Bill Moyers Journal and Capitol Crimes

[edward]

Bill Moyers Journal and "Capitol Crimes"

Moyers has presented us with another example of excellent investigative journalism. The program digs deep into the Abramoff scandal, far deeper than I thought it was possible to go.

Perhaps I had missed it in some earlier news media presentation, but I had no idea that Russian oil tycoons were involved with Tom Delay to the tune of $1,000,000 (ch5.)

The progam is divided up into 6 video chapters for easier viewing. Click the top video option in the link to see the six chapters.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/capitol/index.html

 

[Astronuc]

Another great piece by Moyers!

"It's a dizzying scope of perfidy and politics that boggles the imagination, and although Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay have been brought down, the system remains as vulnerable as ever," says Bill Moyers. "The scale of corruption still coming to light dwarfs anything since Watergate. In one sense it's the age-old tale of greed, but greed encouraged now by the way our system works. Deep in the plea agreements of Jack Abramoff and his cronies is the admission that they conspired to use campaign contributions to bribe politicians; campaign finance is at the core of the corruption. They took great pains to cover their tracks, and they might have pulled it off except for a handful of honest people, and the work of some enterprising print reporters, Senate investigators, and the ethics team at the department of justice. Following the money in this story leads through a bizarre maze of cocktail parties, golf courses, private jets, four-star restaurants, sweatshops - and the aura of chandeliered rooms frequented by the high and mighty of Washington."

It is rather sickening to see how much money was made and what was done by Delay in terms of manipulating the legal system. For example, the Labor Department was trying to get Congress to bring the Marianas Islands (US territory) under US Labor Law, but Delay prevented it. Delay sees sweat shops and labor camps as examples of free market capitalism. :yuck:

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

I applaud the thorough research and attention to detail shown in this program. Investigative journalism plays a crucial role in uncovering important information and bringing it to the public's attention. The fact that Moyers was able to uncover new information about the Abramoff scandal, including the involvement of Russian oil tycoons, is a testament to the power of good journalism.

It is also commendable that the program is divided into six chapters, making it easier for viewers to digest and understand the complex issues at hand. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of the topic and encourages critical thinking and analysis.

I believe that programs like this serve an important purpose in our society, shedding light on corruption and holding those in positions of power accountable for their actions. I hope that this type of investigative journalism continues to thrive and that more individuals like Moyers are motivated to dig deep and uncover the truth.