So long, Seattle Indymedia

[JailBush]

It was a great idea, but I knew Seattle Indymedia had been corrupted when Seattle's leading left-wing media whore, Geov Parrish, and the Green Party love of his life, Brita Butler-Wall, began associating with it. Ironically, Seattle Indymedia's demise is the subject of a column by Geov Parrish:

http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0349/031203_news_geovparrish.php

It would sure be nice to get a REAL activist media organization in this town.

[La_Serpiente]

1. Wow

they really must be corrupt.

[JailBush]

2. Here's what I'd like to see:

Any organization that's serious about fixing anything should have a REFERENCE SECTION on its website. Even if a media outfit publishes good stuff, visitors can't make the best use of it if they have to dig through archives searching for information.

So IndyMedia, the Green Party, and other orgs should have a prominent link labeled REFERENCE at the top of their home page. And if individuals can create quality websites, any org with more than a hundred members ought to be able to kick butt.

I'd also like to see these organizations NAME NAMES. It's easy to talk about corporate corruption and maybe sling a little mud at Enron. But are they so reluctant to name the villains?

Elections - Some of these groups endorse candidates during election campaigns, but why don't they do anything to recruit good candidates months ahead? It's like they don't give a damn until about two weeks before the election, then they make some half-assed endorsement.

Public education... Aw, forget it. No activists give a damn about children.

[Myra]

9. The corrupt person is gone.

The remaining people are genuine and dedicated and working their butts off and volunteering their time.

[Scott Lee]

3. A reserved eulogy

I cut my media-activist teeth on IndyMedia. They excited me and I found a lot of great stuff on their site. But my eternal bitch with them was the horrid way all that data was organized..or should I say disorganized. You'd be lucky to find anything you were looking for.

In the end we owe IndyMedia a real debt of gratitude for starting something that is spreading beyond its wildest dreams. I still have contacts in Russia, Israel, Kuwait, South Africa, UK, Australia and Singapore that I made through IndyMedia. It made me realize there really is a global face to resistance.

We're all better for this.

[Cascadian]

4. I am truly disappointed that it is folding.

Sadly the demise of Seattle Indymedia is a classic example of what is wrong with Seattle politics. There are too many people self-absorbed in their own agendas plus and I dare say it, a cliqueish attitude that is so unbecoming and counter-productive. It is shameful for a city that prides itself on being progressive. Not only that, it seems sadly ironic that Seattle Indymedia failed in the place where Indymedia was founded.

I hope somebody will come up to the plate and being Seattle Indymedia back but leave the egos and bad attitudes out of it.

John

[Myra]

5. Well, I'm really sad. I hope they can still be saved. Money problems...

were as much a result of them having about $20,000 "allegedly" (so I don't get sued, wink) stolen from their budget by someone with access. That's why they couldn't pay the rent, tho' granted the rent is too high.

I hope they come back better and stronger, and with accountants.
They provide an important service. And they have some great people working there--volunteering there. Working their asses off to try to keep the place running.

[durutti]

6. Saw it coming.

Unfortunately, I fear others will soon follow.

The fact is that no one is going to want to use IndyMedia if people are going to let it turn into an auxiliary of Free Republic.

[JailBush]

7. Ironic Seattle...

It's really amazing that a city that claims to be "progressive," supposedly boasts a high percentage of really intelligent people and serves as Microsoft's backyard has such a puny Internet presence in the realm of politics. Sheez, it's a wasteland!

I created Seattle's only real education activism site, and one person can't keep up with the corruption in our privatized public schools. (The Citizens' Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools' website would be a joke even if they were on the level.) There are no good environmental activist websites that I'm aware of. The Green Party of Seattle's website is a big yawn, and the King County Democrats have nothing better.

There's a lot of information at http://www.historylink.org, but Walt Crowley is obviously a corporate historian.

One project I've thought about tackling is a simple directory of Washington State politicians, focusing on the Governor, related offices and state legislators and King County officials. You can get really brief bios on government websites, but I haven't seen even a second-rate website that offers information that would be really useful to voters.

Doesn't anyone in this city have anything to say?

[Myra]

8. You mean something rating the pols in addition to bios?

As in:

(Bio...) + Jim McDermott is great (true).
(Bio...) + Jennifer Dunn is a monster(true).
(Bio...) + Patty Murray is a corporate shill (true).
(Bio...) + Gov Locke is a corporate shill (true).
...

Obviously I'm paraphrasing. :)
But is that the gist?

[JailBush]

10. I'm thinking of giving visitors more detail...

For example, a good Gary Locke page would feature a basic biography, but it would also cite some of his uncountable scandals - pimping for Paul Allen, Microsoft and Boeing. It might feature links to other good resources and advise visitors they can learn still more typing "Gary Locke" into the archives of the Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

A REALLY cool resource I'd like to put online is a list of non-elected "gatekeepers" and phony activists. For example, I attended a forum where Gary Locke buttered up West Seattle "activist" Vivian McLean (Maclean?), as she jumped up and down like a cheerleader. She returned the favor by trying to shout down someone who criticized Locke. It was SO disgusting.

There are still more resources that one could use. For example, I've collected hundreds of names and addresses from the Public Disclosure Commission's campaign contributions files. A really ambitious person could put this information into a spreadsheet and figure out who contributes to whom. Actually, some websites already do this, though I haven't found much information for Washington. But the most intriguing aspect would be adding the information one can only get from observing these crooks in action or soliciting tips from the public. There's so much that goes on behind the scenes!

[Myra]

11. That's a kewl idea for the elected officials and public figures

Are there possible liability issues if such a site gave info on
non-elected "gatekeepers" and phony activists?
That's a much more subjective area.
It's not like they have a clear record of voting for/against bills and such.

[JailBush]

12. That's a fascinating question.

My experiences and observations suggest that the Seattle Mafia is generally extremely reluctant to attack people who speak out on the Internet, preferring to ignore them whenever possible. Keep in mind that the 1st Amendment and the Internet are both complex and emotional issues that could ensnare anyone who attempts to assault them.

Still, there's always the possibility that they could come after you. I got a NASTY letter from an attorney threatening to sue me tack to the stone age after I called one of his clients a "teachers union whore" on my website, adding that she isn't a "public personage." Bullsh*t - she was vice president of the largest teachers union in the Pacific Northwest and continues to endorse candidates, including our latest corrupt Mayor, Greg Nickels. (The teachers union whore she was living with endorsed Nickels from California, claiming to be head of "the California Education Association"! Sheez.)

But I think it's generally legal to post most information that you get from government sources. That wouldn't include sensitive medial records, of course. But if Ellen Punyon (a sleazy principal) contributes $400 to a corrupt politician, and the government displays that information on its website, it should be fair game.

Have you followed the story about the guy who was posting the addresses, phone numbers and social security numbers of police officers on his website? The police and state government tried every trick to bring him down, but I think he's still online. I tried to network with him, but he seems to be a lone wolf. I think his last name is Sheehan.

Incidentally, I helped exposed some corrupt school officials in a New Mexico school district after a teacher contacted me for help. I did some research and discovered some amazing things. The superintendent's wife is a former U.S. assistant attorney who was drafted into the war against terrorism. Then I discovered a photo of the superintendent - who many compare to Hitler - touring a school with a special guest...George Bush!

I don't understand everything that's going on down there, but it appears that my website helped shake things up. Someone even launched a website attacking me. My perception is that there was a LOT of corruption, and it only took a little nudge to start a snowball rolling downhill.

At any rate, some teachers have reportedly won a few legal battles. About the same time, the superintendent of public schools in Albuquerque was killed in a car crash. Apparently, his two companions were convicted criminals, and they had all been drinking! Go figure.

[Myra]

13. Well, I bookmarked this thread

Let's talk more about it later.
I like the idea.

But I should have been in bed hours ago.

[ldoolin]

14. The problem with Indymedia

Don't get me wrong, I think Indymedia was a great idea. The problem is that the people running it have a naive idealistic belief in completely open publishing that gives right wing thugs an open door to troll, troll, troll. This goes for all the Indymedia sites I have looked at, not just Seattle. Arizona Indymedia, for example, is plagued by Neo-Nazi skinhead types who will post their racist tripe to any thread having to do with immigration and border issues.

Progressive media on the web have no obligation to allow an open door for the reich wing, and that is why I am a big fan of Democratic Underground. :toast: