News & Politics - You may have been brainwashed by corporate media if you...

Lain · 07-05-2005, 02:10 AM

This article is at least a month old but I find this quite interesting when I was looking up censorship.

Quote:

You May be Brainwashed by Corporate Media if You:

May 31,2005
By: Todd Smith
Independent Media TV
http://www.independent-media.tv/item...0and%20Control

You may be Brainwashed by Corporate Media if you...

...believe the 5 corporations who own almost all of the media in the U.S are liberal.

...believe $300 billion of U.S tax money, allocated for the war and reconstrunction in Iraq is actually going to Iraq.

...are unaware Iraq had 650 million barrels of oil in reserve just before the war in Iraq.

...are unaware at least $8.8 billion is known to be missing in Iraqi oil revenue from the period the U.S was in control of Iraq.

...are unaware 198 million in Iraqi dollars is missing from the Iraq treasury from the period the U.S was in control of Iraq.

...are unaware that war is exceptionally profitable for a small number of investors.

...believe Halliburton's no bid-contracts have nothing to do with former CEO, now Vice President Dick Cheney.

...are unaware that the Iraq war is the biggest case of war profiteering in human history.

...Believe Saddam Hussein or Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden.

...are unaware the U.S has killed more than 10,000 innocent women and children in Iraq with cluster bombs and depleted uranium munitions.

...believe depleted uranium weapons are not radioactive or deadly weapons of mass destruction (they are 12% less radioactive than nuclear weapons grade uranium and very deadly).

...believe wealthy, warmongers can also be true Christians.

...are unaware stem cell threatens the pharmaceutical industry by curing and preventing diseasses which drug companies profit from by treating with drugs.

..are unaware the pharmaceutical industry is based entirely on treatment and is threatend by cures and prevention.

...are unaware the Food and Drugs Administration des NO testing of foods or drugs. They only set guidelines and review the testing corporations do their own products.

...are unaware the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act has been "re-estimated" to cost U.S taxpayers $1.3 Trillion (not the original $243 billion or the "adjusted" $400 billion), and only pharmaceutical corporations and HMOs benefit from the increase.

...are unare the Boston Tea Party was a protest against the corporate corruption (East India Company).

...are unaware our founding fathers intentionally made sure that corporations had no power over people or our government.

...are unaware corporations have fought aggressively and sstematically over the past 200 years to increase their power and influence over our government.

...are unaware U.S corporations are now protected under the 14th amendment as a legal "person".

...are unaware the definition of facism is: "The marriage of corporation and state" --Benito Mussolini

...are unaware well known U.S corporate interests attempted a military coup against Franklin Rossevelt in 1933.

...are unaware most corupt and wasteful government projects are run primarily by corporate contractors.

...are unaware "less government" means paying corporate contractors three times what we pay government workers to do the same work.

...are unaware American corporations behave very differently in other countries.

...are unaware Enron and others were NOT investigated until they collapsed unter the weight of their own greed.

...are unaware Bush's massive tax cuts were invested overseas to build sweat shops, factories and other facilities, where our jobs have been outsourced.

...are unaware outsourcing American jobs weakens labor unions and keep wages low and corporate profits high.

...are unaware weak enforcement of immigration laws lower wages in the U.S and increases corporate profits.

...are unaware "Free Trade" means "Slave Wages" to poor people in Honduras, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Burma, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, El Salvador, Guatemala, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and others.

...believe America is hated all over the world because of our freedom.

...believe the massive U.S national debt (now $7,786,000,000,000) created by Republican presidents Regan, Bush and Bush does not seriously threaten the future of our children and grand children.

...are unaware massive national debt ensures the sxpansion of poverty, which keeps wages low, which increases corporate profits.

...are unaware widespread poverty keeps wages low and corporate profits high.

...are unaware weak gun control laws perpetuate violence in poor neighborhoods which expands poverty, reduces wages and increases corporate profits.

...are unaware that making abortion illegal expands poverty which reduces wages and increases corporate profits.

...believe the Michael Jackson trial deserved more news coverage than the genocide of 400,000 people in Darfur, Sudan.

...believe Social Security is the biggest priority in America.

...are unaware privatizing Social Security would be a massive give away to experienced Wall Street investors that would also destabilize Social Security.

...are unaware that NOT funding "No Child Left Behind" is dismantling funding for schools in poor neighborhoods, which expands poverty, lowers wages and increases corporate media.

...are unaware the Healthy Forests Initiative has led to massive clear cutting of prime lumber and almost none of the forest fire prevention that it was sold on.

...are unaware the Clear Skies Inititiative has increased pollution.

...are unaware Tort Reform will absolve corporations of massive negligent liabilities for things like asbestos exposure, pollution, mercury poisoning, hazardous waste, mad cow diseases and all sorts of dangeroud products and practices.

...are unaware mercury pollution (mostly from coal fired power plants and medical vaccines) has caused an epidemic of Autism, ADD and ADHD in the U.S.

...are unaware the Bush administration is dismantling three decades of US environmental protection.

...believe global warming is a rumor or conspiracy.

...are unaware "Global Warming" is causing colder weather because the melting ice caps are cooling the gulf stream.

...believe the science of evolution is less valid than literal fundamentalist interpretation of creationism.

...believe the UN scandals could have taken place without the largest, most influential member and host nation being involved.

...believe making a war monger ambassador to the UN will help prevent more wars.

...are unaware that expanding equal rights to any segment of the population (including gay people) also expands economics opportunity and puts pressure on wages, which would reduce corporate profits.

If you believe Fox News is fair and balanced, you have been brainwashed by corporate owned media.

RedRockSedona · 07-14-2005, 02:09 AM

I believe this one:

...Believe Saddam Hussein or Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden.

is written wrong because Saddam Hussein and Iraq *DID* have nothing to do with 9/11, Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden. Perhaps you meant to write "are unaware" that Saddam Hussein or Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden.

Endless Rain · 07-14-2005, 09:43 AM

kudos

Lain · 07-15-2005, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRockSedona

I believe this one:

...Believe Saddam Hussein or Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden.

is written wrong because Saddam Hussein and Iraq *DID* have nothing to do with 9/11, Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden. Perhaps you meant to write "are unaware" that Saddam Hussein or Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden.

True...very trure. I guess this was an editorial by the author so some facts could be wrong.

mh67511 · 07-15-2005, 09:07 PM

Taking complex issues and boiling them into one-sentence facts is "brainwashing" much more so than the media does. Anyways so many of these are just random opinions like ...believe Social Security is the biggest priority in America.

That is NOT a "fact." I'm sure there are quite a few seniors out there who rely on SS for 100% of their income, so obviously it may be THEIR biggest priority. Everyone has different priorities.

You can't take a complex issue and randomly pull out a single one-line fact. Facts and statistics can be twisted to fit ANY agenda, especially when you don't tell people the whole story. This article has little credibility in my eyes. Sure some of them may be true, but I have no idea whether the author randomly came up with numbers or really did his research.

Things like THIS article are what brainwash people because they read them and say I read that "blah blah blah." They don't actually KNOW anything about the issue, they just know a bunch of random "facts."

ETA - nothing against the original poster, I was just commenting on the article itself.

UnsilentMajorty · 07-16-2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh67511

You can't take a complex issue and randomly pull out a single one-line fact. Facts and statistics can be twisted to fit ANY agenda, especially when you don't tell people the whole story. This article has little credibility in my eyes. Sure some of them may be true, but I have no idea whether the author randomly came up with numbers or really did his research.

Then we shouldn't even have the N&P board if we are going to get right down to it. People want to believe what they want to believe as long as it doesn't affect them in a negative way. This is something you learn from experience and not printed, or documented fact. "Life is not a college essay with footnotes and source material".

Also, what you just said is the basis for 99.9% of the arguments and debates that go on here and in the real world for tht matter. You've basically said that it is invalid to argue this way? So why even bother? Hmm...

**TheAngel** · 07-16-2005, 09:01 AM

All media should be taken with a grain of salt. Liberal, conservative, political, corporate, it's all done by people wanting to get their message out. You have to ask questions about everything and it's you that allows yourself to become brainwashed. We live in a world of yellow journalism where it's not the content of the paper or news program but how well that program or paper sells.

ceilirose · 07-16-2005, 09:14 AM

I don't think it's brainwashing but just presenting another view(s). Some of them are in diametrical opposition to what is commonly presented by the main stream media these days. Or more to the point the Republican/Conservative view.

It's no secret that Bush doesn't recognize global warming or that the US media is obsessed with Michael Jackson, shark attacks in Florida, the Runaway Bride and the latest missing white teenage girl. LOL..have to add hurricanes in Florida since it's that time of year.

Also the major networks and cable stations are conglomerates. CNN being owned by Time Warner for instance. It is extremely difficult to get different points of view out there anymore. Newspapers used to be indivudually owned and now are owned by corporations. They have less money for investigative journalism which was more popular in the 60's & 70's and now it's just easier to report what people tell you to.

It's up the individual to do research (time permitting and willingness) to either agree with these facts or refute them. It's written from a leftist point of view and I don't necessarily agree with all of them. Some are pretty valid though.

Lain · 07-16-2005, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh67511

ETA - nothing against the original poster, I was just commenting on the article itself.

None taken. You can say anything you want about the article (as long as I didn't write it

).

I'm pretty sure this is from the author's perspective but then again, everyone has their own views of certain issues. And remember, these could be opinions, but some may be facts that could be proven valid. So anyone can either agree or disagree on it. There are some factors in that article I do agree with though.

mh67511 · 07-16-2005, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnsilentMajorty

Then we shouldn't even have the N&P board if we are going to get right down to it. People want to believe what they want to believe as long as it doesn't affect them in a negative way. This is something you learn from experience and not printed, or documented fact. "Life is not a college essay with footnotes and source material".

Also, what you just said is the basis for 99.9% of the arguments and debates that go on here and in the real world for tht matter. You've basically said that it is invalid to argue this way? So why even bother? Hmm...

Well I bother because proving people wrong feels really good! I personally love the satisfaction of knowinging someone is WRONG

.

I don't think it's TOO ridiculous to expect people to be able to back up their views somewhat, especially if they are debating or arguing. You can't argue by just saying "global warming doesn't exist." That doesn't cut it as far as I'm concerned.

As far as this board goes, posting an article is enough in my eyes beacuse articles usually provide some context. Now if someone were to start a thread that said "Global Warming is Fake" and that's all they said. Yeah, that doesn't do it for me.

UnsilentMajorty · 07-18-2005, 07:08 AM

Proving somebody wrong?

There is so much wrong with this country (U.S.), those who are currently running it, and how it is being run... That the article brings up... That most people... More than half... Know it is wrong and don't need to come to an internet message board to figure it out, or have it "proved" to them.

This isn't an criticism of you, or anybody on this board in general...

But it is relevant to this topic and the article because most people inherently know there is something wrong with what is going on now with regards to corporations, the media and the current administration and don't need to have it explained to them... Nor do they really want to see people defend what is inherently wrong (as being right and considered okay) as it is unappealing and sometimes insults their intelligence to be perfectly honest.

A perfect example is the concept of Social Justice. This may seem like a foreign concept to a lot of those who aren't old enough to understand what it means... But what it doesn't mean is a society where only the ultra-rich can afford health care, can only send their kids to nice schools, can only have basic necessities that most people can (used to) afford... Like a car... Etc, etc.

The current administration, along with corporate backing, is turning our current socioeconomic model into one that will be soley for the rich and that completely ignores the middle-class and poor. To me, that is not right. It is wrong. And I think if you ask most people they would agree... NOT just because they may be poor themselves, but because inherently they know it is wrong to be so selfish on a global (as in population and society-wide) scale.

However, you then have those who will justify and defend the killing of Social Justice because they will insist things aren't as bad as people say they are getting and that it will make everyone (the country), regardless of economic status, better in the long run.

One can argue that is whole point... Subjective points of view... But with what is going on in specifically in U.S. right now and around the world, I think most people can clearly see the difference between what is intrinsically right and "wrong". At leat, more than half as I said earlier, so this is where trying to "prove" something is a lost cause in certain instances.

For instance, in the above example, nine times out of ten it is the rich who will champion the killing of Social Justice because it doesn't matter if the poor or middle-class starve or go without because they (the rich) aren't them in every sense of the word. And a lot of this justification they will argue is based on never having the experience of being poor, or having been in the position to not be able to afford basic necessities like food, shelter, etc. But that doesn't make their position "right" either. It is a simple case of selfishness and just plain not caring as a whole in this example.

mh67511 · 07-18-2005, 09:13 PM

I was mainly referring to those people we all know that think they know everythign but are really full of sh|t. They can recite all the "facts" they read, but never seem to know anything but these one-liners. When I say right and wrong I am talking about more concrete facts, not so much subjective opinions (like saying Social Security should not be America's priority, etc.). But then again so many things can be argued so many different ways.

Jen Jaree · 08-25-2005, 10:17 PM

Wow I never seen so many true facts about the US goverment. I am Canadian and we are aware of what goes on in the states. I am going to make a little rant of my own and I don't expect everyone to agree with me. I am not ranting about Americans just the American goverment.

Almost a year later I STILL can't believe George W Bush won the 2004 election for the past 4 years almost everyone was complaing about how he was running the country and he still won plus almost evryone I know is anti-Bush. In Canada a lot of people complain about the liberals yet the liberals usually win.

I think Guatemo Bay is waste of money and pretty much a conncentration camp. For those who don't know Guatemo Bay is a prison where suspected terrorists are held there with no trial isn't America land of the Free and they believe in a right to a fair trial and that your innocent until proven guilty this is going against their beliefs, one of the reasons why I don't believe in it is because we need to proof the suspect commited the attack other than he was wearing a turban and is from Saudi Arabia (didn't Hitler and his Nazi's do something like this but it was the Jews he targeted instead of the Arabs) I am sure there are innocent people in Guatemo Bay this isn't freedom this is more like "Nazisam". Personally I think America is slowly becoming a dictatorship thanks to Bush the facist. America does have more rights and freedom than most countries but I believe Canada is the Land of the Free.

I hate the fact that the justice favors the Rich and Famous if someone famous gets charged with a crime and even if it couldn't been more obvious that the celeb is guilty the celeb would either be found not guilty or would recieve a much smaller sentance and if you murder a celebrity you get a more severe sentance than if you killed a regular person. Like John Lennon's murder in 1980 the killer got life in prison if this was a regualr person he would of been out of jail years ago.


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