That’s what unhappy people do.

You can get more about this study from the New York Times

ABC is refusing to air a commercial from Al Gore’s We Campaign and continues to run commercials from Chevron.

Please go HERE and sign the petition demanding equal air time.

I have been saying this for a while, but I truly believe that each and everyone of us needs to know who is paying for our entertainment. If you do not agree with those companies, then you need to let your voice be heard by turning off the television.

I know it has been argued to me that hurting the employment of thousands, by boycotting entertainment, would be detrimental to our community. But I need to know.. do you choose for GNP instead of our home? Do you hurt millions of people to save thousands of people? Do you choose corporations over communities?

I don’t have the answers to these questions… well, that’s not true. I have MY answers to these questions. But can you stand behind your answers?

I am beginning to think that television is bad and we all need to get rid of them.

Big statement for someone who used to really, really, really, REALLY want to work in this industry. But after being a part of THIS, and doing more and more research about it… well, I think it is time to throw away the remote.

A list of reasons:
1.) It restricts the use of your sense, with the exception of the eyes and ears.
2.) And with sight… it is limited. It doesn’t provide a vista. There are always close-ups, it chops off perspective… peripheral vision is gone, you are not choosing what to look at like you would in life.
3.) And with sound…. only one sound can happen at a time. I just counted SIX distinct sounds sitting in my office.

Life is not singular… one sight, one sound. All of this contributes to a muffled, shrunken world.

4.) I could write for days and days about the advertising… starting with THIS. But, in short, when you watch a program you like, you see ads of products you would want to buy. EVERYTHING about television is geared towards YOU and only YOU. No wonder we don’t care about our communities, we have no idea what is going on besides ourselves.

5.) And then lastly, television does stuff like THIS. If you don’t support this, then why would you support the cause of this.

I could write more, and I may write more… but for the time being…. just start to think about the fact: is it really worth it?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFZjg4eGMk]

“We are a nation of consumers, and there is nothing wrong with that.”

I know that most people see this advertisement and think to themselves… a credit card company that gets me and my concerns. But remember, they are still doing this to get your business and make more money. That is their ultimate goal. Do not be duped into thinking anything else. For their sake and the sake of their shareholders, they still need to increase their revenue, so they have figured out a way to market to you. The truth, however, is that they are still a credit card company. They still charge you an 19% interest rate, and if you are late, it defaults up to 31%.

And what an interesting opening line. I believe that there is “something wrong with that”. I know that some of you think I rant about the world as I see it should be. But, when you look around at all of the stuff that you have in your homes, and then realize that you only use 20% of what you own, I think the logical conclusion is that we OVER-consume.

I am reading a fascinating book right now called The Age of Missing Information by Bill McKibben. I think when you read it, as well as when you take the time to really evaluate what commercials are saying to you… you will start to understand that the media is manipulating you. The companies have allowed you to be viewed as a malleable, uninformed, uneducated being and they can say whatever they want, over and over, until you are convinced you “have to have it”.

Think before you buy.