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Utopia Talk / Politics / Spineless people cave in to the mob
Nimatzo
iChihuaha
Fri Jul 05 13:35:12
This disgraceful shitshow has been going on for a while and it has ramped up on all sides now. Political satire is on the chopping block, book burnings in 3..2....

http://edi...adian-cartoon-trump/index.html

New York (CNN)A Canadian cartoonist's illustration of President Donald Trump playing golf over the bodies of two drowned migrants went viral Wednesday. Two days later, Michael de Adder said on Twitter that he had been let go by a publishing company in New Brunswick, Canada.

De Adder's illustration depicted Trump asking the two dead migrants, "Do you mind if I play through?"
The cartoon refers to the image of Oscar Alberto Martínez and his 23-month-old daughter, Angie Valeria, lying face down in water surrounded by reeds. The two drowned while attempting to cross the Rio Grande River to get into the United States.
swordtail
Anarchist Prime
Fri Jul 05 13:45:21
http://www...hread=84498&time=1562100036705
patom
Member
Fri Jul 05 15:39:04
Nimatzo, the news media in New Brunswick is controlled by the Irving family. They are the wealthiest family in Canada. Lots of oil interests as they own the largest oil refinery in Canada. If you piss them off they have no compunctions of screwing you.
Im better then you
2012 UP Football Champ
Fri Jul 05 18:57:26
well they are rich and you should be honored to be screwed by an oil tycoon.
Nimatzo
iChihuaha
Sat Jul 06 02:47:48
So this was in fact not spineless people, but ruthless oil tycoons. That’s worse!
jergul
large member
Sat Jul 06 04:52:43
Its in fact both. The tycoons dictated. The editors caved.

The caption was horrible. Like Trump would ask if he could play through.
patom
Member
Sat Jul 06 04:59:35
jergul, the editors work for the Irvings who own the news papers.
I worked for Irving oil for 15 years. When I started there K. C. Irving was still alive and running things. A pretty amazing man who started out with 3 gas stations. By the time he died he had built an empire that was pretty impressive. His 3 sons took over different divisions and now the grand kids are starting to run things.
jergul
large member
Sat Jul 06 07:07:26
Patom
An independent editorial is a fundament of the free press. The editor caved on principles he or she should have held dear.



Rugian
Member
Sat Jul 06 07:39:15
Let's be honest though, did anyone here seriously expect a Canadian publisher (oil tycoon-owned or otherwise) of having a good grasp on the concept of free speech?
Nimatzo
iChihuaha
Sat Jul 06 10:08:59
Patom
”An independent editorial”

^This^
Tycoons or the mob, you will not like where this is heading. Self censorship is a rapid and silent process, once the first few heads roll the less ideologically motivated people just shut up and stop running certain stories and topics. Have fun in a world full of Breitbart and Vox.
Paramount
Member
Sat Jul 06 10:44:35
But the press is the enemy of the people.
Nimatzo
iChihuaha
Sat Jul 06 12:53:59
Depends on the press, they are not above corruption and mindless activism.
patom
Member
Sun Jul 07 05:07:07
jergul, He was fired by an independent publisher. Guess where they buy their news print paper from. The Irvings own the paper mills in the Maritimes.
jergul
large member
Sun Jul 07 07:07:54
Patom
He was dropped from provincial syndication.

"Brunswick News Inc. is a Canadian newspaper publishing company based in Saint John. It is privately owned by James K. Irving"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunswick_News



patom
Member
Sun Jul 07 07:15:43
If you own your own publishing company or newspaper in New Brunswick, you are dependent on the Irving owned paper mill to supply your news print. If you offend the Irving family your shipments may be a little late or the price may go up, etc.
patom
Member
Sun Jul 07 07:21:33
The Irving clan also has considerable holdings in the US. They are the largest land owners in Maine. They own the larges gas and oil tank farm in New England in Revere Mass. Their Saint John refinery supplies most of the oil and gasoline sold in New England and the Maritime Provinces.

With that in mind, they are well aware of how vindictive Trump is and would do much to stifle any criticism of anything Trump.
jergul
large member
Sun Jul 07 09:22:04
If you own a newspaper in NB, then you are part of the Irving family.

If you are making a moral defence, then perhaps the family should not own newspapers?

In general: In the era of fake news and managed democracy, then perhaps anti-trust and decoupling legislation should prohibit combing media with other kinds of business holdings?

jergul
large member
Sun Jul 07 09:22:24
combining*
patom
Member
Sun Jul 07 11:04:48
Would, could, should. None of which is the reality of N.B. Canada.

K.C. Irving built an empire from 3 gas stations and spent his life acquiring assets. If he needed trucks he bought a dealership and even spent some time building his own. If he needed tires he bought a tire company and recapping business. If he needed ships to haul his oil he bought super tankers. If he needed supplies for his business interests he bought a supply company. One thing led to the next to the next and was like a virus feeding and acquiring more and more.
It was only with the rise of his grandson Kenneth that the company ever sold an asset they had either built or acquired. Kenneth took over the refinery from his father Arthur and promptly sold the super tankers, but acquired the Revere Mass. tank farm. He sold all their company owned service and convenience stores to Circle K but retained the supply of gas and all petroleum products to them. His sister took control of the food industry interests on P.E.I. and Nova Scotia. His uncles retained control of the News media and the Forest products divisions plus the trucking concerns.
Fascinating family.
jergul
large member
Sun Jul 07 11:07:58
Oligarchies often give rise to colourful families and media mouthpieces.

Fascinating. Sure. In the same way Mussolini is fascinating.

patom
Member
Sun Jul 07 11:08:05
Irving family empire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._C._Irving
patom
Member
Sun Jul 07 11:12:10
I actually met K.C. when I was driving for Irving. He used to have himself driven around in a Ford LTD and often stopped in Calais Maine when he crossed the border. I was delivering a load of gas to one of the Convenience stores in town when he pulled in at about 10 PM one night. This would have been back around 1990.
jergul
large member
Sun Jul 07 11:13:55
Yah, you seem a bit star-struck.
Rugian
Member
Sun Jul 07 11:25:34
And you sound like someone bitter of success. We all have our quirks.
jergul
large member
Sun Jul 07 15:29:46
Ruggy
Wow.
patom
Member
Sun Jul 07 15:30:51
Why would I be star struck. It was just a good truck driving job. I made good money for the area I lived in until they decided to pull the truck. Got a good severance which they didn't have to give.
Rugian
Member
Sun Jul 07 19:34:28
Jergul

I'm very sorry that, in your absolutley deluded opinion,the prospect of a family business being successful is the equivalent of a fascist dictatorship.

Perhaps you may change your opinion in time. While that's underway,though, I eagerly await your opinion on how capitalism is the equivalent of Mussolini ordering the invasion of Ethiopia. Wow, indeed.
Nimatzo
iChihuaha
Mon Jul 08 02:36:23
Rugian
This isn’t about Jergul.
jergul
large member
Mon Jul 08 02:57:52
Ruggy
Unbridled capitalism is far, far worse than Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia (which after all, is just an expression of utilizing all options on the table as your presidents like to say).

Capitalism as a restrained tool rigidly limited by regulation is of course an effective mechanism.

My issues were not with the success of a business venture, but rather how worrisome media empires are when combined with other business and political interests.

But I get your position. You like fake news, orthestrated outrage, and managed democracy. So the mechanisms that create it are right up your alley.
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