a lot of people still think that the 6:00 news on telly and national newspapers are accurate and credible sources of information about current events. Unfortunately, in most cases these media outlets simply offer the opinions of the people that own them. When told this, most people cant seem to fathom that the tv or paper would blatantly lie to them. They seem to think that lying is soley the province of politicans. Australia has some of the worst concentrated media ownership. It makes living in a true democracy less feasible when the majority of information is controlled and circulated by a minority that is clearly pushing their own agenda.
I wont blame the media for the embarassment that is Tony Abbott becoming pm. This is a man that is clearly and openly racist, sexist, homophobic and ignorant. I will blame the Australians that voted him in - as they have every right to- part of our blessed democracy- which i support. Also, the labor party did a fine job in hastening their own demise with their bitchy behaviour. And it is unlikely that labor would have succeeded in their goals anyway, because of the relentless pressure from the minority owned media that continues to brainwash people into thinking that protecting the rights of the minority is more important than the rights of the majority, and that it is somehow actually in the interest of the majority to do so. There are many individual politicans on both sides of politics that genuinely care about governance, and the country. However, the best these people can do becomes a farce when we allow money to control democracy.
What i find sad about this is that genuine and real concerns that affect Australia and the whole world will once again be ignored- things like climate change, sustainable energy, internet infastructure, and refugees. These are serious issues that need to be addressed. Our climate is changing and all our children will have to live with the consequences. Our current reliance on oil keeps the corrupt rich and kills the children in the middle east with wars. Their are millions of refugees in the world that need our help. People that are guilty of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time. They have a legal right to seek asylum. These are people like you and me, that are in desperate circumstances facing severe and inhumane conditions. In many situations, western governments have directly and indirectly contributed to the demise of these nations. What is to become of these people? This is an issue for the whole world to face. Desperate people seek desperate measures. Sometimes violent measures. And impoverished, hungry, uneducated, violated people are likely to become angry and bitter, and blame us when their children die. Why create another cycle of abuse and violence when we can address it now? Ignoring these people will not help you, and will especaily not help your children. Helping these people is helping ourselves.
Here are some links to Murdoch's overt manipulation of australian culture and politics:
The final Tele tally- video
http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3844761.htm
The ad that didn't get up- video
http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3844762.htm
Murdoch’s media monster, TruthInNewsMedia article
http://truthinmediaresourcecentre.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/murdochs-media-monster/
Murdoch is but one player in the media junta, ABC article
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4105038.html
A Warning To Politicians From The Global Murdoch Media Empire, Media Matters for America blog article
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/09/09/a-warning-to-politicians-from-the-global-murdoc/195795
...it is clearly true that there are groups with agendas that seek to distract us and prevent us from discussing the big issues. It is also equally true that people to a fine job at not discussing the big issues because they simply dont want to. For most people, the extent of their concern is their back pocket - maintaining it, getting more of it and fighting anyone that walks to close to it. Perhaps many are brainwashed into thinking that way, i dont know. We have fostered a society built on competition, fear and distrust. With the way we bicker amongst ourselves, attack, defend, belittle, ignore, posture, disrespect and distrust each other its little wonder that big issues dont get discussed. Everyone is trying so hard to prove that they are right they dont even care if they are really are right. They dont even want to listen to what others have to say. Nothing gets done. Theres no common purpose or goal. The easiest way to maintain power and subjeguate a population is to prevent them from communicating with each other. The easiest way to prevent real communication is by sowing distrust and disunity amongst people. If we want to discuss the big issues then the first step is to respect and listen to each other. Courtesy is free and it is priceless.
There is ample information available to anyone that has access to the internet or university library. There are many sources of independant media world wide that we can access. There are many ways to discuss this information with people all over the world. The best way to start is by actually hearing one another and treating each other with respect and courtesy