One of the most problematic trends in the past 30 years has been the continued consolidation of power in the hands of fewer and fewer corporations. This gives them an inordinate say in what we do and what choices we have every day.

Let me start with some simple examples. What are your choices in potato chips today compared to thirty years ago? Today, our choice is Lay’s for the most part and maybe a store brand. I suppose you could add in Pringle’s but they are a really small player. Thirty years ago there were four or five brands. Remember Hiland?

Let’s take stores as another example. What kind of choices do we have to buy groceries today compared to thirty years ago?  Today, most large cities in Iowa have a choice of Hy-Vee and Walmart. Years ago there would be five or six different companies, plus some corner groceries. All told, we had a much wider choice.

We now have little real choice in many areas of our life, whether it be such simple things as shampoo, or in things that really matter, such as where we get information. Our news gathering services have been reduced from hundreds to about a half a dozen. And as such it is no surprise that the range of their views they express has become narrower and narrower. There is little variation in what is covered or how it is covered. And all Americans should be concerned. Without real competition, news sources change from being sources to being advocates of positions. And they choose which stories to cover and not to cover based on their position.

As an example, many people heard the story last week that Eric Cantor’s office in Richmond, Va. was attacked after the health care law passed. How many heard the follow up story that the original story was not true? I’ll bet not many, because few news sources carried that story.  (A window in the building that also holds Cantor’s office was struck by a random bullet that had been shot in the air, according to Richmond police.)

One of the biggest concerns is not only the spin that is put on what is covered, but what is covered in the first place. I always offer the example of the Downing Street Memos as an example of very important news that was never covered.  If you are not familiar with the DSM, I strongly suggest you use your still open internet to look it up.

Health Care Reform:

This fall the Republican party will try to convince you that health care was wonderful before reform. Really?

Before you vote ask yourself if you want to return to the days of yearly and lifetime limits on care, denial of pay because of pre-existing conditions, differential in costs because being a woman is a pre-existing condition. These are but a few examples of some of the major changes.

And if you think that health care reform will break the bank, I’ll guarantee you that not having reform would have broken the bank sooner.  But if you’re concerned about our debt, please find out why our debt  is so large. You will find the names Reagan, Bush and Bush prominent in running the country deeply in debt.

Do you really want those who drove us so deeply in debt ever to be in charge again?

Dave Bradley
E-mail Dave here