As long as we're considering Constitutional Ammendments, could we please do something about Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad? The day that a corporation can have its head bashed in by some cop's nightstick, or sent off to die in some illegal millitary misadventure, or be thrown in prison for violating community standards is the day I'd grant them legal personhood. Until then, a corporation is just a bunch of guys in suits making money.

You help enable the criminality of our Government (top to bottom) by helping Democrats (or Republicans) win anything. Tirelessly working for Democrats IS tirelessly working for continued torture, abuse, secret prisons, gutting the Bill of Rights, and wars upon wars.

I KNOW.

That was the whole point of my post - that it's become clear that supporting the Democrats was a wasted exercise.

However, I do not believe that supporting third parties is going to help either. Hence the title of my post: "Hopelessness."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leslie-griffith/thank-you-dan-rather_b_67078.html

Leslie Griffith says:

Anchors and reporters stopped asking why. The corporate media demanded nationalism without skepticism, believing ratings would fall further if reporters did their jobs.

Anchors and reporters starting taking their stories from satellite feeds coming directly to their desks and then standing in front of a chroma key delivering a story they did not collect and sometimes did not write. If viewers think every newscast looks the same that's why. It is.

Anchors and reporters allowed chroma key pictures of conflict areas to appear behind them giving viewers the false impression they were on the scene of the conflict instead of demanding to be sent there. Some could not even point out on the map behind them where the conflict was.

Anchors and reporters allowed management to hire entertainment reporters and producers. It's cheaper to entertain than to inform because an informed public makes wakes from slumber and makes noise.

Anchors and reporters began allowing precious hours meant for journalism to be filled with helicopter shots of the latest grassfire, traffic jam, or car chase, ala O.J.

Anchors and reporters allowed news directors and sales people to dictate their "look." Good journalism does not have a "look."

Anchors and reporters did not fight back when their investigative pieces were dropped. Managers feared losing advertising dollars and reporters acquiesced.

Anchors and reporters and producers agreed to story counts. Tell the story no matter how complicated in thirty seconds - throwing random and massive amounts of information at viewers without context.

Anchors and reporters started wearing American flags on their lapels. Some of whom never voted in any election.

Anchors and reporters began using genetically altered language: "War on Terrorism," without explaining that many people in the world think Americans are the terrorists.

Anchors and reporters started referring to the United States government as "We."

Anchors and reporters were handed press releases regarding corporate "mishaps" and began reading them verbatim. Like so: "Blank Oil Company had an explosion today; shelter in place, close the doors and windows, and don't go outside. However, the 'You've Got To Be Kidding Me Oil Company' says everything is fine."

Anchors and reporters agreed to report news that was already reported in newspapers and radio. Doing their own stories or advancing others creates controversy and potential lawsuits, betraying the sacred oath of corporate cronyism.

Anchors and reporters agreed to be physically altered in photographs, and airbrushed with make-up like playboy bunnies, as the media corporations ignored the news and invested in High Definition - hoping a grassfire on HD might look like news.

Anchors and reporters started advertising. "If you liked that story there will be more at six." "If you want to get more information go to www. you're_an_idiot.com. Makes you just want to scream: I'm here now; tell me now!

Anchors and reporters allowed producers to lead with Annie Nicole Smith instead of the "Scooter" Libby trial - making it clear that all sense of proportion and good judgment had been lost.

Corporations in this country are always a reflection of those in the White House. This White House is the Wild West, and corporations, even those who are charged with helping the public gain knowledge, are mining for gold. But today, when we had almost given up, Dan put his holster on.

Now she was directing this at local TV news and not the major networks. Does this help explain or is it more of the same?

Glenn makes so many good points in this article and it really crystallizes something that I have been thinking about for a while now. We are being challenged as a nation just as we were during the revolutionary war, the civil war and to some extent WWII.

Freedom has its price and every once in a while we must be tested to see if we actually deserve the rights that we have as Americans. The Bush administration is this challenge. I'm not speaking about the war on terror I’m speaking about the "war of information". As John Rendon proclaimed he is an "information warrior" and anyone that does not agree with the Neocon information war is the enemy. That means us. Anyone that disagrees with this agenda is the enemy. Current military doctrine alludes to this also.

For me I think the average American has become lazy over the past 30 years and the rights we have are clearly taken for granted. This situation will either destroy us or make us stronger. I think it’s a needed test because clearly our country which was once strong and proud is now nothing more than a lazy couch potato. Unfortunately unless the bulk of the US population starts paying attention all will be lost. I personally think that I would rather see a bomb detonated in a major US city than to see our right and beliefs that millions of Americans have died for over the centuries quietly taken away.

To really illustrate what a different country we now live in all you have to do is look back to Watergate and more importantly the Church & Pike committees from the 1970's. The 1970's public, media and congress would refuse to allow what is going on now. There would be huge riots in the streets and mass outrage. But what is the situation now? Truthfully most of the people I talk with don’t have the slightest clue what is going on. I can’t even have a conversation about what is going on with most people. The bulk of the US couldn’t even tell you what TSP means or what the military commissions act is? These people are what frightens me. There have always been people like Bush and Cheney in the echelons of power the only difference now is that no one is holding the reigns. They have completely unchecked power and it’s the fault of the US public, the MSM and congress. So as I see it Bush and Cheney are challenging the US to stand up for our rights and deny them their absolute power. In the end if we stand up to this as a nation we will be better for it.