Koch Brothers...

Koch Brothers...

- Serious threat to American society?
- Big bad made-up boogeyman by the left?

When I say "made up" I'm referring to the threat they allegedly pose, not their physical existence.

radcen said:

Koch Brothers...

- Serious threat to American society?
- Big bad made-up boogeyman by the left?

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I will not single them out, but I think in general big money (either private, through corporations, or unions) influences politicians in a way that is just a little shy of bribery and buying votes. (oh, yeah.....I think that is a very very bad thing)

Other...the serious threat to American society is the fact that individuals that amass fortunes have way to much of an impact on dialogue in DC or with the parties. You can control think tanks, influence elections, and have the ear of important people. The Koch Brothers aren't anything special...they are just an example of dysfunctional political system. Ask someone on the right and George Soros is the problem.

They should only have two votes, not control millions of far right wing voters minds.

iliveonramen said:

Other...the serious threat to American society is the fact that individuals that amass fortunes have way to much of an impact on dialogue in DC or with the parties. You can control think tanks, influence elections, and have the ear of important people. The Koch Brothers aren't anything special...they are just an example of dysfunctional political system. Ask someone on the right and George Soros is the problem.

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Exactly.

iliveonramen said:

Other...the serious threat to American society is the fact that individuals that amass fortunes have way to much of an impact on dialogue in DC or with the parties. You can control think tanks, influence elections, and have the ear of important people. The Koch Brothers aren't anything special...they are just an example of dysfunctional political system. Ask someone on the right and George Soros is the problem.

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Exactly and my sentiments are with you. It is the same with the media, those on the left would like to get FOX shut down and those on the right want MSNBC shut down. I wonder what both think of CNN and its overhaul that happen there over the last few years.

I dont want to see Fox shut down, I just want them to quit lying and saying they are fair and balanced. They aint.

Perotista said:

Exactly and my sentiments are with you. It is the same with the media, those on the left would like to get FOX shut down and those on the right want MSNBC shut down. I wonder what both think of CNN and its overhaul that happen there over the last few years.

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Perotista said:

Exactly and my sentiments are with you. It is the same with the media, those on the left would like to get FOX shut down and those on the right want MSNBC shut down. I wonder what both think of CNN and its overhaul that happen there over the last few years.

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I don't want Fox shut down, I don't mind that they are a conservative network, I just wish they would be honest with who they are and more honest with their content. When they mix real news with dishonest opinion it gets muddled in the stew.

Perotista said:

Exactly and my sentiments are with you. It is the same with the media, those on the left would like to get FOX shut down and those on the right want MSNBC shut down. I wonder what both think of CNN and its overhaul that happen there over the last few years.

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I find out new things I believe that I did not know I believed every day here. When did I decide I wanted FOX shut down? Did I have a good reason?

pbrauer said:

I don't want Fox shut down, I don't mind that they are a conservative network, I just wish they would be honest with who they are and more honest with their content. When they mix real news with dishonest opinion it gets muddled in the stew.

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I guess it might be a problem for those too stupid to understand the difference.

.

radcen said:

Koch Brothers...

- Serious threat to American society?
- Big bad made-up boogeyman by the left?

When I say "made up" I'm referring to the threat they allegedly pose, not their physical existence.

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They are the foremost representatives of a group that enjoys baleful influence over public policy. They serve as a convenient face for an otherwise shapeless force, but are only minor threats in their own right.

The Koch brothers are two guys who spend their money approximately the same way I would, if I had their resources: libertarian causes, ACLU, basic biomedical research...Overall, they are a huge positive influence, if you ask me.

mak2 said:

I dont want to see Fox shut down, I just want them to quit lying and saying they are fair and balanced. They aint.

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Their news during the day ain't bad. It is the night line up of all Republican shows beginning with O'Riely. But those are talk shows much like Mathews and Maddow on MSNBC.

pbrauer said:

I don't want Fox shut down, I don't mind that they are a conservative network, I just wish they would be honest with who they are and more honest with their content. When they mix real news with dishonest opinion it gets muddled in the stew.

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That may be true, but usually, here on this site and another one that I was previously a member, one side want Fox shut down and the other MSNBC. My take is there always have been a bit of a left leaning bias in the media among the 3 major over the air networks. But something I always considered no big thing that couldn't be over come with a coherent message and good candidates. Very subtle it was. Then came CNN, cable news which was extremely left leaning. There was a huge void out there and then FOX came along, finally the right had their network and finally MSNBC tried to duplicate FOX, but from the left. In the meantime, CNN which lost viewers big time to FOX, lost some to MSNBC and was in trouble. I think CNN offers a reasonable sort of middle ground now in their attempt to gain back viewers.

But as long as news is presented as a means to attract viewers and make money for the networks, each network will try to give the viewers what they want. I think before cable the three over the air networks all tried to as unbiased as possible. But as time went by, most college grads of the left tended to gravitate towards journalism, jobs where they could do some good for the world. Those on the right gravitated towards business and not so much journalism or the networks. I once heard it reported that 90% of those who worked at one particular network was Democrats, hence their views were for the most part Democratic. That report was probably true, but the network doing the hiring didn't make political party affiliation a requirement to be hired. It just worked out that way.

I go back to Eisenhower and even way back then Republicans were complaining about the media. My comment back then is the same as now, You know it, deal with it. Find ways around it, work with it, come forth with ideas that appeal to the people, come up with good candidates and policy, regardless of a little left leaning and in some instances a lot of left leaning, good policy and good candidates will win the day.

Redress said:

I find out new things I believe that I did not know I believed every day here. When did I decide I wanted FOX shut down? Did I have a good reason?

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My reply was generic and what I seen a lot of quotes posted here and on other sites. Perhaps I should have said a lot of those on the left and on the right want FOX and MSNBC shut down. You I bet have seen post just like that.

But if not shut down, should we, whether left or right, want to control the content of the network because they do not agree with our political philosophy. I have no problem with either network. When I watch cable news, I watch CNN more and more. Then there is the internet and one of my favorite channels, C_SPAN which I watched the votes take place the other night. No commentators to confuse ones mind.

If you think I was inferring you personally, I apologize as I meant no such thing. I mean there are those on the left and right.

mak2 said:

I dont want to see Fox shut down, I just want them to quit lying and saying they are fair and balanced. They aint.

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They're not "balanced" in and of themselves, but they do provide 'a balance' to the other side that one will not normally hear.

radcen said:

They're not "balanced" in and of themselves, but they do provide 'a balance' to the other side that one will not normally hear.

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Regardless,,Soro's, Koch, whomever,,,can spend their money! O spent Soro's money to be re-elected, among other things. Neither Koch or Soro's has the IRS to punish their opposition.

radcen said:

Koch Brothers...

- Serious threat to American society?
- Big bad made-up boogeyman by the left?

When I say "made up" I'm referring to the threat they allegedly pose, not their physical existence.

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Far less of a threat than say Spielberg, the Clintons, Ted Turner, CBS "News", ABC "news", NBC "news", Communist "news" Network (CNN), and anyone who supports, lobbies or gives money to the left. The left is a far greater threat to America and American society than the "right" could ever be.

Perotista said:

My reply was generic and what I seen a lot of quotes posted here and on other sites. Perhaps I should have said a lot of those on the left and on the right want FOX and MSNBC shut down. You I bet have seen post just like that.

But if not shut down, should we, whether left or right, want to control the content of the network because they do not agree with our political philosophy. I have no problem with either network. When I watch cable news, I watch CNN more and more. Then there is the internet and one of my favorite channels, C_SPAN which I watched the votes take place the other night. No commentators to confuse ones mind.

If you think I was inferring you personally, I apologize as I meant no such thing. I mean there are those on the left and right.

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Actually, almost no one thinks anything like what you claim. That is the problem. Sure, people make fun of FOX news, it is an easy target. That is not nearly the same thing as wanting it shut down or content controlled.

Redress said:

Actually, almost no one thinks anything like what you claim. That is the problem. Sure, people make fun of FOX news, it is an easy target. That is not nearly the same thing as wanting it shut down or content controlled.

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Okay, it is just something I seen a lot of comments on here and over on politico when I was there. Although I must admit, there is a heck of a lot less name calling here than there.