The New Watchdogs Page #10

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the people like his own children.

"He reproves, advises and assists them,

"for they are obviously incapable

of controlling their own fate.

"He punishes the people

as he would his own children,

"for their own good.

"He says,

'Spare the rod and spoil the child.'

When they revolt,

he calls them ingrates."

We believe it is right

for a democracy like ours

to lay down certain rules

and reaffirm certain principles

to which all democrats

should unhesitatingly adhere.

Reaffirm the need

for pluralism in the media...

Back in November 1983,

Pierre Mauroy

put before the National Assembly

a Freedom of the Press bill.

President Mitterrand had pledged

that a left-wing government would enact

the autonomy and pluralism of the media.

...transparently administered.

Restrict concentration

and secure the means

to enforce the se provisions.

The stated enemies at the time

were concentration

and the power of money.

The power of the press

does not frighten us

but we will not tolerate

the power of money!

On May 13th 2009,

Jean-Pierre Elkabbach,

the Lagardere Group's key journalist,

was decorated

by ex-President Chirac.

The admiring guests included

the cream of the media,

financial leaders

and top politicians from right

and left.

In the meantime,

the left in power

had spent thirty years giving up.

Thirty years of failing

to legislate

for an independent press.

Thirty years

of increased concentration.

Thirty years of allowing

industrial and financial conglomerates

to take over the printed press, radio

and TV networks.

Thirty years of not trying

to provide a good,

free public news service.

Thirty years of not treating the media

as a crucial political issue.

So? Must we wait thirty more years

for the democratization of the media

that is a prerequisite

for economic and social change?

Must we let the watchdogs

think and act for us for 30 more years?

"The gap between their ideas

and the grim world

"widens each week, each day,

"yet nothing alerts the m

"and they alert no one.

"The gap between their promises

and real life

"is more outrageous than ever.

"Yet they do not move.

"They stay behind the barricade.

"They hold the same meetings

and publish the same books.

"All those who foolishly

waited on their words

are starting to revolt, or laugh."

Paul Nizan, The Watchdogs, 1932

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