I'm a big fan of Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" with Bill O'Reilly.
I'm a big fan of Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" with Bill O'Reilly. My brother got me his book for graduation (but gave it to me on Christmas Eve) and I'm finding it a really good read. I've only just started it, but as I read the following, I thought of Josh and his campaign against middle-class oppression by corporate identities: "American politicians, businesspeople, and media monguls have to love the middle and working classes because we exist in such huge numbers. If they didn't exactly create us, they do their best to keep us there. We make them prosperous. McDonald's, Burger King, and the like can't survive by supplying takeout only to the rich in Palm Beach, Malibu, and the Hamptons.
Without us, say good-bye to country music and rap, slasher flicks and Home Shopping Network, the Gap and SUVs, Jerry Springer and Oprah, malls and malt liquor, tattoo parlors and trailer parks, Myrtle Beach and Branson, Missouri, professional wrestling and the National Enquirer."
Addendum: "Many of us can be grossly faddish--it's becoming the American way. Down the block from my office in Manhattan you can be a piker and buy a cup of regular coffee, Starbucks blend, for $1.85 plus tax. You should be ashamed of yourself! The Starbucks chain of coffee shops offers a Latte Grande for $3.80 plus tax. Better yet, a Large Mocha Frappe costs $4.30 plus tax. And this is a country where 43 million families make less than $35,000 a year. I'll let you do the math on that one. And don't expect any free refills."
Moral Ricktitude said at 12:23 PM 12-26-2000: For the record, I despise Mr. O' Reilly for being self-righteous instead of seeing himself as a mere gadfly.
That being said, I think this little snippet holds more or less. I myself cannot feel that the media is somehow to blame for the garbage that is put out. To be sure, there is very likely a bit of deviance in some respects ( witness Fox's touting of themselves as an "alternative" news source) but on the whole, the media, being the business people that they are, are merely reacting to what people show fondness for. No conspiracy made "Sixty Minutes," "ER," or "Friends" so widely watched. I love to rail against television as being a swollen stream of shit but I watch an occasional TV show now & then & clearly, if dancing llamas was the next big thing, at least two or three shows would spring up, featuring dancing llamas. Blaming the media is akin to saying that there is something wrong with today's generation. The immediate response should be "Well, who raised these kids?"
Jeff said at 1:25 PM 12-26-2000: He wasn't talking about the media there. He was talking about the powers that be targeting middle-class consumers like a fenced in herd of cattle. He's also blaming the government's careless attitude towards taxing for special interest programs and often wasting the money it pulls in.
But I agree that it's the parents in the case of messed up children. I think he would too since I've heard him say it time and time again. Despite his attitude or personality, I think he's got a lot of the issues nailed. It's too easy to take a lot of what we do for granted and the step back he's offering makes complete sense.
Jeff said at 1:28 PM 12-26-2000: My mistake, he includes the media, but it's part of many to blame. Here it's just that the media knows who its best target audience is.
Rick It To O'Reilly said at 3:31 PM 12-26-2000: I WAS criticizing Mr. O' Reilly & then criticizing ourselves for coming up with him in the first place.
As for the tax burden the government yokes onto us, as Merry-Berry & Jaunty Gen will be happy to tell you it is much higher in other countries. That being said, I still think it is too high in this country. But who lets these taxes through in the first place? For all the supposed rugged individualism we pride ourselves on, I cannot go a week without hearing someone's cry for some sort of boon from the government. I have no problem with some programs but some are just not as needful as others. Want to talk about child pornography? Compare our rates of children living in poverty with those of other countries. Now, keep in mind that we spend SEVEN dollars on elderly for every ONE on children. Now, guess which recent Democratic nominee for president was the most outspoken advocate for this status quo in recent memory, despite the fact that the administration he had worked for, had concluded that the present system was fundamentally flawed.
Ricking & Screaming said at 3:40 PM 12-26-2000: As to the addendum, that is one reason why I hate Christmas. For all the supposed tradition & piety, it is truly just an orgy of conspicous consumption. Just once I would like to see some group spring up, in which collective "gift" to each other was a pot-luck party with a lot of dancing & drinking. That way there is no "residue" of giving. I like people who have no problem with blowing money if it is on something they really need or love but if it is something incidental or something that they use because society demands it( such as clothing), they always try first to get the bare minimum. Such people should be given laurel leaves & bottles of wine every holiday season.
Arnie said at 4:08 PM 12-26-2000: Here in the bay area there is a group of so-called philanthropist millionaries that buy gifts for needy children. It is so bullshit because they try to get the media's attention so they can seem as if they were saints, but in reality it is a last minute tax write off.
Rickriminate said at 5:01 PM 12-26-2000: That is typical I guess. Everyone wants a pat on the back.
But how many of us would bend over backwards to help the next guy? Now, I just try to look for the people who hurt others the least. Or best of all, make for a millieu in which people can help themselves. If they do all of that AND hold out a helping hand then they are virtuous.
Jeff said at 2:26 AM 12-27-2000: When I had good money come in, I would pour a lot of it toward charity. I tried to keep involved in community projects too, but generally that part didn't jive as well. The sad part is there's so much attempted-PR with groups and organizations that you have to worry if your money's going to an "annoucement" mail-out or the HQ's toilet paper rather than the starving kids and abused.
