mediacopp.blogspot.com

Gosh, where do I begin? But yes, I DO hate the media...I know that's a strong word and one that shouldn't be tossed around so irresponsibly...and nobody wants to be labeled a "hater," but I do, I do hate the media. Why the visceral discontent?

Again, where do I begin? Over the next few weeks, months, years, I will attempt to explain my utter disdain for the profession, a profession I aspired to long ago (journalism), a profession that has been so bastardized as to barely resemble what myself and many other J school participants once dreamed.

Yes, I admit it. I was a journalism student...prior to and during the Lou Grant era...you know, the curmudgeonly mock news room editor for Mary Richards' (played by Mary Tyler Moore) Minneapolis TV station before his firing and eventual return as city editor for the fictional Los Angeles Tribune. Ah yes, TV fare from the late 70's and early 80's (plus WKRP in Cincinatti...but I digress)...

Yeah, I started out in the radio business...and we hated TV (and TV people/personalities)...and we had little use for print journalists either...in radio, there was room for everything...music, sports, entertainment, hard news, even comedy...but then something went horribly, horribly, wrong...Rush Limbaugh...

Well, not Rush Limbaugh per se, but talk radio in general...much like the internet today (and ugh, bloggers such as myself), talk radio took a nasty, nasty turn back in the 80's... into what is now the "he said, she said," mentality that permeates the entire media to this day...not only that, but the one up-manship that is (also) prevalent today.

What do I mean? Well, Rush Limbaugh says he was/is simply the "equal time" to NPR and PBS and network news, etc., which he claimed was becoming increasingly left leaning in viewpoint and philosophy. Then, CNN, et al, countered him. Then, Fox News counters them. Then...well, you get the picture (talk about bi-polar)...

Hence, the name, "MediaCopp," incorporating my last name and (current) profession...yes, after leaving journalism behind, I went into law enforcement (ha-ha, I get it...a cop named "Copp," I get jokes)...hey, no joke...that IS my real name. Nevertheless, much of this blog will be mediating or officiating between the factions, conservative AND liberal...so that hopefully, one day, we can find common ground...

Well, common ground without having to resort to lithium, risperdal or adderal...

The rich will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER pay their fair share of taxes. It simply won't happen. It's not fair. Nobody likes it (not even the "rich"). But it's reality. The fees, fines, tariffs, surcharges, levy's, etc., etc., will always find their way to the ever-shrinking middle class. The "rich" are not shrinking. The "poor" are not shrinking. The middle class is. Why?

Is it the fundamental flaws in the philosophy of capitalism? Or have we so strayed from the basic tenets of capitalism (to quasi-socialism) that we can never go back (to true capitalism). You may be surprised to hear that I think we're headed in the right direction. Huh?

Yes, it's currently unfair...and the only way for it to be "fairer" is for government to provide equalization. That, my friends, is what governance in the 21st century should become...they should be catalysts...catalysts for change...catalysts for "correct" change...the old adage that "life is unfair" need not continue. Rather, we should strive for "Fairness." Hope and change are all well and good, but Fairness (I believe) is where we need to focus.

But who decides what's fair? That's easy...NOT the people who have been deciding up to now. Our new president and his administration have the unique opportunity to add "fairness" to the hope/change agenda they have promised. Sure, many will say they ARE the people who have been deciding up to now. The Clintonistas, the Bushie war-mongers, Lehman Brother/Goldman-Sachs/Citigroup retreads are surrounding (and comprising) the "new" administration. But I disagree.

Have no fear. President-elect Obama has been clear that HE is in charge. All these people will have to answer to HIM. Fairness, especially when it comes to tax policy, will be at the forefront of the Obama administration. The "rich" WILL begin to pay their fair share of taxes. I believe you can count on that. Why am I so sure?

It'll be just like the current controversy in the mainstream press. The controversy regarding Rick Warren, the pastor of the Mega-church in Southern California, and his speaking at the Obama inauguration. Because Pastor Warren was chosen to speak at the inauguration, gay rights groups (and the duplicitous media) have gone BALLISTIC!

That's not surprising. What IS surprising, however, is what they're "ballistic" about. The issue, according to EVERY report I've seen and heard is that Pastor Warren is against gay marriage (yes, a hot bed issue) and should not speak...the news articles, televised/broadcast interviews (EVERY SINGLE ONE), has focused on this specifically...with nary a mention of President-elect Obama's similar views against gay marriage.

There! Right there! When you think about it, using the same logic, the "rich" should be opening their wallets wide. I understand it hasn't happened up to now, but I think you get the idea. This is a new day. Hope. Change. Fairness. Peace.

Folks...it appears due to the lukewarm response I've received, that few people if any are truly concerned about the budget crisis here in Californica. Granted, my simplistic approach to solving said crisis could use a tad more research and consideration, but these lunchtime rantings are not quite the venue for absolutes; rather, they are more or less suggestions...many would say, "hey, the media is NOT the place to shape public policy...or offer suggestions or directions." They would add, "the (media) are a reflection of public thought and perception." Pshaw!!!!!

Headline in the Scab-ramento Bee today, "Governor sounds alarm," along with the obligatory, "Financial Armageddon coming, he warns"...then just below that, an odometer of sorts showing the state's budget shortfall "second by second," or -$6,607,788,738 (and counting)...granted, it was the governator and his people doing the sensationalizing, but the "media" lapped it up. Okay, okay, we all know the severity, but where are the answers? Well, yes, they're right here on mediacopp.blogspot.com, but I haven't seen 'em anywhere else. Sure, I heard musings of the potheads potentially getting what they want (legalization), but little else.

The Bee of course tosses out their patented, "Republicans aren't offering solutions and are unwilling to compromise," but we taxpayers know that's untrue...I mean, the budgets are ALWAYS, ALWAYS balanced with a combination of cuts and taxes...ALWAYS...they might "say" there are no new taxes, but there are ALWAYS revenue generators EVERYWHERE...why the Bee wants to perpetuate the deceit, I don't know. Likewise, right wing factions attempt to maintain that "Democrats refuse to stop spending and won't cut (even) bloated programs," although EVERY year programs are slashed to the bone.

Lest ye think I'm not serious, let me briefly summarize my multi-step plan to balance this (and future) budget(s)...number #1, legalize (and tax the hell out of) marijuana; number #2, assist, neigh encourage (and of course, legalize) gay marriage...bring as many responsible, hard working, taxpaying people (as possible) to California; number #3, which is an addendum to #2, would be to use the issue of "marriage" to generate revenue...I mean, tax for marriage, tax for divorce...it's a win-win...number #4, a California ID card...it's not a panacea mind you...but simply a matter of convenience (to pay extra if you don't happen to have your card with you)...

But let's not stop there...before we ship this list off to Arnold and Darrell and all the folks under the Capitol Dome, why not throw in sin taxes on more entities than just the obligatory, beer, wine and cigarettes...dry cleaning comes to mind...hell, I'll walk around in wrinkled clothes if I have to...no biggie...AHA! But what about the poor lone proprietor of your local "Martinizer?" Believe me, they'll survive...you know that most those "mom and pop" shops ship their clothes elsewhere to be cleaned? Did you know that? But I digress...

What about the gambling industry? Sports books? On-line betting? Super Bowl pools? Granted, it didn't quite work with the lottery...you know, the insipid (and untruthful) "our kids win too," crap...but, this time, we don't have to lie to anyone...the MONEY IS FOR US...well, maybe it's more for the huge new bureaucracy that will be created in order to bottle our new "Nevada-lite." But no, we won't be Nevada...or infringe on the Indian Gaming industry...all I'm saying is that there has GOT to be a way to make this work for us...

Do you have any suggestions? Send 'em in...we'll get it to Arnold...eventually...hey, just using my multi-point plan will generate more than enough revenue for years (and decades) to come. But do we care? I say "Yes!!!" Well, unless of course we don't...

Here it is, Thursday, already? It's my lunch hour and time to post, eh? Unfortunately, I feel like crap today and I'll probably go home after I finish this...what to do, what to do...I have a lot of topics in mind...for instance, the budget crisis is still alive and well here in Californica. My blog is becoming increasingly popular (thank you both) as I received a newspaper clipping from one of you about a recent (very) large marijuana bust here in the Golden State. I attempted to link it, but being a complete techno-ignoramus, I can only give you the address and hope you can access it from here:

http://www.sacbee.com/288/story/1413222.html

Anyway, the gist of the story is the report last week of approximately 5.2 million pot plants being siezed in a number of California counties during an eradication program operated from July through October...the street value of the contraband was, get this, $15.8 BILLION dollars...yes, THAT'S POTENTIAL TAX REVENUE...speaking of revenue, the automakers are seeking more by way of our tax dollars...what the heck, saddle on up to the trough, right? You know, Michael Moore didn't have it much wrong when he opened his usually errant mouth and wondered aloud why the politocos were all hot and bothered by the auto executives use of private jets, etc. while pleading poverty; HOWEVER, the banking officials (with outstretched hands and arms) weren't offered the same critique. Hmmm, maybe the left leaning, Bush-hating, never met a buffet I couldn't inhale, docu-dramatist DOES have a few good points...

Okay, more points...pointed heads, that is...what's the deal with the re-elected congress person hanging up on President-elect Barack Obama...not once, but twice...because she thought he was a prank call from one of her district's radio stations....ha-ha-ha-ha, yes that Barack is quite a character. Ha-ha-ha-ha, yeah, the congressperson made mention of maybe a "Saturday Night Live" impersonator pulling the prank...hilarious, right?

Which brings me to my next observation...celebrity presidents...we DO like those better...I mean, media-darlings or media-wooches? You make the choice. A darling in the mold of Bill Clinton or a wooch (i.e. schlemiel, doofus, ditz) ala George W. Bush...guess which one Obama's gonna be? And, talk about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer...our President-elect REALLY knows how to be a "uniter, not a divider." Look at his appointments...I mean, the Clintonistas are returning in droves...and the media is lapping it up...but more on that later...

One more side note on the duplicitous media before I close this rendition of deathless prose...did you see the headlines Monday? The media was "all about" reporting a "sharp rebound" from the "meager" 680 point drop in the Dow last Friday (that's nearly TEN percent)...WHAT? Sure, a few bargain hunters bought a few cheap stocks and so the media calls it a "sharp rebound." Yep, get ready for more "shiny, happy headlines." Man, we are in trouble...but more on that later...