GET WITH IT, FOURTH ESTATE

The media is under constant attack for spinning the news. The news-and-information professionals cover-up and manage daily news stories, it cannot be denied. The fourth estate let's us down in more ways than is commonly understood.

Journalists are important, critically so. Thomas Jefferson said something about governments will take away your rights without newspapers watching them. George Orwell said, "People believe what the media tells them to believe."

The journalists in the papers, magazines, radio, and television carry a responsibility to be investigative and honest. These people report the truth and they also make news. The Republican ex-Congressman now serving an eight year term in prison for taking bribes, was exposed by a journalist for the San Diego Union. We would not have heard of the My Lai atrocity in Viet Nam or the Abu Ghraib prison tortures in Iraq were it not for Seymour Hersh, a journalist devoted to truth.

The self-styled experts on radio - Rush, Sean, Glenn - consider the press an enemy in our struggle in Iraq. Let's make a case the other way. In other words, look at how the fourth estate failed to do its job, and could have averted this awful war.

The journalists reported almost nothing about our sanctions against Iraq from 1991 until 2003. The U.S. blockaded both food and medicine as well as critical items like pesticides, x-ray equipment, soap, electrical equipment, and cleaning agents. The result was one and one half million deaths - mostly infants and elderly.

They did not tell the truth about inspections for weapons of mass destruction. Scott Ritter, the U.S. inspection team chief, fought to get his story out about the successful work of the inspections and the cooperation of Saddam's regime. Hans Blix was ridiculed for being right.

Journalists did not question the Bush administration's claims about WMD. Colin Powell now admits he told George Tenet and Dick Cheney that the CIA's claims of WMD were b.s., even though he went ahead and presented the falsehoods to the UN.

They failed to tell of the widepsread use of depleted uranium by our military. DU is banned internationally - we signed onto the ban and continue to violate it. You won't read about in the big press.

They, the journalists, allowed themselves to be part of the action with their embedded positions in the invasion. As a result, the military misled us by their propaganda surrounding Pat Tillman's death and the rescue of Jessica Lynch.

They didn't and don't tell us anything about oil. Oil is an ignored factor although it's action-packed. The people of Iraq will probably never see their precious oil again. The corporations are moving in quickly, as our state department writes key portions of the new constitution soon to be established.

The latest on Iraq from an American view point is the Ron Paul story. The Republican candidate for president debates nine others about the folly of this war/occupation and recieves overwhelming support in the polls. For that, he is ignored. Journalists continue to focus on the candidates who play the game. You know: Romney, McCain and Giuliani. Nobody wants Ron Paul except the people.

Neither the fourth estate (nor the USA) will last long unless it tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing else.

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Hot Stuff

* A new book claims that Ronald Reagan's diary contains passages indicating his irritation with our Senator Hatch. No comment.

* The Congress is really going at it, arguing about the various provisions of the proposed illegal immigration bill. They ought to add an amendment for drafting aliens into the military
as soon as they are caught. This would be a multi-purpose section of the new law. It would discourage running across the border, it would give us a surge in soldiers to go to you-know-where, and it would save the big bucks - about $30,000 - spent on bonuses to get Americans to volunteer/enlist. Eventually, Bush would refer again to the jobs Americans won't do.

* That wall on the border is to be two wire mesh fences with a road between them. Funds are available for 700 miles so far, but about 2,000 miles when it's completed. But is it anything but ugly, is it stunning in any way? Won't we all be embarrassed in 500 years when historians compare the China Wall with our wall? I mean, ours will have eroded away while people still ride Segways on the China Wall.

* Senator Bennett has taken up with the diplomacy crowd who want to end the Iraq quagmire the way the Baker-led study commission suggested. Give Bennett some credit (not too much) for finally coming around. Now watch the War Party turn on him.

* The newspaper in St. George, Utah printed a cartoon today featuring Michael Moore - the devil himself - and his soon to be released movie about health care. The cartoon claims that Sicko is full of lies. There they go again. Accusing Moore of lies when they have not (and will not) lower themselves to see the film.

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Meetings & Events

* The Civilian Review Board monitoring local media invites the public to view evidence of bias at the newspaper and radio regarding war propaganda. War crimes may have been committed. June 7 at Starbucks. Check your firearms at the door, please.

* Stop The Pipeline meets for an hour at 8 pm each Wednesday, right after Stop The Growth and just before Stop The War. So don't be late, or early either. See you at the Slippery Slope Saloon.

Help Wanted

Elvis impersonator to entertain at the western convention of Restless Leg victims. You'd better be good, it's a tough crowd.

For Sale

Ralph Nader's getaway car. Collectors' value. Used at BYU. Proceeds go to paint the White House green.

Twenty-Years-From-Now News

Hooray. St. George was selected as the site of the 2028 Olympics, beating out Wachovia, Lake Wobegon and Luchenbach.

Personals

If you're a Libra who likes circling the roundabouts at midnight, sipping O'Douls at The Outback, and eating jello for breakfast - we have much in common. Race and age don't matter, but do send a photo along with your resume and current financial statement to Lucille, POB 111, Leeds. (I feel really good about this, don't you?) Maybe we'll have it all.