On the Murdoch Empire

For years I have been convinced that the Murdoch enterprise was a genuine evil empire. As some of you know, for days now I have been posting a lot of links on Twitter to describe the growing disintegration of that empire. I also wanted to state the problem in a nutshell, but yesterday Avaaz (www.Avaaz.org) did that job for me. Here's how they put it:

"Murdoch is a global problem. He's famous for dictating editorial positions to his papers. He corrupts and controls democracies by pushing politicians to back his extremist ideas on war, torture and a host of other planetary ills, and destroying the careers of politicians with smear campaigns unless they do his bidding. In the US, he helped elect George W. Bush and has most of the Republican presidential candidates actually on his payroll. His Fox News Network spread lies to promote the war in Iraq, pushed resentment of Muslims and immigrants and spawned the right-wing tea party. Maybe worst of all, he has helped block critical global action on climate change."

Amen. Now keep your eyes on London.