Right Wing Nut Media Math

I do not run a cable network.  I may have a chance, however, if things head the way they're going right now.

Let's see.  Last week, Fox did NOT admit to lying to their viewers and the rest of the world.  They DID agree to pay out some $760 MILLION dollars to avoid going through a trial or admitting their own guilt.  They also promoted a full-on assault against Budweiser, an advertiser, because the advertiser dared to reach out to some people their constituency did not like.  

This week, they fired their top-rated yap show host, Tucker Carlson.  Who, let's be honest, deserved a much harsher fate.  Perhaps he should be allowed to walk from Los Angeles to New York A) On his tongue, and B) The long-way around - that is, not via the North American Continent, but all of the others, and the oceans, too.

But that would be cruel and unusual punishment.  I mean, it's not like he's chopped at the roots of our democracy alone.  He had a hell of a lot of help.  But then there's part 3.  Cable networks have to negotiate with the folks who own and control the wires between the houses, you know, where people live, and the offices where the cable content is broadcast.  Or, if it's not created there, then they have to negotiate with those cable providers so the providers will pay them to run their programming.  Because, you see, those TV programs include advertising, and some of those commercial spots are available for local businesses to use to advertise their own business.

So the theory goes that cable network companies that create the programs want to make them attractive to certain demographics, that is, certain groups of people, so those people regularly watch the programs, and then those people can start to associate the products and brands with the network, and thus, with their lifestyles - so, in other words, they will buy that shit.

And by "shit" I mean anything advertised.  I use "shit" instead of stuff because some of it is, indeed, shit.  Some of it's just more advertising for more excuses to advertise to you - that being other TV programs, events, and the like.  And then there's the stuff you'll go buy - like cars, appliances, home services, certain perfumes and clothing styles, outdoor furniture, vacations, and, well, you get the idea.  Stuff AND shit.  

But I suppose the question would be if some hypothetical organization that was calling itself a "news" organization and was, instead, in the business to promote their own agenda, push their own radical views, belittle, denigrate, and make their viewers terrified of the people who think differently, and oh, by the way, generally tell them things that are not in fact based on fact or in reality, but are designed to make them more money, what would you call that sort of organization?  I know I'd call it a cesspit of propaganda.  Ya know, they're merely trying to make people scared of people different than them.

And I will admit that I am definitely scared of some people different from me.  I'm scared of people who refuse to use the lump of ham between their ears to review, analyze, and decide on information which is presented to them.  I am genuinely frightened by people who actively choose to ignore facts, science, visual and physical evidence, choose instead to belittle experts, deny conclusions which have been proven beyond simple confirmation, simply because they prefer to live in a fantasy land and ignore the real world.  

What absolutely terrifies me about people like that is that they vote.  And are as dumb as a post.  And I, in my own stupidity, am absolutely in favor of them continuing to have the right to vote, because I want to believe that it is general human nature to explore, learn, grow, and become more intelligent tomorrow than they are today.  Mostly because it is the more intelligent species which will survive.

Now, some nuts are going to suggest that it's always those who are better armed who get to decide how things worth.  And in that particular case, I unfortunately have to agree.  Because I, myself, will refuse to have a battle of wits with many of these unarmed idiots.  Sure, caliber can overwhelm IQ.  At least, if you catch the IQ by surprise.  The IQ, however, is far more likely to be able to adapt, overcome, and overwhelm.  Because eventually caliber runs out of ammunition.  Someone's got to make it - and if they don't have the recipe, all they can do is buy it.  If they can keep their money, which is unlikely, because money is often as big an attractant as power.