Democracy is Dead

William,

While your poem is fine I question on of your facts. I'm not sure which six companies you have in mind but doubt that where I get my news is not from any of your six.

In our area we have two newspapers, about five broadcast TV stations and countless so called "talk show hosts" which want me to know all about their biased views on the national and wold news. Besides the national news magazines, internet news, blogs and sundry others.

Democracy may be in it's death throes but as long as we have a free and secret ballot system I can't yet read it's requiem! Granted, my freedoms are not the same as I grew up with in the 40s. A lot of that is simply the number of people which must be accommodated and the difficulty of granting to all of those the same freedoms I had. Can you imagine a town with an outhouse on every residential lot?

No. I'm unwilling to write off "democracy" at this time. check back with me in another 15 years.

I'm grateful that at least we have not been barred from alternate-news websites....yet.

I'm angry at a lot of the things that are going on in government too but, like James, I'm not throwing in the towel yet. As long as there are people like you who aren't afraid to write about their concerns and people who are willing to read them and learn, there is still hope.

James, here's a fact: Today, your mind is controlled by Time Warner, Disney, Murdoch's News Corporation, Bertelsmann of Germany, Viacom (formerly CBS) and General Electric's NBC. These are the top owners of the entire media industry, which includes everything you read and hear in newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations, books, records, movies, videos, wire services and photo agencies.

If we don't take a stand and let our voice be heard, we will end up with more do nothing (for the people) Congresses and inept disasters like Bush. I've been a Conservative most of my life. Neocons are not Conservatives. Please look at the real voting record of your elected officials. If they don't represent you, kick them out with your vote. Forget the labels conservative and liberal, These are just smoke screens put up by such liars as Hannity, Limbaugh and other talking points propagandists. Too many are too gullible for looks and sweet words. You're being conned and used. Realize this truth as self evident.

I don't even know if we can trust our ballot system. After all, we believe that what is reported is the actual counts, don't we???

Great poem, William, if not slightly frightening.

Well, William you did it aren't you glad, it would have been stuck in my comments, a Great poem here, good for you.

Goody good !
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I very much doubt, William, that America has a free press that actually scrutinizes what the hell is happening - just look at the propaganda that was fed as news justifying the invasion of Iraq and in the keeping of the troop there.

I liked your comment via poetry on the political reality in the USA.

You make a good point very well Bill. Please don't think that what you say is only true in the States. It's happening everywhere.
The trouble starts when the govt moves from minimalist govt to total govt. That's when the people in the cities, small towns and villages have nothing more to say.
It's all decided in some central multi storey building where decisions are made in which you have absolutely no say.

Thanks for posting your poem, William. Good to see the comments. I keep thinking of the old expression - "The king is dead, long live the king!" Until we acknowledge what we've lost, how can we rebuild?

you are right dear boy....

Very true, William and well expressed. I think this is one of your best and a very important topic. I don't trust anyone in government and my so called representatives rarely vote the way I would want.

Do you want to give us your opinion on the Scooter Libby issue? Don't know how much more of this presidency I can take.