Framing the Dialogue

If you follow my posts, you probably know that I like economics.  I my travels I had heard about a French writer, Claude Frederic Bastiat who cleverly exposes economic sophisms.   I had thought that sophisms were similar to myths, but a sophism actually is meant to deceive.  I have come to believe that most of the economic drivel that we are fed is meant to fool us while allowing those in power to tinker with our future.

Tinkering is bad.

Economic Sophisms was published in the 1840s and subsequently translated.  The translator retained much of the flavor of the language of the period, thus it is difficult to read at times.  I found that the book was one where I had to be in a quiet place to read.  That is probably true of most economic books that I have read.  Once into the book, it is clear that Bastiat was a master toying with the perpetrators of sophisms.  He often used their very own arguments against him.

Early in the book, Bastiat outlines the biggest problem with battling economic lies;

“We must confess that our adversaries have a marked advantage over us in the discussion.  In very few words they can announce a half-truth; and in order to demonstrate that it is incomplete, we are obliged to have recourse to long and dry dissertations.  This arises from the nature of things.  Protection concentrates on one point the good which it produces, while the evils which it inflicts are spread over the masses.  The one is visible to the naked eye; the other only to the eye of the mind.”

I think the best way to summarize the book and how to expose sophisms is by virtue of a bullet list that can be used.  They are in no particular order of importance, but are some that I highlighted while reading:

• One way to expose a sophism is to submit them to the test of exaggeration.  A good example of this was a conversation that I had with my father-in-law about minimum wage.  He believed that a federally mandated minimum or living wage was necessary.  I argued the extreme that he was correct, but the mandates were insufficient and should actually be $25.00 per hour; a true living wage.
• “Consumption is the end and final cause of all the economic phenomena, and it is in consumption consequently that we must expect to find their ultimate and definitive solution.”  When someone advocates a new economic policy, follow the path of the policy to see how it affects the cost to the consumer.  If it is causes an increase in your costs, your ability to purchase goods is reduced and you are harmed…your wealth has diminished.  This is a very simple test.
• Look beyond the immediate result claimed in any economic policy.  “What misleads…is that they judge of them by their immediate and transitory effects, instead of following them out to their general and definitive consequences.”  That is the difficultly in arguing against sophisms; you have to get people to think beyond the initial results.

It doesn’t take much to find examples in our everyday lives.  As I was finishing this book, I read an article about American catfish farmers fighting the importation of Vietnamese imports.  In the “catfish wars” the farmers are using every sophism to block the import of less expensive Vietnamese catfish.  The Americans have called for tariffs, a complex labeling law, and even winning a fight to prevent the Vietnamese fish from being called catfish. 

As you read the article, keep in mind the second principle bullet.  Does the action to benefit the few (American catfish farmers) cost the many (consumers) more?  Think of how many ways that you can substitute “catfish” for other protected industries…Steel, toys, automobiles, shoes, grapes, etc.

I will end with a few of my favorite passages:

“Our ignorance is the raw material of every extortion from which we suffer, and we may be certain beforehand, that every sophism is the precursor of an act of plunder.” [emphasis added]

“Thus, we arrive at the result to which all economic sophisms, numerous as they are, conduct us, namely, confounding the means with the end, and developing the one at the expense of the other. [emphasis added]

“Men have an immoderate love of enjoyment, of influence, of consideration, of power - in a word, of wealth.  At the same time, they are urged on by a strong, an overpowering, inclination to procure the things they so much desire, at the expense of other people.  But these other people - in plain language, the public - have an equally strong desire to keep what they have got, if they can, and if they know it.”

“We should not be paying nearly two milliards [a great deal of money] of taxes, if we did not empower those who live upon them to vote them.”

“The seeds of the Little War were planted in a restless summer during the mid-1960s, with sit-ins and student demonstrations as youth tested its strength. By the early 1970s over 75 percent of the people living on Earth were under 21 years of age.

The population continued to climb — and with it the youth percentage.

In the 1980s the figure was 79.7 percent.

In the 1990s, 82.4 percent. In the year 2000 — critical mass.”

                           William F. Nolan & George Clayton Johnson (Introduction to the novel Logan’s Run)

I have to admit that I never read the book, but vividly remember seeing the movie when it was released.  I would have been 15 and Farrah Fawcett was in the movie, though not in a major role.  Essentially the movie was about a society where citizens did not venture outside their boundaries and resources were limited.  In order to manage consumption citizens are fitted with a crystal in their palm that changes color when they reach a certain age.

When the color of your crystal changes, you must seek renewal.  As I remember, there was a big ceremony where the older folks float upward toward possible renewal.  The bad news is that there is no renewal and all of the older folks are killed thus keeping the population limited and preserving scarce resources.  The problem in Logan’s society is that “old” is only 21.  Logan is a “Sandman” who has the duty to hunt down and kill folks who just are not quite ready to renew. 

I remembered this movie as I was listening to some of the comments regarding planned “Healthcare Reform.”  The parallels to this movie are astounding.  How many times have you heard that our healthcare system is broken?  Our resources are stretched and millions do not have healthcare.

Framing the Dialogue Check:  Politicians and Pundits use the term healthcare and health insurance interchangeably.  They are not the same.  By law, hospitals cannot refuse care to ANYONE.  If you do not have health insurance and you are very sick you can go to an Emergency Room for HEALTHCARE.  Everyone does not have health insurance, but everyone has healthcare available in America. 

Getting back to Logan’s Run and our heath care system.  In Logan’s society, they decided that the proper way to managed resources was to kill everyone over a certain age.  I am not suggesting that our elected officials are planning such a program, but as you read this quote from our President, it may send a chill down your spine;

“Additional tests or additional drugs that the evidence shows is not necessarily going to improve care. Maybe you’re better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller.”

That quote does not necessarily sound too unreasonable until you combine it with the plan to have a government body determine what is “necessary.”  I am NOT comfortable with a government body setting policy on what type of medical care that I get.  Those kinds of interactions and decisions should be made between a person and his doctor.  Government does not belong there.

A compelling case is also being made to make all of our health records available in electronic format.  That sounds great.  If you are on vacation 1,000 miles from home and have an emergency, all of your records would be available.  Call me a skeptic, but I do not believe that our medical records would be secure.  If the Defense Department cannot prevent hackers from accessing classified data, what are the chances that your health records will be safe?

The hospital industry and other companies are salivating at the prospect of Big Healthcare. 

“With substantial funding for adoption and expansion of health IT at the provider, facility, regional, and national levels, we can make real progress.  It will be important in the execution to include sufficient flexibility in the decisions and deployments undertaken such that today’s various data and information formats can all be managed, as well as the forthcoming standards to be developed.”

                           Carl Buising, MD, executive director of healthcare, U.S. Public Sector Health at Microsoft

A few terms jump right out at me;

“Substantial funding” – translation – a whole lot of tax dollars that will have to be first taken from you and me.  I am not a big fan of government taking my money, but this is in the Stimulus Bill.

“Execution” – I am sure that he meant it in a software development way not a Logan’s Run kill you when you get old sort of way.

“Forthcoming standards to be developed” – This is the most troubling one.  I have never seen anyone ask the President what will be the scope of the standards.  I believe that the American Medical Association publishes standards, so why do we need government to do it again.  An area to watch is the “Research on Comparative Effectiveness of Medical Treatments.  This document exists and was published by the Congressional Budget Office and states:

“which treatments work best for which patients and whether the added benefits of more effective, but more expensive services are sufficient to warrent their added costs.”

There is validity to this concept, I am not comfortable having a government agency, committee, or, God help us, another czar decree the standards.

This may sound conspiratorial, but could there be a connection between the electronic records and the standard of your care?  Are future doctors likely to be on-line during your exam, entering your test results and waiting for an approved treatment program from Washington?  Gee Mr. Smith, you smoke and are overweight so in order to preserve resources, we need you to step into this room for “renewal.”

What I love (and by “love” I mean hate) about big government pundits is that they always want to use a hatchet when a scalpel is indicated.  There are problems with healthcare costs.  I do believe that America has the BEST healthcare on Earth, but costs are increasing.  The answer from BIG GOV is bigger government.
Why not try a few simple steps first:

• Pass tort reform to minimize the number of lawsuits filed against doctors.  This should reduce the costs to the doctors and eliminate defensive medicine.  Lower costs to doctors and fewer unnecessary tests should cost us less.  Simple.
• Enforce illegal immigration laws (i.e. build the border fence that was legislated).  By all accounts, hospitals in border states are being bankrupted by the costs to treat illegal immigrants.  Remember, hospitals cannot refuse treatment.  These costs are added to the bills of those who have health insurance giving us the $200 aspirin. 
• Institute the Fair Tax.  I know that does not have anything to do directly with health care, but the IRS agents that would no longer be necessary could then be used to investigate Medicare and Medicaid fraud. 

Why not try these first and see what happens? 

That would be an appropriate treatment plan.

You may not remember where you were when this bill was passed.  Most of the country was a twitter about Michael Jackson’s death.  Those of us in tune with politics did our screaming and yelling, but most Americans were busy listening as TV hosts speculated on how he died.  The timing was not good for Mr. Jackson, but could not have been better for the Obamacrats.

Here are some notable quotes:

“the most important energy and environmental legislation in the history of our country.  It sets a new course for our country, one that steers us away from foreign oil and towards a path of clean American energy.”

                                                 Ed Markey (D-MA, co-sponsor of the bill)

“This is a transformative moment.  This is a moment to build a clean energy future for our country.  This is a moment to create jobs.  This is a moment to take on, at long last, a defining challenge of our time: global warming.”

                                                 Steny Hoyer (D-MD, House Majority Leader)

“It will make our nation the world leader on clean energy jobs and technology”

                                                 Henry Waxman (D-CA, Chairman -House Energy &Commerce Committee)

“an essential first step towards solving the climate crisis.”

                                                 Al Gore (D-World, large investor in carbon trading complex)

While the legislation was passed as the Clean Energy and Security Act, it is better known as a cap-and-trade plan.  Under the plan the government will set a cap or limit on emissions from industries that emit greenhouse gas under their required permit ($$$).  Initially the companies bearing the brunt of the policies wil be electricity generators.  Should a company exceed their cap, they may “purchase” (from Al Gore) carbon offsets ($$$) or “buy” permits from other companies ($$$) or pay to install cleaner equipment ($$$).  Thus making the use of fossil fuels for power more expensive.

What’s in the bill:  A government agency under the direction of President Obama will set “limits” or “caps” on power generators that will increase the cost to produce electricity.

What’s that mean to us:  Energy companies will pass these costs on to us in the form of higher energy prices.  We wil then have less money to spend or save or invest.  Please remember that EVERYTHING that you buy will take energy to grow/produce/ship to you.  Higher energy costs will not be limited to your electric bill.

What’s in the bill:  The legislative branch will have unfettered power to “regulate” emissions from companies that emit greenhouse gasses.  President Obama’s stated plan:

“What I’ve said is that we would put a cap and trade policy in place that is as aggressive if not more aggressive than anyone out there… whatever power plants are being built, they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted-down caps that are imposed every year.  So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can. It’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.”

What’s that mean to us:  Less available energy, more expensive energy, less reliable energy sources, lower standard of living.

What’s in the bill:  The bill targets “major” emitters for caps.

What’s that mean to us:  The term “major” means many things to many people.  A concern is when the government determines what is major and “ratcheted-down” caps and then ratchets down again and again and again.  The bottom line is higher costs to us.

What’s in the bill:  Mandates for use of renewable energy sources.

What’s that mean to us:  Costlier energy.

What’s in the bill:  Strict energy efficiency standard for appliances.

What’s that mean to us:  Artificial (as opposed to market driven) standards generally cost more up front even though there are energy savings realized.  Read about the Prius. 

What’s in the bill:  Billions of dollars to fund research into technology to capture carbon emissions from coal and store them underground.

What’s that mean to us:  We will pay to dig up coal, use it to make electricity, have to recapture the carbon and bury it where we took out the coal.  Sounds expensive.

What’s in the bill:  “a variety of concessions to agriculture groups.  These were payoffs to get support of representatives of from those states.  Can you feel the CHANGE in Washington?

What’s that mean to us:  Concessions usually mean subsidies which translate into higher prices for food.  Your grocery bill just went up.  You will probably be putting more corn in your car than your belly.

What’s in the bill:  A tariff on imports from nations such as China that fail to cut their emissions.

What’s that mean to us:  China may be the biggest holder of our debt.  Our politicians have brought us to the point where we are not in a position to tell China what to do.  Tariff raise the price of goods which reduce your ability to buy stuff, meaning you will have less stuff, meaning your quality of life will be lower.

What’s in the bill:  Who knows what else is in the bill as NOT ONE of the folks who voted for the bill actually read it and understood it.  Rep. John Boehner may have the quote of the day calling the legislation a “pile of s__t.”

What’s that mean to us:  Our elected officials continue to vote on bills that they have never read.  This is astonishing!  We need to bounce them out of office at the next opportunity.  That goes for TARP, Stimulus, and now this piece of s__t.  If you voted for it, do not count on my vote.

What about the future:  The President seems to have every intention to use this bill to the international community and formulate a world-wide system of caps and trades.  This would subjugate our autonomy to world organizations.  This could be the first step toward global government and the loss of our freedoms.  If you think that I am a nut, read about it.

Why the skepticism:  I say why the rush.  We need a sound energy policy, but why pass a bill that was never read?  What happened to President Obama’s PROMISE that legislation will be on-line for at least five days before it comes to a vote?  The Democrats added some 300 pages of blood money at 3:00 am in the form of an amendment.  That seemed to BUY enough votes to get it passed.  What is there to hide?

Why the skepticism Part 2:  How does a comprehensive energy bill not include incentives for nuclear power?  Even the French use nuclear power.  According to President Obama, even the Iranians deserve nuclear power.  Why don’t we?

Why the skepticism Part 3:  Al Gore is involved.

Why the skepticism Part 4:  The politicians are again passing legislation that a majority of Americans do not want. 

What’s next:  You will have to call and e-mail, and text, and call, and e-mail, and visit your Senators to make sure that they do not pass this legislation. 

We can and must stop this!

And after that:  We will have to do the same for Obamacare, Card Check (American Unionization Act), Immigration “Reform” (Amnesty for All Act), Stimulus 2 (Pork Act 2), etc.  There will be no rest at least until November 2010 and only then if we throw the bums out…all of them.

Living life is fun and we’ve just begun
To get our share of the world’s delights.

Update  June 30, 2009 - In a different twist on the “We Are Family” theme, Monica Conyers was a city councilwoman from Detroit.  I used the term “was” since she had to resign after pleading guilty to accepting a bribe from a contractor in return for her vote to award a lucrative contract to the firm. 

The family twist is that Monica Conyers is the wife of Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and reportedly owes her election to the fact that she is married to a powerful Democrat congressman.  The fact that Mr. Conyers is also the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee adds a little irony to the story.  Mrs. Conyers is facing up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.  The key phrase is “up to” as I would be lying if I thought that she would get anything but community service.

What is up in Detroit?  First former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleads guily to a crime, does no jail time, and ends up living in a $1 million dollar house.  In his defense, it is a rental, but it is a rental that 95% of law-abiding Americans could not afford. 

I would expect Mr. Conyers to support the maximum penalty for defrauding the public by accepting bribes.  He has been a very outspoken critic of alleged crimes by the former Bush Administration and has promised full investigations into allegations of the “Imperial Presidency.”  He may have to rethink that moniker for President Bush as Obama may have already registered the domain name for himself. 

Conyers’ case against Bush at this point these are just allegations while his wife’s infractions admittedly took place.  You can read the full 487 page report released by Mr. Conyers (wonder what that cost the taxpayers).  I am not holding my breath that Mr. Conyers will have anything but support for his wife.

Read my orignal post here. 

As I listened to  his program last week, Glenn and Stu were discussing, Glenn Beck’s Common Sense.  One thing that they were discussing grabbed me; our congressmen earn more than 95% of ALL American families.  In addition to the nice salary, they also provide themselves with such necessities as subsidized gym memberships, free parking in Washington, and even their own cafeterias.  These cafeterias are exclusive meaning you or I cannot eat there even though we are paying for it.  It is interesting that their salary always falls beneath any demagogued “rich” salary. 

These are the same folks who complain and want to set salaries and wages for corporate CEO’s and eventually all of us.  I guess in their mind that makes sense since they also set their own salaries and routinely give themselves raises.  I was told by my organization not to expect any kind of “cost-of-living” adjustment for at least two years, but Congress got their raise this year.  It seems that there was nothing that they could do to stop it.  They sleazily slide these measures into legislation so that the raises are automatic and they never have to routinely “vote” themselves a raise.

I went home that night and ordered the book from Amazon (I should buy stock in them since I buy so many books).  It took a little longer than usual for my copy to arrive, but it does sit atop Amazon’s Bestsellers list so demand for the book has been high.  It is interesting to note that three of the top four Amazon Bestselling books were written by more conservative authors (#1 Glenn Beck’s Common Sense, #3 Mark Levin’s Liberty and Tryany, and # 4 Dick Morris’ Catastrophe).   

In Common Sense, Glenn Beck takes aim (verbally) at an out of control government.  Beck provides a lot of examples of government tyranny and arrogance; “politicians aren’t like you and me.  They are like some alien life form who believes they are of higher intelligence, don’t have to live by the same rules, and have no personal shame.”  My guess is that the difficulty in writing this book was not finding examples, but deciding which of the trillions of examples to include.

An interesting suggestion noted in the book was one attributed from one of my favorite writers, Thomas Sowell.  Prof. Sowell suggests that we move election day to April 16 to position the day politicians seek our vote right after they have compelled us to send them vast sums of our hard earned money.  Glenn asks and I have to wonder whether it is just a coincidence that election day is about as far away on the calendar from tax day as possible.

The bottom line is that our elected officials really only care about their power and getting elected.  They feed us a little pork and we keep electing them.  These folks are no longer underground and most are quite bold about their agenda. 

A surprising organization that currently has 80 members is the Congressional Progressive Caucus included in this group are 11 (of 20) chairmen of congressional committees.  Over 50% of standing congressional committees are controlled by progressives.  There are probably more, but these are the ones who actually admit it.  Nancy Pelosi is no longer a member, but you would be hard pressed to convince me that she is not a progressive.

Glenn does a good job of providing us fuel to fire us up and he is always very careful to speak against violence (I agree).  What I found lacking and had hoped for was a more robust call to action for the average reader.  I felt my own call in November of 2008 and started this site, but many want to do more.  My guess that the folks that rushed out to buy the book are already the citizens who regularly call and write their elected officials.

I guess what I am looking for is a person who will lead and maybe that is what Glenn is doing.  To his credit, he released his book directly as a paperback and it is cheaply priced.  In his book, he does not really differentiate between Democrats and Republicans since they are all mostly the same, just to varying degrees.  His non-partisan critique of politicians should increase his voice and by virtue of this book, he is positioning himself as a leader.

We need leadership and a leader who already has a pretty big soapbox…say like the third most listened to radio show in America.

Two things that I am doing is changing my registration to Independent and am going to attend a local Tea Party this weekend, take pictures, and write about it.  I am also going to keep blogging.

What are you going to do?

I am driving to meeting and listening to Glenn Beck go on and on about the end of our country as we know it.  This is really heavy stuff and I am getting more and more depressed and it is all that I can do not to drive headlong into a bridge abutment lest my head explode.  But I listen and I learn.  I think that Glenn’s next book should be titled “Not For the Squeamish.”

I finish my meeting and happen to pass a Costco on my way back to the office so I stop in for a very inexpensive and good lunch.  Before I eat, however, I take a spin around the store.  As I passed the book isle, a rather large book caught my eye. Country Wisdom & Know-How is subtitled “Everything You Need to Know to Live Off the Land” and this grabbed my attention.  I know that it sounds a little extreme as I live in the suburbs, but it seemed like a practical book to have around…just in case.

This was not a book that I sat down and read cover to cover.  I did page through the book to look at the “8,167 useful skills and step-by-step instructions” to take an inventory of its offerings.  This book is NOT a Man VS Wild primer as it cover varied topics from attracting birds, to cooking with tofu, to quilting basics, to recipes for home remedies, to sharpening tools, to building a cold frame. 

In Country Wisdom, storey publications packs a lot of information.  The book is just what the title implies, a basic guide to help you do the type of activities that folks who live in the country learned from their elders.  I am not about to build a chicken coop to start collecting eggs (I am pretty sure that there is an ordinance against it), but building a cold frame is now on my summer project list.

I do not know if I will ever have to butcher a cow and hopefully will not have to disinfect water using chlorine bleach, but if I ever need those skills, this book has it covered. 

I might, however, be interested in taking a deer apart if they keep eating my fruit trees!

Has anybody here seen our old friend Harry?
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
He screwed a lot of people,
But it seems the pols. they hide now.
You know, I just looked around and he’s gone.

Anybody here seen our old friend Nancy?
Can you tell me where she’s gone?
She ticked off the CIA,
But it seems she just up and left town.
I just looked around and she’s gone.

Anybody here seen my old friend Hill?
Can you tell me where she’s gone?
She owes a lot of campaign money,
But it seems the connected still do well.
I just looked ’round and she’s gone.

Ever wonder about the things that they stood for?
Didn’t they try to take some cash from you and me?
Promising we’d get stuff for free
Some day soon, and it’s a-gonna be one day …

Anybody here seen my old friend Barack?
Can you tell me why he’s always on?
I just can’t seem to dodge his constant barrage,
But it seems that he just won’t give up,
Until all of our hard earned money is gone.

Anybody here seen the GOP?
Can you tell where’s their spine?
They keep askin me for money,
But it seems they’re all the same,
When they’re in charge it’s not better.

Anybody here seen my old friend Ronald?
I sure wish he wasn’t gone.
He lead a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young,
You know, I just looked around and he’s gone.

This is Chapter Three of a three part short story on a Free Press

                                                    (Chapter One can be found here and Chapter Two here).

Charles was startled awake again from his sleep, but this time it was his alarm.  Charles never pushed the snooze button, but today he indulged himself.  He deserved another 8 minutes of sleep.  He remembered his dreams vividly, but did not comprehend the meaning behind the visits.  For some reason, he expected another ghostly apparition, but the third had not arrived and for that he was grateful.

These ghosts made him think and more importantly he had lost some sleep.  He needed to look good today of all days to read the news.  All of the world would be watching, ok he had to admit to himself that his ratings were steadily dropping, but at least his numbers were better than Katie’s. 

Charles’ morning routine was normal and he watched Fox and Friends as he dressed.  “It’s good to keep an eye on the competition.” He justified to himself.  He did choose to wear the shirt with button sleeves.  “Cuff links might seem too high brow for my audience.” He thought.  He wanted to look good, but closer to the common people he’d seen on television.

Charles grabbed his briefcase and headed for the door.  As he opened it, he had to stifle a gasp as the world around him looked vastly different.  Charles grasped the handrail, sat down, and took a few minutes to gather himself from the shock.  He looked up and down the street and his upscale neighborhood was no longer upscale.  “It looks like Middle America.” He thought to himself.

“This is Middle America.” A voice beside him chimed in.  “This is the part of the country that you fly over and pretend does not exist.”  Charles immediately relaxed as he now knew that this was another, his third, apparition and not really happening.  Charles half expected to find himself back in his bedroom with this new stranger.  “Do I know you?”  Charles asked the ghost.  “I am the ghost of Pressmas Future.” The man replied.  “You may call me Matt.”

“My first two visitors were very famous people, but I don’t know who you are.”  Charles responded.  “I do like your hat though.  Are you famous or someone who became famous?” 

Matt chuckled at Charles’s naiveté and responded, “I am part of the new media so you probably would look down at me.  You might be surprised, however, to know that I probably Drudge up more daily hits to my web site that you have viewers.  I had 131 million views last month alone.  Not bad for a guy you think sits at home in front of his computer in his underwear?”

Charles started, “I know all about you boogers..” Matt interrupted, “Bloggers.” “Yes, yes bloggers.” Charles replied testily, “My company has many of its own web sites.  We are on the cutting edge of technology.”  Matt interrupted again, “I am sure that you have the best sites that money can buy.  Too bad nobody looks at them.  It is not about the technology, it is about the trust.  I basically run my web site alone and have gathered a wide audience.  I know that some of your staff visits my site.”

“I find that hard to believe” Charles protested, “We have real newsmen, sorry newspersons, who would not lower themselves to read your drivel.  Frankly I am also tired of hearing you ghosts go on and on about our credibility.  My network is not biased.  We have Elizabeth Hasselblad..” “Hasselbeck” interrupted Matt, “I know, I know. Hasselhoff” Charles testily replied, “We even put one of you conservatives on prime time.  Give me a break; we have John Stossel on our network!” 

“I am not here to argue with you.” Claimed Matt, “I am here to show you the future; the future of your industry.  Unfortunately for you we don’t get to go to exotic places like you did with Thomas or Walter.”  Charles interrupted “Wait, you get to call him Walter too?”  Matt shook his head and continued, “I know that you start your day watching Fox and Friends so you would not have noticed this morning that the network morning shows that you were used to in your time have all combined.  It is called the America Today Early Show.  It is hosted by Keith Olberman and Chris Matthews and oddly enough Willard Scott is still on.”
“The television networks were like the stringed quartet on the sinking Titanic, playing the same music as the ship went down.  They could not see the forest for the trees, they had their heads in the sand, they were not playing with a full deck.”  Charles interrupted, “That was far too many clichés for my taste.”

“That’s my point.” Matt added, “The broadcast television networks became a cliché.  Rest is rust.  Sorry, I had one more cliché that I wanted to get in.  You might find solace in the knowledge that the networks did regain some of their ratings before their demise.  It is a dubious distinction, but ratings increased after your big Obamacare broadcast at the White House.” 

“You mean people watched and came back to network news?” Charles hoped, “I knew the critics were wrong, it was not a propaganda show.  We asked the tough questions…didn’t we?”

Matt seemed puzzled then replied, “That’s right, in your world, you haven’t done the broadcast yet.  This ghost thing and being in your head is rather confusing for me.  Sorry, I didn’t mean to say “Rather.”  Rathergate still probably stings even though it was another network.” 

Angered, Charles replied, “Dan stepped over the line on that one.  He should have never provided the memos.  It would have been enough to claim the memos and never show them.  He was just plain stupid.”

Matt, again shaking his head, continued, “Well speaking of stupid, your network really did Dan one better.  You totally misread the American people.  You feigned some tough questions, but the White House knew what the questions were going to be.  I have always been curious about whether you provided Obama with the questions ahead of time.  Did you?  It really doesn’t matter as most people believed that is what you did.”

“So what about the bump in viewership?” Charles inquired, “Tell me about the bump.  I was getting tired of having ratings in the tank.”

“You did get a bump for a while, but you are not going to like the reason.”  Matt replied, “Viewers were so disgusted with the apparent duplicity you lost what little credibility that you had.  A few weeks after your broadcast, a blogger started an internet contest called Bias Bingo.  Folks paid for and downloaded” Seeing the puzzled look on Charles’s face Matt added, “That means got a file from the internet.  So people downloaded their Bias Bingo cards.  Instead of numbers, each square contained an item of bias or liberal talking point that could be seen on your newscasts.”

“Your ratings increased as viewers played Bias Bingo on their laptops while watching your broadcasts.  The company went broke as there were too many winners.  You were actually more biased than even they anticipated.  After that, your only viewers were college students who were required by their professor to watch for current events.  As those professors went to the great protest in the sky (or ground) no one watched.”  Matt continued, “The government argued that you were too big to fail, gave you Stimulus money, appointed a czar, and ran the networks for a while, but they could not force anyone to watch.  They tried, but that Constitution kept getting in the way”

Charles was dismayed and asked, “What happened to me?”  Matt answered, “You landed on your feet and have a good career, but let me finish first.”  With that, they found themselves back in Charles’ bedroom and the television was still tuned to Fox News.  “Fox News had been steadily gaining market share even before your fateful broadcast.  That trend actually tipped as people realized that Fox was actually fair and balanced.  You main stream media guys had actually protested too much.” 

Charles turned toward the television as he heard a familiar voice.  It was Charles Krauthammer discussing President Palin’s new tax cuts.  “We were very fortunate that we only had one term before President Palin was swept into office.  The country was ready for a tax change and her call for a Fair Tax is gaining momentum.”  Krauthammer said as he turned to his colleague on the All Star Panel.  “So Barrack, what do you think about the president’s tax proposal?”

Charles’s mind went a little numb and he did not hear the response.  He was shaken to the core of his beliefs and world view.  As his mind started to swirl, his reverie was interrupted as he heard his voice on the television.  He turned expecting to see himself as part of the Panel, but the program had gone to commercial. 

Charles turned white and passed out as he heard his voice pitch, “If you act now, we will double the number of ShamWows that we will send you for the same price.  In order to take advantage of this, you will need to have your credit card ready and call within the next thirty….

This is Chapter Two of a three part short story on a Free Press

                                                                                (Chapter One can be found here).

“I’ll never eat curry again as long as I live.”  Charles whispered to himself as he began to think about Wednesday’s date with destiny, “I wonder if they’ll serve Kobe beef for lunch on Wednesday.”  Although it was late, Charles felt a little hungry.  He had heard about the weekly cocktail parties that the Enlightened One hosted.  Charles was a little envious as he had never been invited.  “I am sure to be included this week.” He thought, “I’ll be right there in the house.  They will be sure to invite me.”

Charles again drifted off to sleep while visions of champagne and Kobe beef danced in his head.   A bit of drool dribbled onto his pillow.  Charles was again awakened by a noise, but this time it came from the bathroom.  Charles thought that maybe it was his toilet running again.  “Those gold plumbing fixtures just aren’t as reliable.” He muttered to himself.  “They look great, but they are hard for my maids to keep clean and don’t seem to last as long.”  He swung his legs off of the bed to go and jiggle the toilet, but the door opened before he could get there.

“Oh no not again.” Charles gasped as a shadowy figure appeared.  But this time he knew this figure, “you’re Walter Cronkite, but wait you are not dead.  How can you be a ghost?”  To which Walter replied, “There are no rules for this kind of apparition.  Consider my specter as metaphor for Pressmas present.”   Charles felt some relief as he knew Mr. Cronkite and asked, “Since we sort of know each other, may I call you Walter?”   Walter smiled and answered, “No, you can call me sir or Mr. Cronkite and that’s the way it is.”

Charles accepted that as he was Walter Cronkite after all.  He was an icon in the news business and at one time widely considered the most trusted man in America.  Charles hoped to have that status one day.  “So why are you here, Sir?”  Charles asked to which Walter (I am allowed to call him Walter) replied, “I am here to help you continue your journey to enlightenment.  Ok, we don’t really expect you to become enlightened, but maybe you will see how things are changing.”

Charles expected to be transported again as he rather liked that experience so he was disappointed when a screen was lowered from his bedroom ceiling.  The video that they watched included some of the most memorable moments of Mr. Cronkite’s newscasts.  The first clip to play was a grainy, black and white image of Mr. Cronkite sitting behind his news desk visibly shaken as he announced that, “President Kennedy has died at 1:00 pm Central Standard Time.”  Charles looked over at Mr. Cronkite and noticed that he had a tear in his eye.

The video fast-forwarded a few years to show some, now color, images of an Apollo spacecraft landing on the moon for the first time as he heard “The Eagle has landed.”  The coverage returns to Mr. Cronkite who seems to be at a loss for words as he announced the lunar landing.  He wanted to ask Walter about that moment, but the screen changed again to a more somber broadcast.  It was Mr. Cronkite’s famous editorial on the Viet Nam War.  “It is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could.”  The video screen vanished.

Mr. Cronkite sighed and said, “You know I was later told that President Johnson commented after my broadcast that if he lost me, then he lost Middle America.  That is the kind of status that I had at that time.”  Walter continued, “I had such power that after my talk many were convinced that the United States could no longer win the war.”  Charles protested, “But you were right, the war was a quagmire and was certainly lost.” 
“History is written by the victors.  Our friends in the media and academia have written the history books, but there is a new media that is challenging our old positions and claims.   I have gone from the most trusted man in America to the most debated man in America.”  Cronkite lamented, “People now use the internet and have investigated my claims and are showing that I was possibly wrong about our losing the war.  They assert that we were winning and our enemies were about to surrender when they heard my broadcast.  Many questioned their beliefs and suggest that my words lengthened the war.”

“Maybe I was too powerful?”  Cronkite pondered.  “Maybe I went too far substituting my beliefs for facts?  Charles would hear none of this nonsense and started to protest, but Walter held up his hand as they were transported to a small office in the home of George, a “news correspondent” with Charles’ network. 

A telephone rang and George answered, “Hey Rahm, how are things?”  Charles felt more like he was eavesdropping on a personal telephone conversation, but soon the call seemed to take a more business-like turn.  Charles could tell that there were more than one person involved in the conversation as he heard George ask questions of James and Paul.  Charles did not know who the folks were on the line, but assumed that they were network people as they discussed many topics that would surely be broadcast on future newscasts.  “What is the big deal about one of our correspondents talking to some colleagues?” Charles asked Walter. 

Walter sighed, “This is your Chief Washington Correspondent who used to work for a former administration, and has daily conference calls with other political strategists and the Chief of Staff to the current president and you don’t see any appearance of conflict?”  Charles had heard about these calls and protested, “They are all old friends.  They have been talking together for years.”  Charles felt satisfied with the response.  This was not the first time that he had to defend the calls and he felt pretty good about his practiced conviction.  The word they taught him was “umbrage.”

“When I was the most trusted man in America, there were not any alternative media, no other game in town.  I was “THE MAN.”  If people wanted the news, they watched me and I decided what they should see.  No one questioned me, at least no one who had a voice or a pulpit.  Those were great times.”  Walter reminisced, “Times have changed.  Americans no longer trust everything that you report.  People recognize that even though your reports are factual, you only show the facts that you want seen.  You need to recognize that citizens can find the other side and that information makes you look biased.  I did not have that problem.” 

Charles began to understand and felt that this was not fair.  He had worked very hard to learn to read the news and just as he achieved the supreme “anchor” position, he had all of this other stuff to deal with.  He knew that their once-great ratings continued to slip since Peter left and many looked to blame him.  This just was not fair.  He did, however, have an ace up his sleeve and it was tomorrow’s broadcast from the White House.  That would be ratings gold and he would look great, except that he had to share the spotlight with Diane.  She was good, but he should be the star.

“That is precisely your problem.” Walter interrupted as if reading Charles’ thoughts, “The average American, you know the Middle America that I took from President Johnson, can see that your planned newscasts are a farce.  They see behind the bravado of “asking tough questions” and “we still have control of the production.“  Mr. Cronkite continued, “Even I cannot defend your event.  Many are wondering how your network will combine your logo with that of this Administration’s logo.  Your shows will not present opposing views; you have even refused to allow opposition to purchase commercial time give balance.  Is your network for profit or is it for propaganda?”

Charles had heard enough!  “Walter, we…” Cronkite interrupted, “Please call me Mr. Cronkite.”  Charles continued, “Mr. Cronkite we know what is best for America to see.  We will present the news as we see fit.  The Administration has not placed any unreasonable demands on us.  In fact, they even offered to let us use their Teleprompters.  How is that for cooperation?”

Mr. Cronkite disappeared and Charles found himself alone back in his bedroom.  He was so flustered that he did not think that he would ever get back to sleep.   How dare Walter and other talking heads suggest that his network is kowtowing to this president and treating him like a celebrity.  Charles was distracted by the tingle that he felt up his leg as he thought about spending time with POTUS.

Chapter Three can be found here.

This is Chapter One of a three part short story on a Free Press.

Charles had a hard time sleeping that night.  Next Wednesday was a very big day for him as he had an important presentation to give.  He was not worried about what to say or how to fill the time allotted; that was all prearranged by the host.   He knew that the host’s staffers were busy vetting the “real people” who would be reading the carefully prepared questions. 

Charles was both excited and scared to be in the presence of American “royalty” and wanted to look his best.   He was really worried that his glasses would slip down his nose and make him appear condescending as they did for his interview with Sarah.  On that occasion, it was not so bad as most of his friends hated her anyway; she deserved to look bad.  He smiled as he remembered all of the compliments he received on that interview.

This interview, however, was different; this would be almost like talking to god.  As he mentally went through his wardrobe thinking about what suit he would wear, like some who count sheep to sleep, he dozed off only to be awakened by a sound coming from his closet.  He was still a little fuzzy, but he distinctly heard something in his closet.   “Was it a burglar?” he thought.  As he rose to investigate, he started to wish that he had a gun, although he knew and had reported on numerous occasions how guns kill.  He would feel more secure if he had one now; this was Washington D.C. after all.

As he was about to open the closet door, someone called out his name from behind.  He was startled by the voice and turned quickly.  A misty figure appeared above his bed.  It was an older man dressed in clothes from hundreds of years ago.  His clothes were a bit tattered and he actually looked a little familiar.  “Who are you?”  Charles asked.

“I am Thomas, the ghost of Free Press past.” the figure replied.  Then it dawned on Charlie that this must be Thomas Edison.  “What a great dream this was going to be.”  Charles thought to himself.  “Dream!  This is no dream.”  The figure screamed.  “And my last name is Paine not Edison.  What did they teach you at Princeton anyway?  You try my soul!”

“What do you want here old man?”  Charles shouted nervously.  Paine replied that “I am here to take you on a journey to free press past.  We founding fathers, you know we really did not call ourselves that, took great pains to ensure a free press when we prepared the foundation for America.  We have been troubled over your mainstream media for many a decade, but recent trends have us petrified and you need to learn about the past.  It is time for us to leave.”

Charles protested, but Thomas Paine would hear none of it and off they flew into the night.  It was not the Peter Pan kind of flight, but more of the Star Trek kind of disappear from one spot and reappear in another spot kind of action.  Much manlier Charles thought to himself. 

They seemed to have landed in a dusky room filled with men dressed much like Mr. Paine.  There were heated voices, arguments, and many side conversations.  The men in that room seemed to be doing something very important.  Charles had seen men dressed like this on his last visit to Colonial Williamsburg.  He tried to talk to some of the men, but they ignored him.  Charles was hurt.  Didn’t they know who he was?

“They cannot see or hear you.”  The ghost of Thomas Paine said.  That made Charles feel better as he was the anchor newsreader on his network.  That was a very important position.  Charles was perturbed for a bit then was distracted from his self-indulgence by the voices in the room.  The men seemed to be debating “free press.”  As he finally looked around he recognized one of the men in the room; it was James Madison.  The men were discussing what language to use to outline some article.  This task seemed of utmost importance to the men; Charles had never experienced this type of intensity.  He realized that the men with Madison were also politicians and they were preparing some document.

Charles did not understand this as everyone knew that legislation was prepared by congressional staffers and never even read by Congress or the media.  Charles realized that this must be the way laws were passed in the old days.  He thought to himself, “Why didn’t they teach me this at Sidwell Friends School or at Princeton University?”

His thoughts were interrupted by the ghost of Thomas Paine, “The educators in your life did not truly understand the importance of the Founding Fathers work.  By the time you were in school, the Constitution was considered a relic and needed to be treated as a living document.  A document modified to suit the needs of whatever party is in power.” he said.  “Many now forget the sacrifice we made to ensure their freedom, your freedom.  Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.” 

Charles did not really understand all of this, but was too embarrassed to ask him to repeat it.  The words the ghost of Thomas Paine were not Common Sense.  Charles’ thoughts were interrupted when he noticed that the ghost was looking at him.  “You would do well to pay attention.” The ghost scolded.    As Charles was about to complain, he heard one of the men begin to read aloud.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Read James Madison.  The other men nodded in agreement, obviously satisfied with the text.  They quickly went back to work.

“These men risked a great deal to ensure freedom of the press, a freedom that you don’t seem to comprehend.  Freedom of the press is not just being able to print or broadcast as you wish.  It is a commitment to keep separate the free press and those in political power.”  The ghost said.  “My pamphlets helped Americans understand our government and I was privileged to be a part of that history even if those in your time fail to learn from our lessons.”

Charles could feel the heat rising from within and up his neck.  He would not take any more lectures from this ghost.  As he was about to speak, he awoke in his bed.  He looked around for, but could not find the ghost.  Charles thought, “Maybe that was all just a bad dream?  I did have Indian food for dinner and the curry was pretty strong,”

Charles settled back in his bed, but a thought crept into his mind just as sleep arrived;

 ”The press is impotent when it abandons itself to falsehood.”

                                                                        Thomas Jefferson

Chapter Two can be found here.