Progressives, let alone liberals and people belatedly opposed to corporatist misrule, are poised to pour millions into political campaigns, mostly through television and other media ads and one-shot get-out-the-vote campaigns. Even if we elect Democrats, they aren't going to listen to us for long because none of the issues we most care about - economic justice, civil liberties, environmental protection, universal education to name a few - will ever have the kind of sustained money behind them that, well, money-making-money-and-to-hell-with-everyone-else will have behind it.
To break out of the political game that has us giving money to our biggest enemy - media megacorporations - we have to support and promote independent media, at least as we continue our regular political organizing.
Yes, we really need to organize everyone into long-term groups of people who work together to meet our needs, to pressure politicians, to fight back against the forces that turn us into overworked, underpaid, aggravated, unfulfilled humans when we're on our own.
But knowing what others are doing in their attempts to fight back, to learn about the success stories of allies and the maneuvers of the enemy (people who put their own profit above the potential of humanity in general)-- that is surely the first step, and that means an independent source of news more systematic, more widespread, and more accessible than even great political blogs like DailyKos can be.
Finally, despite the begging for money I'm about to do on their behalf, independent media is the most financially viable and the most leverage we can get out of a dollar. At the least, please put up a little money for two key initiatives that have proven themselves over the course of years but haven't quite reached the level of public reach to be secure: The NewStandard - http://newstandardnews.net/ - and The Narco News Bulletin - http://narconews.com/
If they aren't supported to last another year, you won't be able to say -- after another election season when we throw all our resources into traditional politicking (with an internet edge) and find ourselves back in the same political environment -- 'hey, maybe that one-note nut had a point.' We are so lucky to have these high-quality independent non-commercial news organizations, but they can't survive on determination and sacrifice forever. Read and tell others about these news outlets, and if you can find it in your heart and inflation-eroded paycheck, send a little mone their way: The Fund for Authentic Journalism and NewStandard support.
And for heaven's sake, don't let community access cable disappear at this key historical moment. (No money for this one. Just noise.)
We can't win for long or enough on their field. Pull the turf out from under them. Displace the establishment media with independent news. Build more than a campaign, build the infrastructure of a movement of movements. Thanks for listening,
ben melançon
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write me via my web design contact page.
Read and support independent, noncommercial news:
The Narco News Bulletin, reporting on the drug war and democracy from Latin America, where many social movements are smashing the duopoly politics of blackmail.
The NewStandard, U.S. hard news from a progressive standpoint five days a week.
ben melançon, founding member
People Who Give a Damn, http://pwgd.org/