The Illusion of Democracy
Below is what Peter Baker of the Washington Post wrote on Friday,
February 25 - under the headline, “In Russian Media, Free Speech for a Select
Few” - with some additions of mine placed in brackets [ ]:
"What is this lack of freedom all about?" one Russian reporter challenged Bush during his joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. "Our regional and national media often criticize government institutions [yep, just like ours does]."
Bush seemed surprised. "Obviously, if you're a member of the Russian press, you feel like the press is free," he replied. "You feel that way? That's good." Bush added, "That is a pretty interesting observation for those of us who don't live in Russia to listen to [ it’s a pretty interesting observation to Americans too, when OUR press “feels that way”]."
The exchange illustrated more about the state of freedom in Russia [& the USA] than met the eye. While Putin [Bush] travels around with a contingent of reporters just as Bush [Putin] does, the Kremlin [White House] press pool is a handpicked group of reporters, most of whom work for the state [ the corporations] and the rest selected for their fidelity to the Kremlin's [White House’s] rules of the game. Helpful questions are often planted [No shit!? Just like here!!]. Unwelcome questions are not allowed [No shit!? Just like here!!]. And anyone who gets out of line can get out of the pool [No shit!? Just like here!!].
The Kremlin [White House] press pool is like so many institutions in Russia [the USA] that have the trappings of a [so-called] Western-style pluralistic society but operate under a different set of understandings, part of what analyst Lilia Shevtsova [& UkuLilia ShevtsoMan] of the Carnegie Moscow Center [of the Carnegie Mellon Patch] calls "the illusion of democracy" [ Pay no attention to the Neo-cons behind the curtain].Television channels air newscasts with fancy graphics but follow scripts approved by the Kremlin [their corporate masters and the political hacks they own]. Elections are held [here & there], but candidates out of favor with the Kremlin [the ruling class] are often knocked off the ballot [see Howard Dean – done-in by R’s AND D’s working together]. Courts conduct trials [here & there], but the state [& the powerful] almost never loses. Parliament [Congress] meets but only to rubber-stamp Kremlin [White House/Money-friendly] legislation.
* * *
Well, I rest my case. The Washington Post is supposed to be such a “lefty” paper, but this “news” report is a self-incriminating joke. You may disagree with some of my comments above, but most of you will recognize enough truth there to indict Peter Baker and the Washington Post as fawning pawns of the system. * * * Uke Man
February 25 - under the headline, “In Russian Media, Free Speech for a Select
Few” - with some additions of mine placed in brackets [ ]:
"What is this lack of freedom all about?" one Russian reporter challenged Bush during his joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. "Our regional and national media often criticize government institutions [yep, just like ours does]."
Bush seemed surprised. "Obviously, if you're a member of the Russian press, you feel like the press is free," he replied. "You feel that way? That's good." Bush added, "That is a pretty interesting observation for those of us who don't live in Russia to listen to [ it’s a pretty interesting observation to Americans too, when OUR press “feels that way”]."
The exchange illustrated more about the state of freedom in Russia [& the USA] than met the eye. While Putin [Bush] travels around with a contingent of reporters just as Bush [Putin] does, the Kremlin [White House] press pool is a handpicked group of reporters, most of whom work for the state [ the corporations] and the rest selected for their fidelity to the Kremlin's [White House’s] rules of the game. Helpful questions are often planted [No shit!? Just like here!!]. Unwelcome questions are not allowed [No shit!? Just like here!!]. And anyone who gets out of line can get out of the pool [No shit!? Just like here!!].
The Kremlin [White House] press pool is like so many institutions in Russia [the USA] that have the trappings of a [so-called] Western-style pluralistic society but operate under a different set of understandings, part of what analyst Lilia Shevtsova [& UkuLilia ShevtsoMan] of the Carnegie Moscow Center [of the Carnegie Mellon Patch] calls "the illusion of democracy" [ Pay no attention to the Neo-cons behind the curtain].Television channels air newscasts with fancy graphics but follow scripts approved by the Kremlin [their corporate masters and the political hacks they own]. Elections are held [here & there], but candidates out of favor with the Kremlin [the ruling class] are often knocked off the ballot [see Howard Dean – done-in by R’s AND D’s working together]. Courts conduct trials [here & there], but the state [& the powerful] almost never loses. Parliament [Congress] meets but only to rubber-stamp Kremlin [White House/Money-friendly] legislation.
* * *
Well, I rest my case. The Washington Post is supposed to be such a “lefty” paper, but this “news” report is a self-incriminating joke. You may disagree with some of my comments above, but most of you will recognize enough truth there to indict Peter Baker and the Washington Post as fawning pawns of the system. * * * Uke Man
4 Comments:
Hi Tom, Some real food for thought here. Your mind works much better than mine. How do you do it! Sondra
freedom is the wool pulled over our eyes...in reality people hate and fear freedom...unless, of course it pertains to their freedom. knowing the word and living the word are 2 very different things. as you know Uke man, we need a true museum on the history of the news. the Newseum in DC is full of propaganda supported by the propaganda machine itself!
There will always be enough similarities between two nations to make silly simplistic comparisons like yours. Pretending there aren't serious differences won't make those differences vanish.
Try explaining away these ignorant comments of Putin's.
On second thought, don't bother. Prejudice is a powerful rationalizer.
Hey Terry,
Thanks for writing. I wish, however, that you had finished your thought about “ignorant comments.” It’s a little difficult to evaluate your position without more meat on your comment’s bones.
In any case, it’s clear that you found the posting objectionable, that you saw it as silly and simplistic and the result of prejudiced rationalization.
Well, that’s a double edged sword. Yeah, maybe I’m simplistic and prejudiced against Bush, but maybe you are simplistic and prejudiced in support of Bush. Had you elaborated more, perhaps the blog readers could decide for themselves. As it is, all they have to go on is my posting and your negative assertions.
There are obviously similarities and differences among all nations. I am unaware of any prohibition against comparing similarities of countries that have some unknown number of differences. That is a red herring.
What is important is whether the noted similarities are accurate or not. Calling them simplistic and prejudicial doesn’t address that question. Had you given some rationale in support of your claims, you might have something. As it is, one must wonder if it is you who have a simplistic, prejudicial, and rationalized perception of Mr. Bush and his juggernaut.
As soon as I get some time, I will write up a new posting addressing the issue you raised. Again, thanks for writing. Next time please complete your thoughts so that we can converse more fully.
Yours - Uke Man
P.S. As for "ignorant comments," I'm sure Putin has made many of them. That's something else he shares with Bush.
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