Why Newspapers Die

The newspaper industry is in a state of precipitous decline. I am at least somewhat conversant with this business as my grandfather published a daily paper. In those days, radio was in its infancy, for all practical purposes, television did not exist except in labs, the Internet was not even a futurist's dream, and the extra was the basic means of delivering breaking news. This was in an era where the voice of the newsboy shouting "extra, extra-read all about it" was replacing the shouts of the town crier who some of the older readers of that day still remembered. Technology has superceded the newspaper as a means of delivering breaking news, and much greater in depth analysis of events is easily obtainable on the web than is offered in the few columns of newsprint devoted to any given story. As retailers retrench to attempt to survive recession, they buy less ad space, and there are less demonstrable results for the advertisements they do purchase as strapped consumers simply spend less. Classified spending has tumbled dramatically as online services such as (and particularly) Craigslist have given people a free widely disseminated forum to promote themselves and their merchandise. Ebay, Amazon, Yahoo and other online resources have hit traditional newspaper revenue streams as well. The single most important factor in my mind as to why the papers are failing is the gratuitous shot they consistently take at traditional values. Papers far from California deemed it appropriate to oppose Proposition Eight(8). This was a slap in the face to the most deeply held
convictions of many of their own readers who in any event had no say in a vote all the way across the country. On issue after issue, subscribers have seen leftist bias, much of it inserted into reportage, that should have been reserved for the editorial pages. They have read almost nothing that reflects their political or moral views. The economic downturn is bad enough, people are not going to pay a premium to be insulted.

Bad Management Practices

Obama reveals himself once again today to be the enemy of the capitalist economic system that has allowed America to flourish. He said he supported the $17.4 billion bailout of GM and Chrysler but wanted them to reform "their bad management practices". This places the entire onus of the companies' difficulties on management. The executives running the car companies have certainly not been sterling, but Obama, who has absolved labor which commands a much higher salary and benefit package than their foreign-owned competitors and who have demanded and received (some might say extorted) pension and health care benefits which simply make the companies unsustainable, is not credible. Obama will be the greatest ally labor has ever had in the White House, but measures like the Card Check Bill which will end the secret ballot and create nothing but closed shops will be the death knell of industry and cripple private enterprise in the US. Open shop and right to work states will have no meaning and unemployment will soar. Walmart which has advanced prosperity and literally saved consumers billions will be forced to unionize which will engender enormous increased cost of operation which will have to be passed on to the customers. Obama's economic plan will take America from recession right into depression.

The Dole Dwellers

Obama swept to power on a tide of parasites. Many of his voters think he is Santa. One was interviewed and said now that Obama has risen, she will no longer have to worry about paying for gas or her mortgage. Come again? Obama captured the votes of 69% of unmarried women. They can not find a husband, so they voted for a grand government sugar daddy. No hope exists for sustained recovery if Obama institutes his campaign promises. Some commentators are saying Obama will curb his socialist impulse to save the nation. This is a pipe dream. A leopard can not change its spots.

Arrogance and Ignorance

Obama and the Democrats made much of American unilateralism-Bush the go it alone cowboy, during the campaign. Yet, when invited to the G-20 Summit with the world's most powerful economies gathered to work their way out of recession, Obama deigns not show up. Reportedly. he has sent two representatives including former Secretary of State Madeline Halfwit. Is Obama so almighty and infallible that he need not listen to the constructive ideas of other world leaders? Or could it be the case that Obama does not want to betray his ignorance on matters economic to so many luminaries? In either case, Obama and the US could benefit from solutions like the one offered by Gordon Brown-certainly no rightist Prime Minister, for global tax cuts to stimulate economic growth. Obama has no intention of listening to anyone who doesn't promote his brand of socialism.