Do we live in a free country?

[cidliz2004]

How free is a country when the Government controls the media with such success?

The rest of the world hears one thing about what we do in Iraq, while we, the Americans hear something totally different. We the Americans hear what the White House wants us to hear.

We have already lost our freedom.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Diminishingly..............unless something really "revolutionary" happens

We are becoming the political and social human rights version USSR of the coming decade. "1984" and "The Handmaid's Tale" will be the perfect descriptions of our country. Read them and weep.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. depends on your description of "Free". nt

[latteromden]

3. My first thought: I don't really think so. My second:

You know, I'll probably get tracked by the administration for saying my first thought.

[Orsino]

4. You are free to choose...

...which white male plutocrat to enrich with your lifetime of labor, and are free to choose a cardboard box when he is finished with you.

[Turbineguy]

5. Does the government control

the media or are the people who run the media just lazy people who have lost their standards?

Are the consumers of the news such that they only want simple soundbites, intead of actually having to pay attention and think?

We have discussion groups like this and plenty of anti-government internet sites.

Bush is providing a shoddy product and people are buying in droves.

[Robbien]

7. The corporates control both the government and the media

The shoddiness and laziness is just used as a shield to hide the control.

[reichstag911]

17. both to q#1, yes to q#2

The government controls the media insofar as they allow free rein to the megalithic media corporations who are charged with "reporting" the news to the TV-swilling masses of the US. If these giants had not been allowed to consolidate to the extent they have -- with the blessing of the US government in allowing the mergers -- there would certainly be a greater diversity of political thought available to the average TV viewer. If the government were to exercise truly responsible stewardship of the public airwaves, some of their corporate media contributions would dry up, and we wouldn't want that, would we?

Also, while it may be true that a majority of those in the media glare have liberal leanings, that has no bearing on these corporations' editorial policies. GE, a major defense contractor, owns NBC; Disney owns ABC; and Viacom owns CBS. Does anyone really believe that middle management at these corporations would act against the financial interests of the billionaire owners? If so, I've got a bridge to sell ya.

As to laziness, that is nothing but a lowered standard of effort one is willing to exert to do one's job. It's human nature to become complacent when one is well-compensated and well-"respected" within their profession -- at least insofar as corporate careerists "respect" anything but their own ambition.

The answer to question 2 appears self-evident. Any society that could make ratings hits out of tripe like "How to Marry a Millionaire" or other reality crap seems pretty disinclined to think too deeply, or too long, about anything important.

[newyawker99]

19. Hi reichstag911!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[reichstag911]

20. thx

perhaps one day I will be as expert in the use of GIFs as you ;)

[Robbien]

6. Today did shatter the last illusions of even a limited free press

There is no media uncontrolled by corporate elites.

[Warren Stupidity]

8. nope. nt

[qwghlmian]

9. I don't know about you,

but my freedom does not depend on the media. Especially if there are plenty of alternative sources of information besides MSM.

[cidliz2004]

12. Most of the population DOES rely on the mainstream media

for their information. AND most of the population is what decides our elections (unless of course the elections need intervention like they did last time).

So again, do we as U.S. citizen have Democratic Freedom? OR Does our Government and/or Corporations control us? (not me not you, but a collective us).

[qwghlmian]

21. Are you asking if those people who solely

rely on MSM have freedom? Yes they do. Do they exercise it? Not if they don't go outside of MSM to get their information.

Now a question for you: do these people have a right not to exercise that freedom?

[cidliz2004]

27. The question is; Why do people have to research sites like

this to find out what is going on in their country. Wasn't that the job of the FREE press?

When the Free press becomes controlled by the Government/Corporations, then, yes part of our freedoms are being violated and/or they are, to some degree gone.

There has been "underground" rebellious sites, opposing groups in some of the most oppressive of countries. The difference now is that the INTERNET has made it easier for people to look beyond the MSM, for the truth.

The question is WHY should people have to look beyond the MSM to find truthful reporting? Why should people HAVE TO look at other countries reporting to find the truth about their own country? Since when is it acceptable for the Government/Corporations to be able to control the free press? There is a real problem hear when people just accept that what we hear from the press is not to be believed and that it is "our" responsibility to look beyond for the truth. How long will it take before the "INTERNET" will some how be controlled? Will your reply then be; Well, you can go to another country and get the truth, or you can join real underground groups to get the truth. Are we free because we can breathe? Were Jim Jones' people free to go to the island? Or were they already somewhat brainwashed? THAT is what is happening here, much of the population of this country is effectively being brainwashed.

[qwghlmian]

32. My rule of thumb -

anything that is defined as "freedom" does not depend on someone doing something for me. It depends on me being able to do, and not being prevented from doing something for myself.

Apparently your definition of "freedom" differs.

[Undercover Owl]

10. We must be free.....

half the world "hates us for our freedom", so that means we're a free country, right?

[ermoore]

11. Yeah, for the most part.

We have more freedom of speech than in say Europe. A lot of what the Fundies say they would get prosecuted for in most of Western Europe.

I don't really understand how the European press is any less corporate than ours. Their target audience is just more liberal and so therefore their coverage is as well. Hell, the BBC is owned and operated by the government. We'd pitch a fit if the US bought out CNN.

[spanone]

13. In theory.

I've heard several pundits today call the Iraqi elections 'free elections'. We should not lose sight that these elections were held in a country that was completely locked down, air, road, borders, curfew, martial law. So it does depend on your definition of free.

[indypaul]

14. Have you been to

an airport or government building lately? If so
you would not have to ask that question.

[GetTheRightVote]

15. No freedom here, no not in America.......... we are running on empty

:kick:

[ermoore]

16. Yeesh . . .

I don't think half of you would know freedom if it walked up and kicked you in the balls. You oughta try protesting or even posting on DU from a country that really isn't free. That'd learn you good what not being free is like.

[qwghlmian]

22. Hear hear. n/t

[peacetalksforall]

18. This has to be the ultimate hypocritical day in this country's history.

All those whores must have been told they would receive a bonus today.

All stupid people! We're being called!

S*** doesn't happen. It's concocted by our thought police.

[Heyo]

23. Wake up..

.. you still have your freedom.

If you'd ever lived without it, you'd know it.

You think you aren't free because what you see on TV and read in the paper isn't too your liking? You've got a lot to learn.

Heyo

[Goathead]

24. Fuck no n/t

[baldguy]

25. People are harassed, investigated & arrested for their political beliefs.

Held anonymously without charge, trial, or communication with the outside world.

The President's press secretary says that people should watch what they say, or else - and the press is too afraid to say anything.

People are prevented from traveling freely because they are on a gov't list.

During his most recent inauguration, Bush faced the largest number of protesters at such an event in 35 years. People were herded into cages, tear gassed en masse, and arrested for the crime of exercising their 1st Amendment rights.

What do you think?

[podnoi]

26. It's relative... least freedom of our history is now

The world has never been perfect. But what is important is we are losing freedom comparatively.

How will people answer five years from now?

[proud patriot]

28. I'm bound to find out

I'll let you know if My exercise of Free Speech
ever gets infringed upon .

[poe]

29. Those who never stray far from the peg do not know how short the leash is

it is a country with the highest per capita rates of incarceration-43 million uninsured and millions more underinsured-rent & mortgage=indentured servitude-no national public transportation-borders and fences and cages-atomization-work more hours, days,weeks, than any other "developed" country-most militarized society on earth and exporters of-expensive food system for healthy food-elderly shuffled off to "nursing" homes, for a price-children subjected to institutional social engineering aka schooling. america has never been nor was intended to be anthing resembling free.
Se rebeller est juste, désobéir est un devoir, agir est nécessaire !

[ultraist]

30. "America is the Land of the brainwashed free" Who said it?

Neitzche? I think it was.

MASSIVE PROPAGANDA is the only info most people recieve.

[TheMadHatter]

31. Um, I think so, let me check...

Today I put fuel into my bio-diesel car, had a hike with my wife, watched a movie (Dawn of the Dead - great!), programmed a little while listening to some music. Had Thai food for dinner. Later I browsed a few internet sites, some subversive, some not.

I had the freedom to do all of the above without getting anyone's permission.

[JoshK]

33. The system is brilliant, because it tells you how "free" you are,

while in fact ramming propaganda down your throat 24/7/365.

Most people get so used to it, that they accept it as being natural as the sunrise, and don't even notice it. Now THAT is some powerfully effective brainwashing system!

As Chomsky & others point out, the US system achieves a uniformity of opinion that formally totalitarian states could only dream of. A key element of this success is that the US system appears on the surface to tolerate "freedom of expression," while a Soviet or Nazi system makes no bones about the fact that what you are being told by the state is the only permissible opinion. This latter approach, in its crudeness, is not as readily internalized as the US approach, which guides you to the desired opinions without making it evident that you're being guided.