America’s proud moniker of ‘Leader of the Free World’ is slipping fast into the recesses of increasingly authoritarian and secretive government.
The World Press Freedom Index, issued by the Watchdog group Reporters Without Borders, ranked the United States at a dismal No. 41 out of 180 countries – putting it just barely in the top quarter of nations, which itself was actually an ‘improvement’ over the past year.
That is a far cry from the perceptions that most Americans have cherished, and politicians have so frequently touted in televised speeches.
The U.S. has lost a lot of ground in such rankings over the course of the past several years of repression in the post-9/11 world and in particular with the clamp down and persecution of whistleblowers, and the journalists who enable them.
According to NPR:
The U.S. is ranked 41 out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index, which measures the “level of freedom of information in 180 countries.”
Citing the U.S. government’s “war on whistleblowers who leak information about its surveillance activities, spying and foreign operations, especially those linked to counter-terrorism,” and the country’s lack of a “shield law” that would allow journalists to protect confidential sources, the report takes a decidedly negative view of U.S. press freedom.
[…] as NPR’s Sam Sanders has reported:
“[Obama’s] Justice Department has cracked down on reporters in an effort to prevent leaks; it also set a new record for withholding access to government files under the Freedom of Information Act (despite calling for a “new era of openness” on his first day in office);
Basically, every major Western democracy ranked ahead of the U.S. in freedoms, and the overall trend is in decline, and a lack of respect for the rights of photographers, citizen journalists and even credentialed press – particularly when asking inconvenient questions with real substance.
[…] The group’s U.S. Director Delphine Halgand says in the report that there is still “room for improvement in the country of the First Amendment.”
The reaction to leaks by Edward Snowden, Chelsea (Bradley) Manning and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange have epitomized this, but there have been many other whistleblowers who were ignored and mistreated.
Former CBS investigative reporter Sheryl Attkisson was harassed by a host of alphabet agencies who hacked her computer and let it be known that her reports on the scandals of the Obama Administration would not be welcomed. Michael Snyder wrote:
Let’s review what has happened to former CBS News reporter Sharyl Attkisson. She was an award-winning journalist for more than thirty years, but that didn’t stop the Obama administration from systematically harassing her. In her new book entitled Stonewalled: My Fight for Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation, and Harassment in Obama’s Washington, she makes some extremely startling claims. She believes that the harassment and intimidation that she experienced were the direct result of her determination to get to the truth about Benghazi, Fast and Furious, the green energy scandals and Obamacare. The following are some of the main points that she has been sharing with the media in recent weeks…
-While she was working at CBS News her computers were hacked by the government, her keystrokes were monitored and potentially incriminating classified material was planted on her hard drive.
There are many more cases, but most of them never make the news, and some are difficult to confirm or report on.
The point is that our rights are slipping away, and the system itself is becoming more entrenched with corruption, and more secretive by the day.
Moreover, it has become sophisticated about its branding and image – Obama appears jovial and friendly towards the ideas of democracy, but in substance his administration has not respected the First Amendment, and obviously not the Second, nor the Fourth Amendment, or due process.
Of course, the most dangerous agencies, like the NSA and CIA, stand above any president, and carry on actions that undermine the rights of Americans as a matter of course, and readily use national security as a pretext to steamroll over the Bill of Rights whenever they get the chance.
Things will only get worse from here unless the core issues are dealt with.
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Like Satan, his time is limited.
WANT TO PUT SOME BLACK HISTORY ON A DOLLAR?
HOW ‘BOUTS A PICTURE OF THEM BURNING DOWN BALTIMORE OR FURGUSON
OR RECREATING THE SQUALOR OF AFRICA EVERYWHERE THEY GO
OR WHITE PEOPLE CROSSING THE STREET WHEN THEY PASS BY
OR ASIAN STORE OWNERS FOLLOWING THEM THROUGH THE STORE
METHINKS THE COUNTRY IS BEGINNING TO GET “NEGRO FATIGUED”
I’M SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT THE BLACKS AND THEIR FUCKING ETERNAL ENDLESS PROBLEMS
I’M SICK AND TIRED OF THE GOVERNMENT STEALING 1/3 OR EVERY PAYCHECK I EARN
I’M SICK OF BLACKS DESTROYING FORMERLY PLEASANT WHITE CITIES LIKE ST LOUIS BALTIMORE DETROIT AND NEW ORLEANS
BLACKS ARE THE ONLY LIFE FORM ON THE PLANET THAT NEED LAWS TO FORCE YOU TO INTERACT WITH THEM
YT HAS BEEN TRYING TO CIVILIZE THE BLACKS SINCE 1652
WHATEVER THE BLACK PROBLEMS ARE, LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE. I DONT WANT TO FUCKING HEAR ABOUT THE BLACKS ANYMORE. I DONT WANT TO TALK TO WHITE DEMOCRATS ANYMORE. AMERICA IS A FUCKING COUNTRY OF GROWN CHILDREN AND IT’S ONLY GETTING WORSE.
Americans who largely have been nowhere and are very ignorant of their own history love repeating the, “We’re the best”, “We’re the freest”, “We have the highest standard of living”. Its repeated over and over until the answers are knee jerk responses. Unfortunately facts tend not to support the illusion but ignorant bliss is preferred over reality.
name a country youd rather live in than murica
God knows I bash Amerikkka daily
but methinks other countries suck ass even more
maybe Liberland will expand
“name a country youd rather live in than murica”
Ask thousands of 18-22 year old males that in 1965-1972 and they would say, “Anywhere but here”, for good reason as their Uncle in a “Free Nation” could put them in gladiator slavery for two years to kill, die or both for corporate America.
I happen to speak english and I’m not fond of the other English speaking countries but Northern Europe is pretty damn good. Great looking women too.
Bet your chance of getting a good job in Germany is higher than in the US.
“name a country youd rather live in than murica”
I made a good living and now I’m retired. Ask the question to someone in the rust belt that is 50 and making $8.25 / hr who was making $28.90 a few years back.
Only the sheeple think this way Kev. Those of us who a foundation in reality understand we rank very far down. Our country has been overthrown without a single bullet being fired. It is part of the overall plan of the ultra rich teaming up with corrupt politicians to take care of themselves. They do not care about the people.
Mike L
Thats a fight that has been going on since society formed. The USA public, given a few actual foreign enemies and even more contrived, acquiesced their judgement to the authorities. Like the line in the classic move Animal House, “Face it, you fu@$ed up, you trusted us”. Its a Stockholm Syndrome exhibited by a population that has been repeatedly lied to (where are those WMDs) (Mystery bullet) (Gulf Of Tonkin incident) and still patiently awaits the next ridiculous ostensible reason and accepts it line hook and sinker. The idea that they are being intentionally lied to is too frightening to accept; therefore its ignored.
Silver hit a new High today $17.77, some sell off, but we will see $20 then 26.50 by End of July. Hope you all backed up the truck on .999 pure..
~WWTI… btw/, this is the first time I logged on here today, so if it hits as first person post, it was luck.
As long as TPTB have control over the press you can say anything you want right?
Why should be are about the Press? (sarcasm) They are on the front line for taking our 2ND. Amendment away from us.
You see it all changes when the shoe is on the other foot.
Sgt.
Computer acting up again.
Should read.
Why should we be concerned about the press?
Should have proof read it!!!!
Sgt.
Sarge, BRAVO! I don’t care about the MSM, but I DO care about the independent media. I don’t follow any PC crap, PERIOD!
“Why should we be concerned about the press?”
A “Free Press” is supposed to be the watch dog of the people. Without it functioning as it was intended the masses don’t even know that their freedom is being eroded. False Flag incidents start wars and the press doesn’t question the official narrative. People die for no good reason.
A truly “Free Press” would state both sides of the Second Amendment. I never seen it shown in the mainstream press the actual number of people killed with rifles of all types verses bare hands and feet.
The reasons we should be concerned regarding a “Free Press” are just about endless.
K2
I was being sarcastic! I know we need a free press for many reasons.
Sgt.
My apologies……..
The cheer USA USA USA is ignorant bliss made by parroting puppets at sports and political events. It is known that the cia is entrenched in every newspaper and newsroom to approve all content and suppress all negative political and business critique. This is nothing new and has been ongoing for many decades, now magnified greatly. There is zero freedom of the press. Try to hold a sign critical of the establishment in public and watch the gestapo swarm upon you. Tell them it’s my right and they will trample you into the ground.
I love my country. I do not love the loss of Constitutional freedoms.
Rebecca… I love this country also, after all it is our lifelong home. The government is however not what it purports itself to be, treasonous.
Aljamo,
I know you love this country. Our government is stinko. We are under great pressure but I never forget how much I love this land.
I love the principles my country was founded on. I love the constitution and the guarantees of human rights that it gives me. My country today though? No thanks. I have had enough of far left theology being crammed down my throat.
Winston,
I mean I physically and emotionally love my physical country. I lean to Libertarian so I think the D/R corporate machine stinks to high heaven. Control control control. Spend spend spend. But I loved my property in Texas, my property here, growing up in the backwoods of Oregon and Alaska. I love my country! I lived in Mexico for several years and never loved the land like here. I love my country in every breath I take in my pinyon-juniper forest and every wildflower, blackberry, wild strawberry. I passionately love my miraculously beautiful country.
In Texas I did an arsenic remediation. Here I am reseeding after an 11 year drought. This is my land and my country no matter which member of the D/R corporate machine you folks pretend is your next savior.
Oops on the love rant… I was outside working all day and got a big jolt of Vitamin D or something.
After this election the thought police will be turned loose on us. Remember, in Europe, the truth is not a defense in certain cases. In Germany, you can be sentenced to 5 years in prison for stating the truth in certain cases. I cannot say which cases because I may have to travel to Europe some day. What you post online here, you may be held liable for over there. There have been cases in which this has already been done. Totalitarianism. You gotta love it.
A free and independent press is more important than the police.
The First Amendment is First for a reason. Conversely the Second is right behind it for a reason too.
Willing to take a bullet for the cause if that is what it takes. But we won’t go down without a fight and that is what is freaking out the Obama Tribalists. There are too many willing to stand up for what is right and speak Truth. We have no choice. Our backs are to the wall. We are being genocided and we know it. They have turned our children into drug addicts, our women into whores, our men into women, and our Government into our enemy, healthcare into deathcare, and the ones who aren’t dead yet into quiet but serious enemies of the state of terrorism that we currently live under.
B from CA
our women into whores?
jeez Louise buddy… when are you men gonna zip up your own darn pants and quit calling women whores? I am 62 and never met a man who wouldn’t drop his britches at the least provocation. And that includes all the holier-than-thou church boys. Women aren’t buying the whore conversation anymore, nor should they. You men want morality? Lead the way and keep your pants zipped. Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Here’s some “leaked” info >>>
We are facing the Great Tribulation which is Global Population Elimination
The Lord makes known in Matthew 24:21-22 and Mark 13:19-20 that we of this generation facing GLOBAL EXTERMINATION at the hands of this current beast kingdom run by Queen Elizabeth II and Jacob Rothschild. It is made clear that all flesh will be destroyed unless we obey the Father’s instructions in Joel 2:12-20 so that He can intervene. And the Father makes it clear in Joel 2:12-20 that if the people do not do what He has instructed in Joel 2:12-20 that He CANNOT INTERVENE and save them from their complete annihilation.
His Solution is: We Enter His Kingdom
http://www.153wordsofgod.com/PDF/Bible%20Study,%20His%20Solution%20is%20We%20Enter%20His%20Kingdom,Part%201.pdf
http://www.153WordsOfGod.com/
We are facing the Great Tribulation which is Global Population Elimination
The Lord makes known in Matthew 24:21-22 and Mark 13:19-20 that we of this generation facing GLOBAL EXTERMINATION at the hands of this current beast kingdom run by Queen Elizabeth II and Jacob Rothschild. It is made clear that all flesh will be destroyed unless we obey the Father’s instructions in Joel 2:12-20 so that He can intervene. And the Father makes it clear in Joel 2:12-20 that if the people do not do what He has instructed in Joel 2:12-20 that He CANNOT INTERVENE and save them from their complete annihilation.
His Solution is: We Enter His Kingdom
http://www.153wordsofgod.com/PDF/Bible%20Study,%20His%20Solution%20is%20We%20Enter%20His%20Kingdom,Part%201.pdf
http://www.153WordsOfGod.com/
It’s not only journalists in jeopardy for speaking the truth. How many outspoken celebrities have had their careers destroyed or died mysteriously? Coincidentally, pop singer Prince died today. He was very vocal about chemtrails and other hot topics.
That’s fine, most news today from whistleblowers comes from dedicated men and women whom go it alone with a camera and nerves of steel in the case of the Luke rudoski Venezuela story.
What do you expect when msm won’t even mention a sniff of what is going on. Call that whistleblowing, I call it honest up to date news that is informing and critical.
If it is making people look bad then those people pull your socks up and try harder or is it that the Internet has let the cat out of the bag and everyone now can see the sheer scale of what we are not being told for what it is.
You know when nothing is reported in the msm news concerning government actions detrimental to citizens is spoken that we have a major problem. Imagine Hillary and the executive orders she is salivating on signing. Executive orders are illegal, if not send the rest of this criminal government packing. Yeah, not going to happen. I didn’t hear or read one thing about the hundreds of people arrested peacefully protesting in DC.
The people in this country are too busy to worry about press freedom. They’re working tirelessly to ensure men have the right to use the public restroom stall next to little girls.
The great United States of America’s experiment in freedom is long over. Everyone here knows it. Best guess as to the year/decade it tipped? Subjective, I know, just making conversation.
I’d put 1913 and the Jekyll Island Fed creation at the beginning. But it started before that, also.
Mac, I don’t see the “click here to cancel reply” phrase.