HOW NPR SERVES THE RULING CLASS AND PROMOTES CONSERVATISM

    I have not done much on this blog but that is not because it isn't important.  After all, NPR, like the BBC provides a steady supply of news, most of which is related to really existing events.  The mass media outside the realm public broadcasting is, on the other hand, focused on selling things, making money and of course the conservative press often manufactures big lies and conservative delusions which are reported as news.

    So, again, there are some new organizations that actually report a lot of the news but most of the so-called news is schlock and pandering to popular prejudices and defending the old cracker capitalist order.
I am something of an NPR addict but that doesn't mean they are above scrutiny or that
NPR is progressive in terms of any liberation
framework.


    NPR serves the ideological function of providing a LIBERAL perspective.  It is a liberalism that endorses and supports the power of the ruling elites and never questions their rule.  Socialism and communism have no
place on NPR.  Indeed, NPR, is one of the few organizations remaining that is capable of painting a more-or-less consistent mythology about free enterprise, American so-called democracy and so on and so forth.


    This LIBERALISM is not progressive and it is not liberating.  NPR LIBERALISM is obviously in the mainstream of imperialist and anti-working class ideology.  NPR expresses concerns about the starving survivors in Port au Prince finding something to eat in the rubble.  Why?  Private property!


     The stores are collapsed, the foodstuffs are in the rubble but NPR wants to keep the capitalist order rather than let the starving eat.  NPR also is very delicate in wondering why the thousands of tons of supplies in Port au Prince are not being distributed.

  NPR also sets the limits for what is regarded as legitimate "leftism" such as making Obama's almost insignificant tax on financial insititutions, almost a rounding error says Robert Reich, into a big deal.  NPR and Obama are really on the same frequency which explains why Obama is a conservative in everything but certain gender related issues.


  Yet a tiny chance like this that is really no change of substance is, for NPR, the far left of legitimate political debate and discussion.
    NPR has also done its best, since Obama's 
election, to restore the order of the confused
conservative camp.  As the Republicans and conservatives have fumbled, become disunited and disoriented NPR has again and again put their spokespeople forward, providing something of a basis for the reorganization of the more brutal and more ignorant followers of Conservatism and the Republicans.


   Indeed, MSNBC, has, for the time being, some commentators and programming that is significantly more LIBERAL than NPR.  NPR has never scrutinized or criticized right wingers in the Republican Party.  MSNBC has.


   The NPR reporting on Haiti has been better than most of the so-called news media.  Yet I just heard an atrocious discussion of Haiti during this earthquake crisis.  NPR misrepresented the recent and ancient history of Haiti-US relations.


    The NPR woman commentator claims the United States policy towards Haiti has been inconsistent and mentioned the "restoration" of Aristide by Clinton.  This is the first time I have heard the name Aristide in the American press since the earthquake.  Yet it is widely known that Clinton's manuever was more of an effort keep Aristide out of Haiti, allow him a very short portion of his term in office but with the provisio that he would not run for the Presidency again.


   Bush on the other hand was represented as not doing anything about the subsequent coup against Aristide.  But this is a complete falsification of history.  It was the Bush administration that kidnapped Aristide, and took him to Africa.  Aristide was not sidelined by the Clinton maneuver so Bush carried out the coup.  NPR paints a picture where the United States is on the sidelines rather than the executioner of the coup.

Bush should be prosecuted for overthrowing the democratically elected President of Haiti.  NPR would never express such a view or allow such a view in its programming.



NPR reports that on the third day after the quake that the United States is not distributing the supplies it has piled up in Port au Prince.  Why?  Is it US imperialism again?
Probably, but we will never hear about it from NPR.