A thread on... where we are as Americans.

Since I was a kid, I've been a 'news junkie'. Read both local newspapers every day, all the newsmagazines, and watched every local & national newscast. I even wrote & voiced a national financial news broadcast for several years.

1/

Even after I left broadcasting, I continued to consume all the news within reach. Religiously watching all the Sunday shows, writing letters to the editor, and plowing into Social Media- when it first started! I even watched all the late-nite comics for their witty snark.

2/
Now, for the first time in my life, I don't. I keep up with events, and still read voraciously, but I just can't watch or read the majority of the corporate news. Because most of it ISN'T news anymore, but a sad self-parody akin to the 1976 Movie 'Network'.

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Paddy Chayefsky wrote a scathing satire of a news network so consumed with ratings that it eschewed journalistic ethics in favor of sensationalism and pushing narrow corporate and political interests. That sadly, is no longer parody.

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The line between 'hard news' and opinion was erased at most outlets long ago. We no longer talk of 'objectivity' or hearing both sides'. People refer to most (formerly) 'hard news' outlets by their ideological slant, and the agenda they push.

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'Investigative Journalism' has become a lost art, only practiced by those outside the #CorruptNews corporate MSM. Those owning & operating major news outlets only want 'investigated' those topics & people whom they target as 'ideological enemies'.

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The politicians & public figures whom #JournOlists consider 'on their team', they act as PR flaks for. They actively attack & attempt to destroy careers & personal lives of those w/ valid questions about 'their guy (or gal)', or those they perceive as ideological 'enemies'.

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Even late-nite comics have become unwatchable. They USED to parody and satirize the entire political spectrum, equally doling out snarky insults to all sides, and roasting hypocrites & corruptocrats on both the left and right.

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Today's 'comics' deem to see themselves as extensions of ONE political party and ONE ideology. Instead of trying to be funny, they substitute mean and insulting character assassination- but only for those they oppose.

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These self-righteous, pompous millionaires ignore a target-rich environment on 'their team', out of bias toward their ideology, or fear of retribution from activists on 'their side'. They pander to the base instincts of those sharing their ideology- denigrating all others.

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This mentality has been insinuated into not just all aspects of news reporting, but into TV entertainment and movies, which seem to compete with each other in the 'Wokeness Olympics'.

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I never thought alienating at least half the country was a smart business model for a news or entertainment network or movie studio. Seems to violate the corporate fiduciary duty to shareholders by deliberately sacrificing profits & market share to 'send a message'.

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Far too many of the CEOs & Boards running these corporations either put a political agenda ahead of the best interests of the company. Many see it as 'their duty' to advocate a hard political ideology- even if it loses them customers or profits.

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At this point, Twitter is (ironically) refusing to let me add another post to this threat. #14 Kicked backed to my drafts folder 5+ times.
6 times.
7 times.
Even more insidious are weak-kneed Execs who bow to threats & intimidation by the Leftist online militia who DEMAND they 'cancel' someone or remove people or products from their lineup for some real or imagined slight. Or simply because of their VALID political beliefs.

14/
8th time's the charm?
The politicization of everything, and the one-sided, crass political hucksterism that has replaced objective journalism has killed the industry. #JournOlism is now a Zombie shambling through the national zeitgeist- desperately seeking power, relevance and... "BRAINS!"

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The most egregious sin of all these corporations is their willingness to alienate & demonize tens of millions of Americans as either through their OWN innate hatred and elitism, or in fear of retribution.

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Disagree politically, or- God forbid point out their errors, lies and/or corruption- you're stupid, ignorant, a fascist, or a puppet mindlessly parroting others. They consider themselves superior to 'the great unwashed'. (Their professors in college TOLD them they were!).

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The contempt for 'Average Americans' (and anyone not in 'their club' or believing EXACTLY as they do) is not only palpable, but has become overt, systemic and aggressively expressed.

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You can't simply disagree with them, or you're smeared, jeered, attacked & silenced. They ruin you financially, socially and attempt to blacklist you in your chosen profession. The send mobs to your home to harass your family, and call your bosses with heinous allegations.

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Of course, nothing is new under the sun. The names, faces, terminology and technology change, but the elitists who see themselves as 'your betters' never do. Their methods and tactics of fear-mongering, divisiveness & intimidation are time-tested and effective- on many.

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Historically these proto-totalitarians are NEVER a majority, and often not even a plurality of the populace. But with the megaphone of a corrupt, cowed & complicit press, and by intimidating those wielding the levers of power...

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...their greatest trick has always been to convince the populace that THEY are a 'majority' through threats, intimidation and sophisticated propaganda spewed by mass Media and enforced through a rigidly ideological and comprehensive censorship regime, both corporate & govt.

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Despite an unrelenting drumbeat of propaganda, these dictatorial wannabees are NOT a majority. However, by alienating so many and silencing their voices they can put on the facade of being in the majority...

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...using the twin hammers of the corporate world and government to reinforce and spread this false narrative- and crush ANY who say otherwise. Corporate MSM & Big Tech now view themselves as 'gatekeepers' of information for the 'gullible, ignorant masses'- i.e. you and me.

24/
It's time to reject the preening, arrogant politicians, the nascent Oligarchs running BigTech, BigMedia, BigPharma and Big Government. Stand up and demand accountability. Point out and ROOT out corrupt individuals and organizations. Speak out & rise above the censorship.

25/
Expose the anti-American system for what it is; a corrupt corporatist Oligarchy supplanting the foundations of our American Republic w/a collectivist, elitist & wholly corrupt globalist system seeking to propagandize, anesthetize & control American society.

Reject it.

26/fin
@threadreaderapp, please unroll...

More from Government

🔷 Rev. Raphael Warnock has become the first Democrat to win a Georgia Senate race in 20 years

The politician spoke to voters via MSNBC this morning

https://t.co/T9oJN2fjmo


Warnock is a pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta where civil rights leader Martin Luther King once preached.

He will become Georgia's first Black senator


This blue victory gives the Democrats the chance to regain control of the Senate for at least the first two years of the Biden presidency


"With Biden proposing to reverse President Donald Trump's tax cut, increase the minimum wage, and strengthen oversight on various industries, some might argue that his agenda is not particularly market-friendly," says Vasu Menon, investment strategy director at OCBC Bank
How does a government put a legislation on 'hold'? Is there any constitutional mechanism for the executive to 'pause' a validly passed legislation? Genuine Koshan.


So a committee of 'wise men/women' selected by the SC will stand in judgement over the law passed by


Here is the thing - a law can be stayed based on usual methods, it can be held unconstitutional based on violation of the Constitution. There is no shortcut to this based on the say so of even a large number of people, merely because they are loud.


Tomorrow can all the income tax payers also gather up at whichever maidan and ask for repealing the income tax law? It hurts us and we can protest quite loudly.

How can a law be stayed or over-turned based on the nuisance value of the protestors? It is anarchy to allow that.

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Recently, the @CNIL issued a decision regarding the GDPR compliance of an unknown French adtech company named "Vectaury". It may seem like small fry, but the decision has potential wide-ranging impacts for Google, the IAB framework, and today's adtech. It's thread time! 👇

It's all in French, but if you're up for it you can read:
• Their blog post (lacks the most interesting details):
https://t.co/PHkDcOT1hy
• Their high-level legal decision: https://t.co/hwpiEvjodt
• The full notification: https://t.co/QQB7rfynha

I've read it so you needn't!

Vectaury was collecting geolocation data in order to create profiles (eg. people who often go to this or that type of shop) so as to power ad targeting. They operate through embedded SDKs and ad bidding, making them invisible to users.

The @CNIL notes that profiling based off of geolocation presents particular risks since it reveals people's movements and habits. As risky, the processing requires consent — this will be the heart of their assessment.

Interesting point: they justify the decision in part because of how many people COULD be targeted in this way (rather than how many have — though they note that too). Because it's on a phone, and many have phones, it is considered large-scale processing no matter what.