Wednesday, February 25, 2015

The Insidious Acceleration of Corporate False Fronts Attacking Environmental Safeguards

The Insidious Acceleration of Corporate False Fronts Attacking Environmental Safeguards

"Given that the corporate mainstream media avoids ferreting out the truth in most cases, "studies" from innocuously named think tanks are quoted to represent the anti-EPA position without noting the fact that they are backed by polluting industries. Even if the mass media did actually investigate the origin of the funding for such "studies," Berman knows how to hide the funders, so it is even more difficult to prove that the fossil fuel industry is backing what is offered as "unbiased" research and analysis.

What is most ominous about Berman's recent "false front" initiatives - which bring him extremely healthy fees from corporations - is that they represent the expanding stranglehold of big money on government. From lobbying to campaign finance to alleged think tanks and "studies" - and other tools to control public policy, regulations and legislation - corporations and the wealthy have not only largely captured the electoral process; they have also crafted finely tuned ways to influence the mass media with false information and analysis."