Communications Oligarchy in America -- First Amendment Rights . . . RIP!!

by Richard Lewis and W. Ed Parker (Kentucky)

As stated in "The Media Monopoly," by Ben H. Bagdikian, Fifth Addition, "The Communications Cartel has exercised stunning influence over national legislation and government agencies, an influence whose scope and power would have been considered scandalous or illegal twenty years ago."

In our view, the above cartel is the Socialist control group which now governs America; which has direct ties to the Clinton White House and to the Republican Congress. It has ties to, if not control over, The Washington Business Round Table, a group of foreign and multinational corporate CEO’s that pours Soft Money into the political coffers of the major political parties to keep them in power. In short, the American Media is under the control of a Corporate Oligarchy.

George Orwell, in his novel, "1984," pictured one big owner of all the media in his society; with one "BIG BROTHER" in control of all mass communications. The best definition of George Orwell’s society in today’s terms is COMMUNISM!

The media situation, as described by Bagdikian, can best be summarized as follows: No news, entertainment, or other public messages will reach the public unless a handful of Corporate Decision-Makers decide that they will. In effect, a small group of Corporate Executives -- an oligarchy, now controls all mass media in America!

An Oligarchy is defined in the dictionary as "Government by a few, especially a small group or class."

Currently, the American media is in the hands of about ten corporations, according to Bagdikian. "In terms of media possessions and resources, the newest dominant ten are Time Warner, Disney, Viacom, News Corporation LTD (Murdock), Sony, Telecommunications Inc, Seagram, Westinghouse, Gannett, and General Electric." All ten of these, by the way, have overlapping directors which precludes any real competition. Thus, they qualify as an Oligarchy and fit George Orwell’s definition of BIG BROTHER.

This particular Media Oligarchy is composed entirely of foreign or multinational corporations, none of which have allegiance to God or to the United States Constitution. For that matter, their allegiance is to Bottom Line Profits.

The US Constitution states, "Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion, or the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress for grievances."

Unconstitutional federal acts such as "The Newspaper Exemption Act of 1974, FECA 431" and "The Federal Communications Act of 1996" opened the gates to a flood of governmental regulations; which, in effect, eliminated competition among the corporate media giants. Thus the federal government became a silent partner with the mass media.

Along these same lines, the Wall Street Journal in 1994, reported that the Republican Congress was about to become a "partner with the media industry in working out deregulation in planned, closed-door meetings." House Speaker Newt Gingrich was a party to preparation of these media bills, which had "goodies" for everyone except the Consumers. In effect, the conglomerates were allowed to have shared stock, joint ventures, and interlocking partnerships so there would be no independent and serious competition among them.

Bagdikian pointed out that under the emerging corporate control of America, there is a growing gap between rich and poor which is among the worst in developed countries. The media has maintained silence on this subject, consequently, the public now distrusts it, and is angry and frustrated that corporate CEO’s get millions in salary, benefits, and perks while they purchase all materials and services at slave labor rates.

The book, Manufacturing Meltdown in America, by W. Ed Parker, details actions taken by Corporate Bottom Line Executives to force manufacturing operations into "no win," financial straight jackets; with the aid of shared Industry/Government regulations. These regulations are very similar to those described by Bagdikian in the mass media industry today.

Other actions by the Republican Congress, and orchestrated from behind the scenes by the Washington Business Round Table, are related to the establishment of "Free Trade" acts such as NAFTA, GATT and WTO. Free trade, as defined by the multinational corporations in these acts, is trade that contributes to their Bottom Line Profits.

The combination of free trade acts, communications acts, shared industry/government regulations, and corporate/government media partnerships; have led to the Oligarchic control in America. In turn, this has also led to the geometric growth of the "poverty gap" described by Bagdikian.

As Richard Lewis points out, "The US has been unwilling to pass laws that would require strict reporting requirements about foreign ownerships in US business because of fear that it would offend foreign creditors. In light of this, large US based multinational corporations have argued that imposing strict reporting requirements in the US would result in similar requirements being imposed by other countries which could be used for the purpose of harassing US corporations doing business overseas. This "thinking" led to the defat of the Bryant Amendment in Congress."

In addition to the chummy relationship of Congress with the Washington Business Round Table, the Congress, with Clinton’s help, contributes about $100 billion per year in direct Corporate Welfare to help multinational corporations increase their off shore profits. This also helps them fund their movement of jobs and resources to foreign countries. These same corporations are allowed to write off their foreign expenses as credits toward their American income taxes; which allow them to report income rates lower, in general, than an American family of four earning less than $30,000.00 per year.

In the field of broadcasting, "The air waves belong to the people; but thy are the only ones not being served," is pointed out by Bagdikian.

For their part, broadcasters insist on government policing and penalties to prevent unlicensed operators from jamming their frequencies, thus using public funds for their protection. Said broadcasters use all government related agencies to their own advantage, while ignoring the federal law mandating that stations operate "in the public interest".

Despite this law, the Congress and the media partnership, along with tacit FCC and White House support, ignores this requirement. Newer, 1996, laws further weaken the "public domain as sex and violence increases at the expense of public welfare. The broadcast industry throws dry bones to the people, with a "take it or leave it" attitude; because they have protection from their government partners.

As stated by Bagdikian, "The problem with broadcasters is not one of universal evil among corporations or their leaders. Other democratic countries have limits on their media that do not exist in America where there is a government/media partnership." Thus, being totally unregulated, our broadcasters observe only those rules related to their Bottom Line Profits.

Media power, under any view, is political power. Our Congress, President, and our Courts have sold out to the Media Oligarchy; and the people are left swinging in the breeze.

"If you are a wealthy foreign national or a multinational company and you desire to influence US elections and public policy, you will find it is very easy to accomplish your goal. Purchase an American newspaper, television station or radio station and enjoy the full benefit of First Amendment free speech. Your wealth will allow you to avoid state and federal elections laws as you freely endorse candidates for public office and shape public policies to fit your needs" (Richard Lewis).

As an example of media control, one only has to look at the Gannett Monopoly as exemplified by The Louisville Courier-Journal. As we have observed these past thirty three years, the Courier has had a monopoly in the local market; first through control of two daily papers and later by combining the two. The Courier was privately owned until 1986, when a family feud led to the sale of part interest to Gannett. Later, Gannett bought out all interest in the paper.

Throughout its history, the Courier has been a dedicated force for the far left -- locally, state wide, and nationally. Over the past thirty-three year period, it has supported every leftist force that has appeared in our area; from convicted communist Carl Braden to socialist Republican US Senator John Sherman Cooper. In this period, it, along with the Chamber of Commerce, supported every tax increase on the consumer, except for taxes on newspapers. Even in the massive tax increase in Kentucky in 1990, which was used to socialize public education, the Courier-Journal supported all tax increases with the provision that the media would be exempted.

Bagdikian quoted Gannett as follows, "No Gannet newspaper has any direct competition, Allen Neuharth, Chairman of Gannett Company, speaking to Wall Street Analysis." In summary, Gannett is the corporate Head of a collection of daily newspaper monopolies, with some added interest in other industries.

Since Gannett has taken over the Courier, profits have increased, news coverage has decreased, circulation is down, and advertising is up. This profile perfectly fits the mold of the Gannett monopoly, whose only interest is Bottom Line Profits.

During the thirty-three year period, the Courier-Journal and the Chamber of Commerce have worked hand-in hand on all moves to tax and regulate the people. On occasions both groups have protested government regulations for the public relations purposes. As one might expect, both have ties to the Washington Business Round Table.

In the same period, the Courier has consistently endorsed Democratic candidates for public office, while providing coverage to Republicans. On the other hand, the Chamber has consistently endorsed Republicans while aiding Democrats. They have, on occasions, scratched each others backs by giving themselves awards "for Outstanding Contributions to the Community."

While local editors and reporters for the Courier may be great people as individuals, they are Hired Hands of the Media Elite, the latter of who control their writings and their lives. Sadly, there is little difference between news editors and slaves. Editors are fired at will; whereas slaves are held in bondage. Editors are only free to publish what their leaders decide contributes to Bottom Line Profits.

The Courier and other media leaders have Total Contempt for every day readers of their Managed News. However, they pay Pubic Relations Experts to butter up the readers to convince them they really have their interest at heart.

On the political and economic fronts, the highest levels of world finance have become, through government actions and nation’s, intertwined at the highest levels of mass media ownership. There are close ties to the Middle East (OPEC) Oil Cartel, and the Power Generation Cartel.

The religion of this Oligarchy is Humanism and Materialism; or Bottom Line Profits. Today, all these forces combine, with government help, to control the news; as they now are the employers of the electronic and print editors.

Judging by the above data, our cherished First Amendment of the US Constitution is strangled in the grasps of a Corporate Oligarchy. For America to remain free, this control must be reversed; as the Oligarchy does not care about shrinking markets for American goods and services, lost jobs, lost revenue, or for the welfare of any nation. The Oligarchy cares only about material wealth.

Richard Lewis proclaims, "Multinational Corporations are not necessarily loyal to any country, as they purchase natural resources in nations where costs are the lowest; and produce their products in the countries that can provide the lowest cost "quality labor". They then sell their products in markets to maximize their profits."

At the root of the Media Oligarch is control of mass advertising. All media groups run their operations to sell advertising, and to promote and protect the interest of those who pay for it. News Is Only Carried As A Filler for spaces not covered by ads; with most of the filler news coming from "Canned Sources," which are also owned or controlled by the mass media.

Thanks to Mass advertising, most American cities now have only one daily paper, if any. For example, Washington, DC, has two daily papers, whereas London has up to fourteen. Moscow has nine, which shows communist countries have more variety in news coverage than Americans.

In America, mass adverting by large corporate retail outlets control not only the news, but limits each city to one daily paper chose by "The Advertising Elite." The daily papers editorial policies are dictated by those who buy the full page ads.

Thanks to mass media policies, the quantity of daily papers sold in America has decreased year by year as the Oligarchy formed. News coverage has decreased on about the same scale; whereas profits to daily papers have increased significantly, due to control of mass advertising.

Total news and advertising control of the media has greatly narrowed the information available to the general public. This is turn has narrowed the view of the people in America; and let them to the potentially fatal allegiance to the "Two Party System;" a system which is funded by the Banking, Oil, and Media Oligarchy, the "Washington Business Round Table."

The Corporate Media covers up corporate mistakes and promotes favorable press for all corporate actions -- good, bad and indifferent.

The Spotlight Newspaper, 3/15/99, in an article entitled, "Break the Bank and Media Monopolies," states, "Self-government is based on the premise that if people receive accurate information, they can make the proper political judgments on election day. Therefore, you don’t nave to be a genius to figure out that if you c control the information people receive, you can control the political judgments they make."

Obviously, the American public needs to break up all of the controlling Oligarchy in America; starting with the Banking, Oil, and Media cartels. This, in turn, will bring about a break up of the "Two-Party Monopoly" control of politics. This Oligarchy allows banks to create money out of nothing, and permits the media to create and/or suppress all information available to the people.

In observing the media, Richard Lewis notes that, "They are not only censuring free speech, . . . they are franchising free speech with election laws. Obviously, The Goal is to limit political action such that it remains within the confines of the mainstream party mechanism; where participants and issues can be Controlled By The Chosen Few."

The Corporate Media are free, by government decrees, to endorse candidates for office, to promote said candidates in their news and editorial pages; and to deny any coverage to those it chooses to ignore. Yet, a federal agency, the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), a government sponsored "Two Party Club," can crush and or harass any unapproved candidate at will for simply printing and distributing flyers to the people; by claiming said candidate "Coordinated" his/her campaign with "Citizen’s Groups." This is the FEC’s definition of "First Amendment Rights!!

Now . . . let us ask a few simple questions! Do Americans have First Amendment rights? Do corporations have First Amendment rights, as defined in the US Constitution? Do corporations have superior First Amendment rights to people? Do corporations have the right to choose Presidents, Senators, Governors, etc.? Do foreign and multinational corporate owners of the media have superior rights to all people? Is America to be governed as projected in George Orwell’s "1984"?

If your answers reflect those of most Americans, the following steps must be taken to preclude the demise of America as a free and independent nation, under God!!

• The Federal Congress must be jarred into action to do its sworn duty!
• The Oligarchy must be dismantled completely!
• The Soft Money funneled to political campaigns in order to control government must be dried up. Political ads paid to the media must be outlawed. Limits on political gifts must be drastically reduced. Political campaigns must return to "Grass Roots Politics!"
• The FEC must be abolished!
• A Science Advisory group is required, free of government and corporate control, to tell the people the difference between true science and today’s "Multicolored Garbage", protected by government and industry bureaucrats!

These actions are required to start the return to Bible-Based, Constitutional Government!