12 states are suing to block the $110-billion merger that would bring two of Hollywood's biggest studios under the control of Trump allies. Here's what's at stake.
Ex-Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán consolidated all of the Hungarian media into a cabal supporting his party and shoring up his power in the country. it's happening here with Trump and his supplicant oligarchs like the Ellisons and Musk.
The media industry is already too concentrated in the hands of huge corporations. If/when this Warner Bros merger goes through which will be more bad news for consumers. It's long past time that we get a 21st century version of Teddy Roosevelt and start busting the monopolies.
Americans have been taught to believe that their financial problems are caused by other ordinary Americans:
Republicans blame Democrats.
Democrats blame Republicans.
Workers blame immigrants.
The middle class blames the poor.
Rural communities blame cities, and cities blame rural America.
But while we have been fighting one another, something much larger has been happening.
The country has become deeply indebted. Workers have become more productive. Corporations have become more valuable. Yet an extraordinary share of the resulting wealth has accumulated at the very top.
The problem is not that every wealthy person is evil, nor that every political disagreement is manufactured. The problem is that concentrated wealth can purchase political access, lobbying, advertising, media influence and the power to shape the choices placed before voters.
The people financing the conflict do not need everyone to agree with them. They need us to remain angry at one another long enough that we fail to notice who is gaining wealth and power.
Our neighbors did not set our wages.
Our neighbors did not write the tax code.
Our neighbors did not eliminate competition.
Our neighbors did not decide who would receive subsidies, contracts or favorable treatment.
Our neighbors did not create a system in which wealth can buy political influence.
Ordinary Republicans and ordinary Democrats may disagree about many things. But neither group benefits when government increasingly serves concentrated wealth rather than the public.
The real divide is not simply left against right.
It is increasingly those who must live under the rules against those wealthy enough to shape the rules.
Thank you so much for the complete description of the 12 Attorney General’s lawsuit against the merger – listing all of the cable channels and streaming services that will be included - in addition to the percentage of movies they would control. Truly making us feel like we’re living in a totally censored country.I was already frightened, but now I am even more so!
Ex-Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán consolidated all of the Hungarian media into a cabal supporting his party and shoring up his power in the country. it's happening here with Trump and his supplicant oligarchs like the Ellisons and Musk.
The media industry is already too concentrated in the hands of huge corporations. If/when this Warner Bros merger goes through which will be more bad news for consumers. It's long past time that we get a 21st century version of Teddy Roosevelt and start busting the monopolies.
Let me as you a fairly simple question, who benefits most from the following consistently repeated legislative actions that:
* lowers taxes on wealth and investment more than on salaries;
* cuts to public benefits while protecting advantages for business owners;
* weakens workers’ ability to bargain collectively;
* allows unlimited political spending by corporations and wealthy interests;
* reduces enforcement against monopolies, financial abuse, pollution, wage theft, or unsafe products;
* permits industries to regulate themselves or places industry insiders in charge of their regulators;
* privatizes public services so taxpayers carry the risk while private investors receive the profit;
* runs up public debt to finance tax advantages whose largest benefits flow upward.
* Removing protections for Federal parks and reserves for expanded drilling, mining, grazing, and commercial development.
The answer to this question is deserving of serious consideration because your life and wellbeing depend on it.
The Enemy of My Enemy
or What’s a plutocrat
While We Were Fighting Each Other…
Americans have been taught to believe that their financial problems are caused by other ordinary Americans:
Republicans blame Democrats.
Democrats blame Republicans.
Workers blame immigrants.
The middle class blames the poor.
Rural communities blame cities, and cities blame rural America.
But while we have been fighting one another, something much larger has been happening.
The country has become deeply indebted. Workers have become more productive. Corporations have become more valuable. Yet an extraordinary share of the resulting wealth has accumulated at the very top.
The problem is not that every wealthy person is evil, nor that every political disagreement is manufactured. The problem is that concentrated wealth can purchase political access, lobbying, advertising, media influence and the power to shape the choices placed before voters.
The people financing the conflict do not need everyone to agree with them. They need us to remain angry at one another long enough that we fail to notice who is gaining wealth and power.
Our neighbors did not set our wages.
Our neighbors did not write the tax code.
Our neighbors did not eliminate competition.
Our neighbors did not decide who would receive subsidies, contracts or favorable treatment.
Our neighbors did not create a system in which wealth can buy political influence.
Ordinary Republicans and ordinary Democrats may disagree about many things. But neither group benefits when government increasingly serves concentrated wealth rather than the public.
The real divide is not simply left against right.
It is increasingly those who must live under the rules against those wealthy enough to shape the rules.
Thank you so much for the complete description of the 12 Attorney General’s lawsuit against the merger – listing all of the cable channels and streaming services that will be included - in addition to the percentage of movies they would control. Truly making us feel like we’re living in a totally censored country.I was already frightened, but now I am even more so!