A big rally is underway in Chicago for Oct 25-27. To quote the organizers of Showdown Chicago: “The same financial institutions that caused the economic crisis and took billions in taxpayer bailouts are back to earning incredible profits. Meanwhile, Americans face shrinking pensions, rising foreclosures and unemployment, state budget cuts, predatory lending, outrageous overdraft fees, and sky-high credit card interest rates. The American people want oversight, accountability and common-sense financial reform NOW. This is the classic David vs. Goliath fight, with Wall Street spending millions and millions on lobbying to defeat reforms that would protect the American people and our economy.” Here’s the link.
Thousands marched carrying signs reading: SAVE OUR HOMES - PUT PEOPLE FIRST - STOP THE ROBBER BANKERS - HOLD BANKS ACCOUNTABLE. Of course, CNN, MSNBC and FOX didn’t cover the protests. They had more weighty news to deliver such as: “Polygamist Sex Trials Set to Begin....Man Arrested With Half a Beard...Bow Wow Pups Don Halloween Duds... " (All front page news items on MSNBC). The #1 story on FOX was about a bogus meteorite strike hoax in Latvia. "The New" CNN web site, (brought to us by the new 2010 Lexus), featured a video about the "Mad Men" TV show front and center on their home page. Even the home town Chicago Sun Times ignored the protests and led with a story about city traffic lights in huge front page lettering, and some nonsense about Michael Jackson. Chicago Tribune led with this story about city demographics: "Newly developed personality maps indicate extroverted people cluster on the South Side, while those with neurotic tendencies live to the north." (???) Other top news items featured were: "Chances of Receiving A Parking Ticket Shoot Up...Boy Dies After Lighter Accident...Grandmother Recalls Last Time With Teen Shot In Head." But tucked away beneath these there was a glimmer of hope: "Suburban Bank Charged In Money Laundering Scheme." And in a corner on MSNBC was: “US Eyes Reining In Too Big To Fail Institutions.”
Don’t hold your breath.
Is it any wonder that readership in the nations big newspapers is plummeting, down another 10.6% nationwide in the last six months? They waste our time with nonsense stories while ignoring vital issues that we, as a nation, must face and fix if we are ever to recover from this "Great Recession."
Thousands marched carrying signs reading: SAVE OUR HOMES - PUT PEOPLE FIRST - STOP THE ROBBER BANKERS - HOLD BANKS ACCOUNTABLE. Of course, CNN, MSNBC and FOX didn’t cover the protests. They had more weighty news to deliver such as: “Polygamist Sex Trials Set to Begin....Man Arrested With Half a Beard...Bow Wow Pups Don Halloween Duds... " (All front page news items on MSNBC). The #1 story on FOX was about a bogus meteorite strike hoax in Latvia. "The New" CNN web site, (brought to us by the new 2010 Lexus), featured a video about the "Mad Men" TV show front and center on their home page. Even the home town Chicago Sun Times ignored the protests and led with a story about city traffic lights in huge front page lettering, and some nonsense about Michael Jackson. Chicago Tribune led with this story about city demographics: "Newly developed personality maps indicate extroverted people cluster on the South Side, while those with neurotic tendencies live to the north." (???) Other top news items featured were: "Chances of Receiving A Parking Ticket Shoot Up...Boy Dies After Lighter Accident...Grandmother Recalls Last Time With Teen Shot In Head." But tucked away beneath these there was a glimmer of hope: "Suburban Bank Charged In Money Laundering Scheme." And in a corner on MSNBC was: “US Eyes Reining In Too Big To Fail Institutions.”
Don’t hold your breath.
Is it any wonder that readership in the nations big newspapers is plummeting, down another 10.6% nationwide in the last six months? They waste our time with nonsense stories while ignoring vital issues that we, as a nation, must face and fix if we are ever to recover from this "Great Recession."
