound environmental protection.” The oily word is “can.” Note that while there is endless evidence to the contrary there is almost none in support. Oh, but Vermejo Ranch! Find the Well! What Dimdahl doesn’t mention is that Ted Turner puts extraordinary restrictions on the exploitation of his property and drilling costs are higher there than on any public lands. Be assured that if you said, “OK, drill, but to the Turner Standard,” oil companies and Dimdahl would scream about the “unreasonable expense.”

Johnny, let’s play ‘find the well’ anywhere other than Vermejo Ranch. Even a guy who can’t find his ass with both hands can find 10,000 wells in New Mexico, and get a great sense of how sensitively they’ve been developed.

If you plow a road into a forest and raze every tree, the forest will eventually rebound — see the Zuni Mountains, after a century, for evidence. But if you rip up the soil and pour poison (oil) on it, it will never recover. There must be some place, one or two places, where it just isn’t worth it. Not a one to anti-environmentalists. mjh

Letters-to-the-Editor

Education is more than job hunting

I was listening to the KUNM weekly call-in show today. The discussion was economic development and, in particular, how tax cuts attract businesses. Everyone mentioned eduction repeatedly in the narrowest of contexts: a properly educated workforce attracts employers. I was saddened by how profoundly the Radical Right has damaged this country, specifically the cheap bastards who believe there should be no government beyond an army and police.

Education is NOT about attracting industry and finding jobs. Education keeps you from being someone else’s slave. Education enables you to think for yourself. To think critically and to escape the domination of other’s thoughts. At the same time, education teaches us to listen to those we disagree with, to allow for shades of truth, to appreciate context. The very last thing education is about is getting a job. An educated citizenry cannot be conned into giving up their rights. Educated citizens cannot be mislead by platitudes. An educated people can stand up to the lies of advertizers and politicians. It is our power, not just our livelihood. Don’t let the cheap bastards put blinders on you like a plow horse. mjh