In his interview with Rachel Maddow tonight, Mark Elias also called on American citizens, who care about our country and about saving our democracy, to speak out in every way possible against the proliferation of voter suppression bills.
I have to think that there is a movement to suppress the vote in every state. There are at least 5 bi…
In his interview with Rachel Maddow tonight, Mark Elias also called on American citizens, who care about our country and about saving our democracy, to speak out in every way possible against the proliferation of voter suppression bills.
I have to think that there is a movement to suppress the vote in every state. There are at least 5 bills pending in Colorado, which haven’t gotten a lot of press, perhaps because our only daily regional newspaper, The Denver Post, has been stripped of its reporters who covered the legislature, thanks to the vulture investment fund, Alden Global Capital, which purchased the Post several years ago. Alden is intent on destroying the Post and any other newspaper it purchases. Their most recent grab is The Chicago Tribune.
I digress, but my point is that in many cities and states, newspapers have been crippled from comprehensive state and local news coverage, so it is likely to take some effort to stay on top of what is happening in state legislatures. It is essential for every concerned citizen to know what bills are pending, and to go directly to your legislators to insure your voice is heard. We need to understand how a bill becomes a law, how to reach our legislative representatives, and how to testify at legislative hearings. We have been very focused nationally, but we can’t overlook the important work that needs to be done every day at the local and state level.
Others have posted organizations that are working on many issues. I have found one of the best sources of information to be my local and regional Indivisible groups. Join one of these groups or start one; connect on social media, such as FaceBook, even if that is all you do on social media; write letters to your newspaper’s editors; find any pathway, any platform, to speak out against voter suppression, because it is happening right now.
Local orgs, online communities, and media platforms (even some execrable, undemocratic ones) will have to do much of the work formerly performed by local media outlets. So many have been lost to economic pressures, but they have long been the best watchdogs for the lower levels (in both senses) of political activity, especially to expose corruption and wrongdoing. Once some current Biden initiatives pass Congress, the door may open to more. I hope that there'll be a major federal package supporting and subsidizing independent local media. When every town had a sharp-tongued newspaper run by an outstanding local crank, American journalism was a rowdy, messy, even libelous cacophony. In short, Democracy in action. Make Journalism Great Again.
Mary Anne, perhaps we can find a way to influence Mackenzie Scott; perhaps she could buy a few newspapers to offset Alden Global’s influence. We could use a few more newspapers free from capitalism’s pernicious influence!
Our local paper was sold by the family that had owned it for nearly 100 years about 2 years ago to Gatehouse Media. The local staff has dwindled to a handful, and ceased publication in Eugene last Friday. We've lost our local reporting. Two of our three local TV stations are run by Sinclair.
Sinclair Media is another scourge. I don’t think a lot of people realize that right-wing Sinclair controls the airwaves in hundreds of communities across the country, even to the point of requiring their newscasters to parrot specific conservative scripts every day.
Agree. Thank you Mary Anne for recommending Indivisible and local action and news reporting support. I’m a member of I. Westchester in NY - very active group. And supporting local blogs and newspapers where I see courageous stands being taken to out suppression of all sorts. The quiet backlash. ❤️🤍💙
In his interview with Rachel Maddow tonight, Mark Elias also called on American citizens, who care about our country and about saving our democracy, to speak out in every way possible against the proliferation of voter suppression bills.
I have to think that there is a movement to suppress the vote in every state. There are at least 5 bills pending in Colorado, which haven’t gotten a lot of press, perhaps because our only daily regional newspaper, The Denver Post, has been stripped of its reporters who covered the legislature, thanks to the vulture investment fund, Alden Global Capital, which purchased the Post several years ago. Alden is intent on destroying the Post and any other newspaper it purchases. Their most recent grab is The Chicago Tribune.
I digress, but my point is that in many cities and states, newspapers have been crippled from comprehensive state and local news coverage, so it is likely to take some effort to stay on top of what is happening in state legislatures. It is essential for every concerned citizen to know what bills are pending, and to go directly to your legislators to insure your voice is heard. We need to understand how a bill becomes a law, how to reach our legislative representatives, and how to testify at legislative hearings. We have been very focused nationally, but we can’t overlook the important work that needs to be done every day at the local and state level.
Others have posted organizations that are working on many issues. I have found one of the best sources of information to be my local and regional Indivisible groups. Join one of these groups or start one; connect on social media, such as FaceBook, even if that is all you do on social media; write letters to your newspaper’s editors; find any pathway, any platform, to speak out against voter suppression, because it is happening right now.
Local orgs, online communities, and media platforms (even some execrable, undemocratic ones) will have to do much of the work formerly performed by local media outlets. So many have been lost to economic pressures, but they have long been the best watchdogs for the lower levels (in both senses) of political activity, especially to expose corruption and wrongdoing. Once some current Biden initiatives pass Congress, the door may open to more. I hope that there'll be a major federal package supporting and subsidizing independent local media. When every town had a sharp-tongued newspaper run by an outstanding local crank, American journalism was a rowdy, messy, even libelous cacophony. In short, Democracy in action. Make Journalism Great Again.
Journalist and former USC Annenberg prof Judy Muller has a good piece on local journalism: https://www.ouraynews.com/opinion-columns/small-town-newspapers-connect-communities-and-deserve-support
Thanks Mary!
Adopt a small town newspaper if you don't have one of your own!
MJGA!
What an excellent idea!
Mary Anne, perhaps we can find a way to influence Mackenzie Scott; perhaps she could buy a few newspapers to offset Alden Global’s influence. We could use a few more newspapers free from capitalism’s pernicious influence!
The Elias interview sums up succinctly the risk we are facing.
Our local paper was sold by the family that had owned it for nearly 100 years about 2 years ago to Gatehouse Media. The local staff has dwindled to a handful, and ceased publication in Eugene last Friday. We've lost our local reporting. Two of our three local TV stations are run by Sinclair.
Sinclair Media is another scourge. I don’t think a lot of people realize that right-wing Sinclair controls the airwaves in hundreds of communities across the country, even to the point of requiring their newscasters to parrot specific conservative scripts every day.
https://indivisible.org/groups
Agree. Thank you Mary Anne for recommending Indivisible and local action and news reporting support. I’m a member of I. Westchester in NY - very active group. And supporting local blogs and newspapers where I see courageous stands being taken to out suppression of all sorts. The quiet backlash. ❤️🤍💙
https://indivisible.org/groups
https://indivisible.org/groups