Albert Einstein warned in 1949 that the time would come when the very rich controlled the means of communication, it would be almost impossible for ordinary people to make informed decisions. And then, democracy would be broken.
Are we are living in that time?
Thankfully, in this stage of late-stage capitalism, mainstream media is under some pressure over its dreadful 2022 election coverage so far. This includes the very weakened ABC, who appear to have capitulated entirely to the Liberal-Nationals Party (apart from a few exceptions, like Laura Tingle).
There are many good questions being raised on Twitter around the ABC selectively running Albo’s Bluesfest boo while being quiet on the PM’s statement that JobSeeker is $46 a week (it’s actually $46 a day), or that he referred to a journalist as ‘Mr Speaker’ numerous times.
Such bias is what is expected from the Murdoch orcs and Liberal-backed Nine Entertainment hacks (SMH, The Age, AFR etc).
Between these three, that is one big concentrated market.
If the mainstream media were committed to informing the population and holding the powerful to account, there would be no gotcha moments, anywhere, especially during an election campaign.
Greens leader, Adam Bandt, made a similar point at his National Press Club address last week, after being asked some inane gotcha question by a young man who resembled a pimple faced AFR intern.
‘Google it, mate’, was the reply.
It should be the standard reply in the future, and should be followed by ‘Have you got a question about any policies?’
Elections are the contest of ideas, and should be about policy and competence. It can reveal how, and where, your taxes are spent. Which party offers transparency, is committed to improving democracy, social cohesion and trust?
And which party will wean the nation from fossil fuels and commit, with good faith, to climate action?
Yet to most voters, exhausted by covid and ongoing natural disasters, the cost of living is perhaps top of the list.
Spin doctors, politicians and media moguls know all this, and there is now mountains of money being poured into corporate news coffers for advertisements by the major parties – and Clive Palmer – to give the impression they care.
But because most are on six figure salaries, they don’t.
Hans Lovejoy, editor
News tips are welcome: [email protected]
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
