FTC does Pravda (be afraid)

Here we go again. In keeping with the Groundhog Day theme of this administration, the one that has me approaching news sites with dread, the Federal Trade Commission is out with its draft on the “reinvention of journalism.”

The draft (isn’t Marxism fun?) titled Potential Policy Recommendations to Support the Reinvention of Journalism, outlines federal policies that would “rescue” moribund newspapers (and other media) from the ravages of free markets.

On the list:

-the creation of a “journalism” division of AmeriCorps, where the order of the day is mmmm, mmmm, mmmm

-federal tax credits for the hiring of reporters

-allowing taxpayers to allocate government funds to the non-profit (public media) outlet of their “choice”

-providing grants to universities – those bastions of learning where profs are unbiased – to conduct “investigative” journalism

-and the brilliant, the absolutely BRILLIANT, idea to impose a 5% tax on consumer electronics, so that every purchase will help failed media

Nice. Nothing like a cozy coupling of government and journalism to put one at ease. Samuel Adams once said, “If ever a time should come when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”

The highest seats in government wrought this absurdity. Indeed, no sector – energy, health care or finance – isn’t coveted by these men, and to achieve their aim, they must deny speech.

Pravda, the propaganda arm of the Soviet politburo, was a state-run entity whose lies controlled Russians. Imagine media receiving grants to hire “journalists” to report on the grant-giver. Journalism has a hard left bias already. The opiate of the masses isn’t religion, per se, it’s information, and when that information is government-controlled, tyranny is inevitable.

This, patriots, defines their agenda. The British aren’t coming, but the coats are still red.

Greg Halvorson is the founder of Soldiers Without Boots, and hosts Freedom Warrior Radio on Blog Talk Radio.