I'm pretty disappointed that the trial ended without a full revealing of Fox propaganda efforts and techniques. I felt it could be a 'learning opportunity' for the country. Maybe the next 2+B lawsuit.
I'm pretty disappointed that the trial ended without a full revealing of Fox propaganda efforts and techniques. I felt it could be a 'learning opportunity' for the country. Maybe the next 2+B lawsuit.
It's worth noting that Dominion Voting Systems is in business to provide the technology and hardware necessary to run free and fair elections, not to provide "learning opportunities" for the country. As it is, their suit has had significant collateral benefits to all of us, for instance, in causing the release of documents, recordings, and testimony that journalists and others hadn't been able to get access to. And by defending the integrity of their voting machines, they've helped defend the integrity of our elections in general. The right wing's attacks have been relentless on voting machines, election workers, access to the ballot, and everything else essential to our democratic system. The settlement of the Dominion suit has given us one more tool to fight back with. Considering that "we the people" didn't have to pay a penny, I think we made out pretty well.
I agree. While it would have been nice for the settlement to also include at least a public apology from Fox News, the Murdocks, and their online propagandists like Carlson, Hannity, Bartiromo, Ingraham, etc, I don’t believe it was Dominion’s responsibility to either inform the American public or provide us a learning opportunity. Although as you pointed out they did do both. And we should be thankful for that. I believe it is the responsibility of our mainstream legitimate news organizations and journalists to be the watch dogs of our political ecosystem. Most of them are failing miserably at their jobs. Fox News being the most obvious and best example of that. Where is this era’s Walter Conkrite? Or our Edward R Murrow? I don’t believe it’s reasonable to expect Dominion Voting Systems to take on the responsibility of our news organizations.
Excellent point about the role of the media, our First Amendment–protected free press. However, the digital age has taken a huge toll on it, and probably the fragmentation of the media market has played an even bigger role. It's been several decades since news-watching USians had only three major networks plus PBS to choose from. I'm not sure even Walter Cronkite would get a mass audience in today's market.
I do suspect that many of us are longing for someone or something to bail us out of the mess we're in. This leads to unrealistic expectations being laid on, e.g., Robert Mueller and Dominion Voting Systems. It took decades' worth of negligence to get us here. There are no quick fixes, and no knights in shining armor riding in to save the day. And as history demonstrates over and over again, the longing for quick fixes can be very, very dangerous.
Fair points. Although I'll point out that Dominion themselves made statements that this civil case was, in part, about democracy. CEO Poulos said "Truthful reporting in the media is essential to our democracy"
Ok. They settled for money. Democracy received some consideration. IMV more could have been provided to save this country from fascism. Romney said 'Corporations are people too'. The Supremes seem to agree and allowed Corporations to vote with their money. While I do not agree with Romney nor the Supremes, fascism is a clear and present danger. All people - including Corporations - should do what they can to fight back.
The civil case *was* in part about democracy. The CEO is right. Truthful reporting is indeed essential, and lies about the integrity of elections are especially detrimental to democracy.
As to fascism being a clear and present danger -- well, yes, it is, but the GOP has been headed in this direction at least since the beginning of the Reagan administration and probably since Nixon's "southern strategy," so I'm just a bit skeptical of those who've suddenly realized that the country is in trouble. It's also worth noting that plenty of corporations have supported fascist movements in the past, and invested heavily in bankrolling the GOP in recent decades. (True, because of what campaign finance laws we've still got, it's generally not the corporations per se but their top officers, trade associations, etc. that do the bankrolling.) So you might want to think that part through.
I’m not a lawyer and I don’t pretend to play one in real life, but I wonder if a grand jury trial settlement would allow more disclosure than a regular jury trial and if so, a stipulation upon settlement could include trial evidence be given to the public?
In Canada, we have something called a "public inquiry"; we have one going on now regarding alleged Chinese interference in our last election. Maybe someone familiar with U.S. law will chime in, but I thought grand jury proceedings are kept from the public?
I'm pretty disappointed that the trial ended without a full revealing of Fox propaganda efforts and techniques. I felt it could be a 'learning opportunity' for the country. Maybe the next 2+B lawsuit.
It's worth noting that Dominion Voting Systems is in business to provide the technology and hardware necessary to run free and fair elections, not to provide "learning opportunities" for the country. As it is, their suit has had significant collateral benefits to all of us, for instance, in causing the release of documents, recordings, and testimony that journalists and others hadn't been able to get access to. And by defending the integrity of their voting machines, they've helped defend the integrity of our elections in general. The right wing's attacks have been relentless on voting machines, election workers, access to the ballot, and everything else essential to our democratic system. The settlement of the Dominion suit has given us one more tool to fight back with. Considering that "we the people" didn't have to pay a penny, I think we made out pretty well.
I agree. While it would have been nice for the settlement to also include at least a public apology from Fox News, the Murdocks, and their online propagandists like Carlson, Hannity, Bartiromo, Ingraham, etc, I don’t believe it was Dominion’s responsibility to either inform the American public or provide us a learning opportunity. Although as you pointed out they did do both. And we should be thankful for that. I believe it is the responsibility of our mainstream legitimate news organizations and journalists to be the watch dogs of our political ecosystem. Most of them are failing miserably at their jobs. Fox News being the most obvious and best example of that. Where is this era’s Walter Conkrite? Or our Edward R Murrow? I don’t believe it’s reasonable to expect Dominion Voting Systems to take on the responsibility of our news organizations.
Excellent point about the role of the media, our First Amendment–protected free press. However, the digital age has taken a huge toll on it, and probably the fragmentation of the media market has played an even bigger role. It's been several decades since news-watching USians had only three major networks plus PBS to choose from. I'm not sure even Walter Cronkite would get a mass audience in today's market.
I do suspect that many of us are longing for someone or something to bail us out of the mess we're in. This leads to unrealistic expectations being laid on, e.g., Robert Mueller and Dominion Voting Systems. It took decades' worth of negligence to get us here. There are no quick fixes, and no knights in shining armor riding in to save the day. And as history demonstrates over and over again, the longing for quick fixes can be very, very dangerous.
Fair points. Although I'll point out that Dominion themselves made statements that this civil case was, in part, about democracy. CEO Poulos said "Truthful reporting in the media is essential to our democracy"
Ok. They settled for money. Democracy received some consideration. IMV more could have been provided to save this country from fascism. Romney said 'Corporations are people too'. The Supremes seem to agree and allowed Corporations to vote with their money. While I do not agree with Romney nor the Supremes, fascism is a clear and present danger. All people - including Corporations - should do what they can to fight back.
The civil case *was* in part about democracy. The CEO is right. Truthful reporting is indeed essential, and lies about the integrity of elections are especially detrimental to democracy.
As to fascism being a clear and present danger -- well, yes, it is, but the GOP has been headed in this direction at least since the beginning of the Reagan administration and probably since Nixon's "southern strategy," so I'm just a bit skeptical of those who've suddenly realized that the country is in trouble. It's also worth noting that plenty of corporations have supported fascist movements in the past, and invested heavily in bankrolling the GOP in recent decades. (True, because of what campaign finance laws we've still got, it's generally not the corporations per se but their top officers, trade associations, etc. that do the bankrolling.) So you might want to think that part through.
I agree; the trial should have gone ahead, and they should have forced Fox to broadcast the proceedings in place of their so-called "news".
I’m not a lawyer and I don’t pretend to play one in real life, but I wonder if a grand jury trial settlement would allow more disclosure than a regular jury trial and if so, a stipulation upon settlement could include trial evidence be given to the public?
In Canada, we have something called a "public inquiry"; we have one going on now regarding alleged Chinese interference in our last election. Maybe someone familiar with U.S. law will chime in, but I thought grand jury proceedings are kept from the public?