The Uninvited Ombudsman:
An observation for news-media people in general -- July 2, 2005
Dear Editor,
Cities nationwide just got short but saturation coverage of the "U.S. gives 50,000 tons of food to N. Korea" story. I got it from six outlets in Phoenix.
Not surprisingly, all the versions were nearly identical. That's because the propagated story was a straight government handout, with no actual reporting involved. There in a nutshell is why we, the people, no longer trust you, the news media, as much as we used to, or would like to.
In my "state" newspaper, The Arizona Republic, the two paragraphs began, "The Bush Administration announced ..." and "The White House said ..." pretty much like every other version. It was the same where you live, right? Your comrades aren't even pretending to report, or displaying even rudimentary curiosity. It's pure government lapdog, zero public watchdog. You only say you're a watchdog.
Even the most frenzied writer or editor, with no legwork at all, could do some head math and find that though it sounds so magnanimous, it's not. Think -- Americans often eat meals that weigh a pound. If you could just subsist on one pound daily, the hundred million pounds would feed the 22 million communist subjects for 4-1/2 days.
Many Americans would prefer that you ask the hardball questions, like, "Why does the executive branch think it has legitimate power to "donate" so much of our money to, well, anyone?" Aren't you the least bit curious how much money the public treasury loses in the deal? What sort of discount does one get on a million pounds of groceries?
News orgs obviously ripped and ran -- took the handout without thought. It's become your job. What kind of food is it? Fresh produce or rice? Who sold it (and got all the cash)? You don't know (or care, we imagine), because from writer to publisher you seem content as a government tool. It's what you do. You haven't even questioned your source, "the wire." You never do. You believe it's truth. Pravda.
We're wise to you. ------------------
The kind of food is important, and meaningful. What's really happened here is that government people made a deal with food people to take my money, and your money, and buy a mountain of food. This way, the food people get a lot of money, and their books look good this month. Most people do not realize that when we "give aid" we are often just pouring money into private hands. Salaries and overheads are covered by money taken personally from me and you under the guise of fair taxation. The government didn't announce that part, doesn't want you thinking about the man behind the curtain. The media is then complicit in the widely propagated announcement. Itsa complex.
We might start believing you again when your stories start looking like the rewrite below. But then we'd be informed, and the public could start owning its government again, instead of the other way around. Most people do want this, but the political left (a euphemism for socialist-style governance) fundamentally opposes such empowerment. The news coverage and slants we get speak for themselves.
"Cambpell's soup concluded a deal today to sell ten million cans of chicken soup to the U.S. Dept. of Magnanimous Giveaways, putting the company's books firmly in the black this quarter, The Arizona Republic has learned. Floundering recently, stock price for the parent food conglomerate jumped six percent on the news. The food, paid for with taxpayer's money, will be given to the communist North Korean ruling clique. Although the White House labeled the giveaway a "humanitarian gesture," it is presumed that strings are attached, and sources close to dictator Kim Jong-il said in 2002 he plans to create a nuclear crisis for leverage with us. At least five other food producers have made similar government deals, to raise the 100 million total pounds promised in this controversial 'donation'." Same word count.
Everyone who has hopes that the news media will straighten up and become a watchdog again, raise your hands. See? Few hands go up. Time to change.
========================== FYI:
The original, with no byline (presumably because no reporter had a hand in its creation) was attributed simply "Wire Services":
U.S. to Give 50,000 Tons of Food Aid to N. Korea (6/23/05)
Washington -- The Bush Administration announced Wednesday that it will donate 50,000 tons of food aid to North Korea, just days after the reclusive state indicated a willingness to return to regional talks over its nuclear program.
The White House said the aid is a humanitarian gesture unrelated to the political climate or to the potential for renewed talks. At the same time, officials declined to comment on revelations Wednesday that the administration received an overture from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in November 2002, in which he said he wanted to resolve a budding nuclear crisis between the two countries.
Sincerely,
Alan Korwin Publisher
Contact: Alan Korwin BLOOMFIELD PRESS "We publish the gun laws."
4718 E. Cactus #440 Phoenix, AZ 85032 602-996-4020 Phone 602-494-0679 FAX 1-800-707-4020 Orders[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Alan Korwin believes, as do I, that when Americans begin taking the Second Amendment as seriously as they take the First, there is a good chance the government in the USA can be redeemed for the people. Until the time comes that American citizens are able to _openly and freely bear arms_ if that is their choice, without all sorts of bogus reasoning on why this person or that person should not be allowed to have a gun, then we should expect our freedoms to continue to deteriorate (as they have since 9-11-2001) in the name of Homeland Security, etc.
Alan Korwin also believes, as do I, that the mass media in the USA has become more and more a disgrace in the past few years, as it parrots without question the policies and ideas presented by our resident president. And yet, people say that we here on the Internet are irresponsible in _our_ journalism. You might like getting on Alan Korwin's mailing lists, the man speaks the truth about so many things. Anyway, have a happy Independence Day, and wish for a time (hopefully in our lifetimes) when there will be _true independence for all_ in this land; not just the ones who say the right words and have the right thoughts. PAT]