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Our next big fight. This is the epitome of Crony capitalism and the oligarchs consolidating more corporations and media power to shape the outcome of their business interests, which means the American people continue to be impoverished. We must stand together and fight. Now, it is of great importance that the Agencies and Unions who represent us pick up the fight alongside us. It’s an imperative.
For months now, the prevailing feeling has been one of defeat. A feeling of helplessness and despair that has been weaponized to keep good people from resisting. We have seen it time and time again. I think of law firms and universities and media outlets who have pre capitulated to Trumps demands and wishes. The people who fight have come out much better in the end then those who gave up early. What we know about this administration is capitulation leads to degradation, always.
The Federal Government has been gamed by Trump and his Cronies. Everywhere we look there is corruption and self dealing. So we have to use the levers that are available to us in other realms. We have a chance to stop this on the state level. We need to embolden our AG’s offices to do the job the federal government refuses to do. Protect our industries and workers and the consumer from Trusts and Monopolies. There are some over seas regulators who can also help. We can make sure we drag this out as long as possible to either stop it or make sure we are all protected.
Donald Trump has handed over the DOJ to the people that have sucked up to him the most. If you contribute to his ball room then he will make sure the DOJ does’t do its job. That’s how he works. The DOJ who would never let this kind of merger pass in the past has rubber stamped this disaster.
There is a whole dimension of this that has to do with our Democracy and the consolidation of the news that needs to also be addressed. I know many of my fellow filmmakers also had this on their minds when they signed onto this letter.
Pete Hegseth said he can’t wait until CNN is owned by Paramount so that he can spread his propaganda there instead of CNN telling the American people the truth about what dangers their children, our Troops are facing. CBS has been turned into a right wing political organization by the very people pushing this merger. We are being told what’s coming and we have to fight it. So we aren’t just fighting for Hollywood we are fighting for our brothers and sisters in journalism as well.
Trump has told us he wanted this merger, Hegseth has told us. Trust them. We have to remain free. One “studio” owning most of the streaming platforms and most of the news means less competition, higher subscriptions rates, and thousands of lay offs. None of it is good for America, not a single thing. That’s why so many prominent people have put their necks on the line to sign onto this.
Hollywood has been fighting anti trusts and monopolies since its inception. Matt Stoller will educate you on this history. He pointed out to me that many antitrust laws were written because of Hollywood’s resistance to these media empires that used unfair business practices to kill competition and stifle descent. We are part of a very good tradition that goes back to the beginning of film making.
The people pushing monopolies such as this one use fear to keep the workers in line. I have heard it time and time again from my fellows, they are afraid of retribution. Some didn’t want to sign because they are afraid. How sad is that? In America the artists are afraid to speak out against power. These signees and the ones who will be joining are doing a service for our country. When businesses use fear and retribution to shut down descent, to concentrate power we all loose. People struggling just to pay the rent, can’t make a living wage, pay for healthcare, or fight for better wages is the outcome.