Who/What Is the Beatnik Bird?
The Beatnik Bird is a walk around imaginary bird that will never go on your windshield or silk suit. He/she/it is a sardonic avatar of life’s self-referential absurdities. He/she/it (say that fast 20 times) will grace you with insights and wisdom, or not. More importantly, BB as is known among the philosophy faculty, is here to help people who have a misunderstanding about many things and their place in history. Consider him as a modern-day dispenser of wisdom like Mark Twain, Will Rogers, Tina Fey, Yogi Bera and Dorothy Parker. (Let’s not forget Eustache Dauger).
Since he does not have a soul to be damned or a body to be kicked, he has valuable insight into corporate communism.
BACKGROUND:
JW: BB and I met in high school and formed an instant bond based on a foundation of absurdity and its practical implication for the modern world. It seemed to us wrongheaded to have to choose one form of last century economics i.e. corporate capitalism, because of private ownership and steel ball realism (Atlas Shrugged), as inherently superior to democratic socialism (Bernie Sanders) based common good ownership thus inherently wimpy and wasteful.
This is the first of ongoing interviews I will conduct with the Beatnik Bird.
These blog interviews with BB will cover the meta events that led to the privatization of BIG BROTHER: media consolidation, Citizens United, repeal of Glass-Steagall and tax-free pulpits, etc.
INTERVIEW I
JW: Please describe the Corporate Communist Conquest of America
BB: I Will Start with What Is Corporate Communism?
Corporate Communism is a blend of two of the most hated and abused terms in pop economics, corporatism, aka capitalism and communism, aka socialism. It was created by the Beatnik Bird as a descriptive term to grab the attention of those who have no factual knowledge of either but are convinced that either or both are evil. What the Bird did was copy the intricate thoughts of Monty Python in the choice of their show name (second place went to Owl Stretching Time). Python joined the two sleazy archetypes Monty as in General Montgomery and Python the snake and the rest is comic genius. Thus, corporate communism is a proper concept to satirize our economic warfare and the fact that our economic reality should not be tied to these last century concepts. The US is neither capitalist nor socialist. Corporate communism is when brain dead corporations own the means of communication, and the government is a wholly owned subsidiary.
Elon Musk is not a capitalist and Bernie Sanders is not a socialist. One of the foundational myths of the US mythology is that if enterprise it is privately held it is inherently good but dubious or downright evil if it is owned by the government. This myth was energized by the George Orwell novel 1984 published in 1949. It portrays the future 1984 where the government is totalitarian and personified by Big Brother an omnipresent “being” who controls every aspect of life. Orwell, a democratic socialist, modelled the authoritarian state in the novel on the Soviet Union in the era of Stalinism, and Nazi Germany. It was a society based on government surveillance via TV, radio, and interpersonal fear. Now known as the internet. Also, the cancellation and rewriting or all aberrant thoughts history and people both present and future. (Sound familiar: left wing PC police, Red Guards and cancel culture of thinkers like Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais. Right wing books banning e.g. Catcher in The Rye and Critical Race Theory, and of course 1984.
Fast forward to now when computers and the internet arrived. For our convenience and ease of check out we privatized Big Brother: Google, Facebook, Amazon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc. While declaring ourselves as Freedom Fighters and Patriots. Trust me, the internet has a record of every gun and bullet purchased by the never fully off the grid fweedom fighters. (Note, the Looney Tunes spelling) I cannot make this stupidity up. Everything is absorbed by the algorithm: driver license, credit card, rent bill, mortgage, bar tab, porn site, blood pressure, contraceptive, political donation, checking account, subscription and prescription med. It never goes away. It is your life’s permanent record. It is not just pencil notes on an index card, or a typewritten sheet of paper. It is permanently stored in the cutely named Cloud. (Terry Gilliam of Monty Python made Brazil his movie version of 1984 which he wanted to call 1984 ½. about a totalitarian government that is utterly stupid and incompetent. Robert De Niro plays a terrorist air conditioning repair man. Yeah, he breaks into your home and fixes your A/C.)
BB: Simply put, Corporate Communism is when private corporations and hedge funds, without a body to be kicked or a soul to be damned, own the means of communication aka propaganda. The entire government is a wholly owned subsidiary.
JW: How did the conquest happen (FOUR Obvious Factors)
BB: I) Media consolidation and elimination of independent journalism
There is an old story: “A Russian is on an airliner heading to the US, and the American in the seat next to him asks, “So what brings you to the US?” The Russian replies, “I’m studying the American approach to propaganda.” The American says, “What propaganda?” The Russian says, “That’s what I mean.”
II) Citizens United. The utterly absurd Supreme Court ruling that corporations are persons; you know with free speech rights and protections and no capital punishment or imprisonment. Thus, allowing corporations to donate vast amounts of money to politicians.
III) Repeal of Glass Steagall Act.
The Great Depression of 1929 had many reasons, one of which was allowing the consolidation of banks and investment companies. Does the 2008 Great Recession (the corporate communist media would not allow the word Depression) ring a bell? Same story, same players different spin.
IV) Tax Free Pulpits
When religions set up their own governmental services (think for example of the ISIS caliphate) and do not leach off my tax funded police, fire, emergency rooms and military industrial complex then they can promote whatever political baloney they choose. Until then, pay up or shut up.
BB: Independent TV and radio journalism no longer exist. Advertising biased corporate journalism is the only source of information for those who choose not to or can’t access non corporate or independent news.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996, signed into law by President Bill Clinton, played a significant role in media consolidation, the process by which a small number of companies gain control over a large portion of the media landscape. The act significantly deregulated the telecommunications industry, removing restrictions on cross-ownership and allowing companies to own more outlets in the same market. This paved the way for a wave of mergers and acquisitions, resulting in a handful of large corporations dominating the media industry.
President Bill Clinton's Role
President Clinton's support for the Telecommunications Act was seemingly motivated by several factors. He claimed that deregulation would lead to increased competition and lower prices for consumers. He also saw the act as a way to promote the development of new technologies, such as the internet. Clinton was also under pressure from the telecommunications industry and campaign donors, which heavily lobbied for the bill.
Despite his support for the act, Clinton expressed concerns about its potential impact on media diversity. In his signing statement, he pledged to work with Congress to address these concerns. However, he did not take any significant steps to curb media consolidation during his presidency.
Congress's Role
Congress played a key role in passing the Telecommunications Act. The bill was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, with only a small number of members of Congress voting against it. The act's popularity was due in part to the widespread belief that deregulation would lead to economic benefits for consumers and businesses.
However, critics of the act argued that it would lead to media consolidation and reduce the diversity of voices in the media. They also argued that the act would give too much power to large corporations.
Despite these concerns, Congress passed the Telecommunications Act with little debate. The act was a significant victory for the telecommunications industry, which had lobbied heavily for its passage.
BB: History of Media Consolidation in the US Newspaper and TV News Industries
Media market consolidation is the process by which fewer and fewer companies control an increasing share of the media landscape owning TV, radio, print news and internet in a city or region e.g. FOX News Corp owning NY Post, Wall Street Journal, FOX TV broadcast and streaming in New York City. This has been happening in the US newspaper and TV news industries for decades, but it has accelerated in recent years.
In the early 1900s, there were thousands of independent newspapers in the US. But by the 1970s, a handful of large chains controlled most of the daily circulation. This trend has continued in recent years, with the top 10 newspaper chains now accounting for more than half of all daily circulation.
Similar trends have played out in the TV news industry. In the 1950s, there were hundreds of independent TV stations in the US. But by the 1990s, a handful of large networks dominated the market. Today, Comcast, Disney, Paramount Global, and Warner Bros. Discovery—own nearly all the major TV networks.
JW: What are the Implications of Media Consolidation
BB: Corporate Communism is enabled when private corporations own the means of communication. Journalism costs money so they don’t do it. They repackage baloney and present it as news. e.g., FOX flat out lies, CNN re-spins it, MSNBC yaps about it and then they all have a talking head panel to analyze it 24/7. Only in America could Microsoft National Broadcasting Corporation be portrayed as socialist!!!
Media consolidation has several implications for journalism quality, diversity, and business models in the US.
Monte Wolverton / Copyright 2023 Cagle Cartoons, Inc.
Journalism Quality: Critics of media consolidation argue that it leads to a decline in journalism quality. This is because large media companies are often more focused on profits than on producing high-quality news. They may cut back on spending on investigative journalism and other forms of in-depth reporting. They may also pressure their journalists to produce stories that are more likely to attract viewers and advertisers. They often cut corners on reporting and editing, and they tend to focus on sensational stories that will attract viewers or readers, not unlike The National Enquirer and The Star which was placed at checkout lines in supermarkets. This has made it more difficult for people to get accurate and unbiased information about the world around them.
Public trust in the media: Media ownership consolidation has also led to a decline in the public's trust in the media. This is because people are aware that the media is owned and controlled by a small number of powerful corporations. As a result, they are more likely to believe that the media is biased and that it is not telling the whole story. This has made it more difficult for the media to play its role as a watchdog of the government and of other powerful institutions.
Diversity: Media consolidation can also lead to a decline in media diversity. This is because large media companies are more likely to produce news that appeals to a broad audience, rather than catering to the needs of specific communities or demographics. As a result, minority voices and perspectives may be underrepresented in the news.
Business Models: Media consolidation has also had a significant impact on the business models of US newspapers and TV news outlets. In the past, newspapers and TV stations relied on advertising revenue to generate income. But the rise of the internet has led to a decline in traditional advertising revenue. As a result, many newspapers and TV stations have been forced to cut costs, including by laying off journalists.
JW: What are the reasons why the corporations have been able to consolidate so much power in the media industry:
BB: There are a number of reasons why companies have been able to consolidate so much power in the media industry. One reason is that they have benefited from deregulation. In the past, there were regulations in place that limited the number of media outlets that a company could own. However, these regulations have been repealed in recent years. As a result, the companies have been able to buy up smaller media outlets and to expand their reach.
Another reason for the consolidation of power in the media industry is the rise of new technologies. The internet and cable television have made it possible for media companies to reach a larger audience than ever before. This has led to a decrease in competition and to an increase in the power of the largest media conglomerates.
JW: Please Describe Specific ways in which corporations have used their power to influence the media landscape and the public's access to information:
BB: Companies have used their power to influence the media landscape and the public's access to information in several ways. One way is by controlling the distribution of news. The companies own a large majority of the media outlets in the United States. As a result, they can control what news is reported and how it is reported.
Another way in which these companies have used their power is by promoting their own viewpoints. The companies have a strong ideological bias in favor of corporate communism. They often use their media outlets to promote their own viewpoints and to attack their opponents. This has led to a narrowing of the range of ideas and perspectives that are presented to the public.
Case Studies
Bill Bramhall / Copyright 2023 Tribune Content Agency
Here are a few case studies that illustrate the implications of media consolidation in the US newspaper and TV news industries:
In 2005, the private equity firm Blackstone Group acquired the newspaper chain Allied Newspapers, which included such well-known newspapers as the Detroit News and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Blackstone then cut costs by laying off hundreds of journalists and selling off some of the newspapers. As a result, the quality of journalism at these newspapers has declined significantly.
In 2019, the Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired many TV stations from Tribune Media. Sinclair is known for its conservative bias and its practice of requiring its stations to air right-wing commentary segments. As a result of the acquisition, many Americans now live in areas where they only have access to local news that is biased to the right.
In 2020, the hedge fund Alden Global Capital acquired a controlling stake in the newspaper chain McClatchy, which includes newspapers such as the Sacramento Bee and the Charlotte Observer. Alden has a reputation for cutting costs and squeezing profits out of the newspapers it owns.
JW: Are there potential solutions to the negative impacts of media ownership consolidation?
BB: Reinstate antitrust regulations: One way to address the negative impacts of media ownership consolidation is to reinstate antitrust regulations. Antitrust regulations are designed to prevent monopolies and to promote competition. By reinstating antitrust regulations, the government could prevent media companies from owning too many outlets in the same market. This would increase the diversity of media ownership and promote a wider range of voices and opinions in the media.
Support public media organizations: Public media organizations are not beholden to corporate interests. As a result, they are more likely to provide high-quality news coverage that is free from bias. The government could support public media organizations by increasing funding and by making it easier for them to distribute their content. This would give people more access to independent and unbiased news coverage.
Promote media literacy education: Media literacy education teaches people how to understand how the media works and how to critically evaluate the news they consume. This can help people to identify bias and to be more informed consumers of news. The government and educational institutions could promote media literacy education by incorporating it into school curricula and by providing resources to the public.
BB: Media Consolidation Conclusion
John Darkow / Copyright 2023 Cagle Cartoons, Inc.
Train wreck, war, shooting, disaster, death and destruction journalism sells advertising. This is not a new phenomenon in journalism. We did not invent “Yellow Journalism." The new aspect is that this kind of journalism has no significant competition other than the internet which is frequently a sewer without a body to be kicked or a soul to be damned. The internet is dominated by brain dead corporate communists GOOGLE, Microsoft, Amazon, TikTok, Facebook, etc.
Currently, the corporate communist media is engaged in hand wringing and moaning over the fact that the US is divided between red and blue states and a cold civil war. They conveniently ignore the fact that division is what sells their advertising and accurate reporting about centrist pro-democracy ideas don’t, so they don’t cover it.
BEATNIK BIRD: NEXT INTERVIEW Citizens United or how democracy was lost to corporate communist lobbyists via the privatization of Big Brother