In the 1960s, Billionaires and Big Businessmen, most of who were conservative republicans, lamented the fact that they could not call the shots – do whatever they wanted to do. They started looking for ways to regain control of government and the public discourse.
As they looked for ways to do this, they researched countries that had control over the population – communist countries. These governments had control over the media. The media would further the agenda of the government regardless of the truth.
As they studied these countries, they looked for ways they could apply the lessons learned, but in a democratic republic with constitutional restrictions.
They came up with a plan, launched in 1971 during the Nixon Presidency. On one hand, it is brilliant in how well it has unfolded. On the other hand, it is diabolical in how much it has subverted the public discourse and the tone of campaigns.
Who are the billionaires (and their foundations) who started this movement?
- Harry Bradley of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
- Joseph Coors , Colorado Beer magnate
- Fred Koch (and his two sons) of Koch Industries in Kansas
- Richard Mellon Scaife, heir to Mellon bank and oil fortune
- William Simon, former treasury secretary under Richard Nixon.
Other conservative foundations include the Olin Foundation and Smith Richardson foundation. They funnel the money through the Philanthropy Roundtable, which also receive funds from foundations at Amoco, Alcoa, JM, Rockwell Int'l, and the Ford Motor Co.
These ultra-conservatives have established more than 500 phony research institutions or "think-tanks." A former Heritage Foundation official estimates that conservatives had spent more than $1-billion on the top 20 think tanks alone. The biggest, and most influential, is the Heritage Foundation.
Others include: Accuracy in Media, American Enterprise Institute, Analysis Research Corporation, Cato Institute, Center for the Study of Popular Culture, Center for Security Policy, Citizens for a Sound Economy, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Hudson Institute, Landmark Legal Foundation. Liberty Lobby, Manhattan Institute, Phillips Foundation, Rocky Mountain Legal Foundation.
The FCC formerly prohibited foreigners from owning broadcast stations. Ronald Reagan allowed foreign billionaires like Australia 's Rupert Murdoch (NewsCorp and FOX Networks), Korean Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church (Washington Times), and Canadian Lord Conrad Black (Hollinger International).
Other conservative owned publications include: American Spectator, National Review, New York Post, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, and Weekly Standard.
Just a little history on the Republican party. For those who are interested in some additional history, try David Brock's "The Republican Noise Machine". Brock is a former Republican pundit and he gives the inside scoop on the party.
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Comments: 62 ( 1 removed by Carla G. )
Why is it so hard for people to believe that the rich are willing to use their money to gain even more money even if it means doing some bad things?
Bad for the country? He's proving that each and every day. Racist? Proof is out there. Liar? Again, there is much proof.
Grow up? How about you learn to do some research and stop believing propaganda?
Congress:
At the time:
1. The DOW Jones closed at 12,621.77
2. The GDP for the previous quarter was 3.5%
3. The Unemployment rate was 4.6%
4. George Bush’s Economic policies SET A RECORD of 52 STRAIGHT MONTHS of JOB CREATION!
Remember the day...
1. January 3rd, 2007 was the day that Barney Frank took over the House
Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking Committee.
2. The economic meltdown that happened 15 months later was in what part of the economy? BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES!
3. Thank Congress for taking us from 13,000 DOW, 3.5 GDP and 4.6%Unemployment to this CRISIS by dumping 5-6 TRILLION Dollars of toxic loans on the economy from YOUR Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fiasco’s! (BTW: Bush asked Congress 17 TIMES to stop Fannie & Freddie - starting in 2001, because it was financially risky for the U.S. economy, but no one was listening). And who took the THIRD highest pay-off from Fannie Mae AND Freddie Mac? (Obama)
And who fought against reform of Fannie and Freddie??? (OBAMA and the Democratic Congress.)
So when someone tries to blame Bush...
REMEMBER JANUARY 3rd, 2007....
Then we have THIS!
This is sheer genius. NOT!
In a bid to stem taxpayer losses for bad loans guaranteed by federal housing agencies Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac, Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn) proposed that borrowers be required to make a 5% down payment in order to qualify.
His proposal was rejected 57-42 on a party-line vote because, as Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn) explained: "passage of such a requirement would restrict home ownership to only those who can afford it."
*****************
Out-of-control spending, not tax cuts, causes huge deficits.
President Reagan cut the top tax rate to 28 percent for joint filers during the eighties. During the Reagan expansion, total revenues jumped nearly one hundred percent.
President Kennedy cut the top rate for joint filers to 70 percent from the confiscatory level of 90 percent under his predecessor. Real revenues in the sixties following the Kennedy tax cuts grew by 60 percent, or 30 percent minus inflation.
The (George W.) Bush tax cuts achieved comparable success to the Kennedy and Reagan cuts. The terrorist attacks and the 2001 recession were obviously huge blows, but revenues quickly recovered, helped by pro-growth economic incentives. In 2003, revenues were $1.6 trillion. In 2007, revenues were $2.1 trillion, adjusted for inflation. Revenues increased.
The Bush 41 tax increase resulted in documented revenue loss.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978538354
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978362858
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978569753
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978044191
http://rightwingnews.com/2010/10/imagine-theres-no-country-its-easy-if-you-try/
Yes, those are my posts, but they each have links to articles proving that what works is cutting spending and cutting taxes.
PROVE IT!
Reagan's gargantuan increases in government spending, particularly on defense were the reason for economic growth during his tenure.
And...by the way...the largest deficits in the history of our country at that point. Deficit spending is always an economic stimulus...DUH...why do you think Obama is doing it now? Republicans criticize Obama for the deficits in this horrible economic mess brought on by his predecessor, but they never criticize Reagan's deficits. Dare I say that you use a double standard?
For more on Reagan's policies, read this pretty balanced account.
Reagan was also the person most responsible for defeating the Soviet Union and bringing it to its knees and eventually to its demise. That saved us a huge amount of money and if you ask the former Soviet Satellite countries he is a hero. Only the myopic left can't see the truth.
I agree with a some of things said by Human Nature, I agree with some of the things Carla said.
Truthfully.....I think both parties are corrupt and its time for both of them to go.
Mooch