Five seconds of Fox News

[Capitalocracy]

So I watched Fox News today for the first time in over six years (apart from a few select clips online). I used to watch it periodically, because one has to keep an eye on the fascists. I'm living in Argentina at the moment, actually kind of in exile here because I married a woman from Argentina and I don't meet the U.S.'s financial requirements for sponsoring an immigrant spouse. So here I've been stuck for the last six years. Anyway, I recently switched internet and cable services, and this one has Fox News.

So what did I see in the first five seconds of watching Fox? Headlines: tornado, serial killer, missing blond girl. Crawler: Qaddafi is using cluster bombs in civilian areas. Cluster bombs are banned in most countries. (No mention of the U.S. and Israel, who also use cluster bombs on cities). Teaser: Are unions to blame for air traffic controllers falling asleep on the job? And they scoffed at the idea that more staff would help that problem. And then Mike Huckabee came on and said it's pointless to tax rich people 'cause they're just too smart for it, those slippery richies! Better to just institute a fair tax at point of purchase! (By the way, one of the worst things about living here in Argentina is the 21% VAT that stuck around after being implemented during the military dictatorship.)

Can't stop the crazy 'cause the crazy don't stop.

[DCKit]

1. Thanks for watching, so we don't have to.

Really though, ANOTHER missing blonde? Their viewers don't have two brain cells to rub together if that hasn't got old by now.

[koffeekup]

6. To those that know her, she is not just another missing blonde. NT

[Capitalocracy]

8. I agree with you...

but I imagine there are missing brunettes out there as well.

[DCKit]

14. And dozens of missing black and brown kids.

I was commenting on media fail, not trying to be insensitive.

But you knew that.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Nice pitch for Qaddafi.

[Capitalocracy]

3. Not a pitch for Gaddafi

I think the U.S. should be held accountable for its use of cluster bombs and depleted uranium, illegal weapons of mass destruction, in civilian areas (or at all, actually)

[Buzz Clik]

17. But not the murdering bastard who started all this? Sounds like a double standard.

[Capitalocracy]

21. It would be, if that's what I said.

But it's not. He should also be held accountable.

[Buzz Clik]

22. I am very glad to hear you say that!

[BanzaiBonnie]

5. It was easy to see the statement

was not one of support for Qaddafi. It was used as an an illustration of all the hypocrisy.

[sasha031]

4. yes Fox makes it seem we are living in an insane asylum

Argentina only has a flat tax? Do you have national health care and SS?

What is the country like now, I thought it was becoming more progressive.

[Capitalocracy]

7. It is in a lot of ways, but the flat tax stayed.

No, it's not the only tax. But I don't think there's an income tax in the same way as in the U.S. I don't know too much about business taxation, but for independent service providers like my wife and me in the translation business, there's a bracket-based system. It is the same system used for paying taxes if you make income renting properties, so there are very, very rich people in this city who are paying using the same system. It's a ridiculous system with a flat rate for a small number of brackets which charges people in the lower brackets much more than the ones who are above the highest one. (Edit/correction: It charges people in the lower brackets a much higher percentage than those who are above the highest one.)

It's hard to overhaul tax policy, and there are a lot of interests at stake who aren't even necessarily afraid of trying another coup. So a lot of these ideas the Chicago Boys installed under the dictatorship have been difficult to shake.

[sasha031]

11. thank you, there are states here that have just implemented a flat tax

I'm sure your familiar with the wacky ignorant tea party here who are advocates for Milton Friedman economics.
We have extreme right wingers in Congress and in the Senate that want to change everything as we know it.

I can only imagine how difficult it is for lower incomes paying a flat tax.

[Capitalocracy]

12. oh yeah, I know about the tea party

I'm from Kansas, actually. And I'm still paying attention to U.S. politics, spending far too much of my time listening to online progressive media

[spanone]

9. the ministry of propaganda never disappoints

[madokie]

10. "Can't stop the crazy 'cause the crazy don't stop."

Best line I've read in a while

[Capitalocracy]

13. thanks

:toast:

It's true, these people are like the energizer bunny. They just keep pounding that crazy drum all day long

[guyton]

15. Fox should be sued for calling it news ...

Well, almost all of MSM should be sued for not clearly labeling it entertainment. Some people actually watch it thinking it's news!

But what I really want to ask is ... what "financial requirements for sponsoring an immigrant spouse" ? Don't we allow people to marry non-citizens anymore? Or is that now reserved for the wealthy too?

[Capitalocracy]

16. Oh, I can be married to her...

she just doesn't get to go to the U.S. unless I have an income of at least $18,213/year (2009 guidelines). That's more than I've ever made in my life, even though it's not really a living wage. I've always been relatively poor.

[mmonk]

18. Is five seconds too many.

[mistertrickster]

19. You don't "meet the U.S.'s financial requirements for sponsoring an immigrant spouse" WTF?!

The gov't "of the people, by the people, and for the people" has established a financial "test" for who you can marry and bring home?

That's the damnedest thing I ever heard of. It's outrageous.

Who ever decided that an American can be "too poor" to bring back their husband or wife?

It's ungodly.

[Capitalocracy]

20. That's pretty much how I feel about it.

Luckily they don't have the same rule here in Argentina, or we wouldn't be able to live in the same country.

Interesting tidbit... they also ask on the forms if you (the immigrant) have ever been a member of a terrorist organization, you can't come in if you have. Kind of makes sense... but it also asks if you've ever been a member of a Communist organization.