As in Mother Russia, so in USA

(From New York Times via LRC Blog)

All kidding aside, the similarities between the tyrannical regime in Russia and the burgeoning one in the United States are becoming a bit strange.

According to the New York Times, Russian television (heavily influenced by the Kremlin) is no place for critics of the Russian government to voice their concerns. Dissenters from former President (now Prime Minister) Vladimir Putin's regime are digitally removed and/or not allowed to question the Russian government.

Individuals who find themselves out of favor with the government-run television programs are placed on "stop lists" and are essentially black balled from making television appearances. The article is unclear as to whether the Kremlin maintains an "official" stop list or if the list is managed independently by television stations with knowledge of Kremlin likes and dislikes.

The article's author sounds appalled at the idea of the Kremlin censoring dissenting opinion, and I got the impression he was insinuating that such atrocities could never happen in America. After all, this is America - land of free speech, baseball, apple pie, and all that good stuff right?

In a series of damning posts (here, here, here, and here), Glenn Greenwald outlines America's version of the Kremlin, wherein network television "stars" acted as cheerleaders for the Bush Administration and failed to perform their duty as journalists. One particular quote from Charles Gibson succinctly sums up the media's relationship with the Bush Administration when he averred, "It's not our [the media's] job to debate them, it's our job to ask questions." (Video)

Additionally, evidence exists that the Pentagon handpicks/handpicked military analysts who are/were friendly to the Bush regime and its pro-war agenda. Such actions not only stifle meaningful debate, they also force the media to comply with Pentagon rules or risk being cut off from information about the War on Terror.

The New York Times' effort to feign shock upon the realization that the Kremlin actively censors dissenting opinion in Russia--especially when similar things happen here--strikes me as both darkly comedic and ironic. It seems the blueprint for controlling public opinion works the same regardless of a country's political philosophy or commitment to individual freedom.