I think this is a good place for a conversation I just had over facebook. Kind of long, but some might enjoy it.
Me
Finally some good news!
I did and she said she remembers you as an able columnist.
We could give you a shot at a news or feature story and see how it goes from there. No promises on whether we’ll publish it – it depends on how aggressive you are at getting sources, how well your story is organized, whether there are any errors or inaccuracies. Got any ideas to pitch to me? (Make sure we haven’t done them before – you can do a search on the Tidings website.)
The door is slightly ajar, Joel. If I can impress her..who knows.
1:19pmJoel
awesome
hope you can 'wow' her
1:19pmMe
Yeah. Man, now I'm all nervous. Whew.
This could be huge for me. Getting published in the Tidings would give me some much needed credibility.
1:24pmJoel
yeah, i always wonder about newpapers nowadays
even online, it seems like it would be so hard to make it in jounalism
1:25pmMe
It is, man. It's a low paying, thankless job. Everyone fucking reads the news, but they all bitch about it.
1:26pmJoel
well i'm more looking at it like, information is traded so much faster now
getting something in print out on a site, it's like there's 15 other sites doing the same thing
just using my wrestling websites as example you have to pay for 'exclusive' content which is usually interviews, the highlights of which are reported on other sites anyway
1:28pmMe
That's why news is becoming more commentary based - opinion - and it's getting louder and louder to try and attract the most attention
1:31pmJoel
well the news is being run like a business
not like an informational system
1:32pmMe
Everything has to be run as a business.
1:32pmJoel
what? no it doesn't
you think education and law should be run like businesses?
1:32pmMe
Without subsidies you have to be profitable. Period.
1:33pmJoel
i would argue that just like education, transportation, etc. news should be funded on a goverment level
1:34pmMe
That's dangerous, though. Ideally you want the governments hands as far away from the news as you can get it. The media is there to hold things like government accountable. There's an obvious conflict of interst.
1:36pmJoel
Ideally you would want the government to fund the media because ideally the government would be a perfect representation of what the majority of people want
1:36pmMe
News shouldn't be about giving people what they want.
1:36pmJoel
as it stands you can still have the government fund the media you simply do it the same way you do it to fund other things that would be a conflict of interest by funding multiple of the same thing
im saying that ideally you wouldn't fear that the government would abuse it's control of the media
1:38pmMe
Maybe. But if we're talking ideals then this has become theoretical.
1:39pmJoel
well, you brought up ideals i still think equally government funded multiple news sources is plausible and would be of greater benefit than private companies that work to back the government anyway
1:41pmJoel
if the government was paying for fox news people would go "fuck that shit" and get it canceled because of the lies and misinformation that comes from it because every other news staiton would report the opposite and shut them down
1:41pmMe
We still get back to the need for it to be profitable.
1:41pmJoel
no, because it's governemnt funded
it's like a library
1:42pmMe
But ultimately governments have to be sustainable. Not even government can afford deficit spending indefinitely...as we see in the US
1:43pmJoel
yes, well that's because we cut taxes a shit ton from how we used to be
if you're not taxing people the government doesn't make any money
1:44pmMe
Well I'd argue that taxing people for news is unnecessary - I'd rather people keep their own money to invest and let the private sector handle news.
1:44pmJoel
well you're an idiot lol
clearly that doesn't work
1:45pmMe
What are you even talking about? I don't think you know what's what.
1:45pmJoel
you think the current system of news is really effective?
where we have a bunch of stations trying to make the news better so people watch them, rather then actually just pass on the information about what's happening?
1:46pmMe
I'm not saying there aren't problems. But to tax people for something like news is too extensive. You don't want to over tax your population. It stifles the private sector, which is the engine behind the economy.
1:46pmJoel
you said it yourself that the news if more about opinions now
our economy worked pretty darn well when the rich were being taxed 90%
1:48pmMe
When the hell was that? And no. When you over-tax the rich you know what happens? They say fuck you and they leave to places that allow them to keep more of their money. And once the rich people leave then who the fuck do you tax?
Might as well shoot yourself in the foot.
1:49pmJoel
the rich people stay because that's where their job is
do you want to be the president of a company in the rich country and make 10% of 1 million or do you want to want to be the president of some company in a poor company and make 100% of 100,000?
1:50pmMe
Businesses often relocate to friendlier environments.
1:50pmMe
If you're rich enough, you'll leave. At a certain point you can do well just off investments and interest.
1:50pmJoel
and yes, companies will move because poor import and export laws allow them to move and same money
true, but then guess what, if you leave that spot opens up for someone else to take
1:52pmMe
I think my point though is that while taxes are good, they can be excessive.
1:53pmJoel
well maybe one day if you're a self made millionaire like Ronnie you can enjoy that lack of taxation
for now you get to enjoy the thought of maybe being rich like 99% of america
1:55pmMe
I just don't think you understand economics, friend. American history shows that capitalism + low taxes = economic prosperity for the country.
1:55pmJoel
and wishing that those people coughed up a little more of their cash so we could have things like, oh let's say unbias media
1:55pmMe
I mean look at the drastic turn around in the economy from the Carter administration to the Reagan administration.
1:56pmJoel
economic prosperity sure, what about prosperity in other aspects?
1:57pmJoel
alright, I gotta end this conversation
1:57pmMe
We still had safety nets - social security, medicare - taxes for schools, police stations, roads, etc. Sounds like you want a nanny/welfare state.
1:58pmJoel
the girl is giving me the it's 5am and I have to work at 9am so stop talking and turn off the computer and go to sleep look
1:58pmMe
lol, okay
Well have a good sleep.
1:58pmJoel
ttyl
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