How-Much-Corruption-Can-You-Handle?-Bob Davis Podcast 868

How Much Corruption Can You Handle?

Suddenly the word ‘corruption’ is in the news these days. How deep does it go? How much corruption can we handle? Learn more in How-Much-Corruption-Can-You-Handle?-Bob Davis Podcast 868.

Pollyanna Lives Here

Most of us have grown up being taught a Pollyanna history. Back in the day it was justice for all, World War 2 and liberty.

These days our young people learn about civil rights, the environment and how much government can do to help.

Dark History Might Be The Real History

On the other hand there’s a much darker history. Especially when it comes to those who wield government power.

More Corrupt Than We Imagine

Above all I personally think our governments are more corrupt than we imagine. We’ll start by defining  the word corruption.

Two Definitions Of Corruption

Most important the first definition for corruption deals with money being exchanged for political favors and a lack of integrity. The second is what’s valuable to us politically. This definition suggests debasement or ‘corruption’ of original intent.

Corrupt For A Long Time

Above all, it’s no secret corruption in government has been with us a long time in the United States. Unfortunately, it really got its legs after Prohibition.

Epic Corruption Still With Us

In How-Much-Corruption-Can-You-Handle?-Bob Davis Podcast 868 I detail US Government corruption dating back to the Articles of Confederation. In conclusion, after prohibition, the story becomes an epic. And it still is. Here’s a link to Gus Russo’s books detailing the years of political corruption in the US as the direct result of prohibition. Critics say Russo’s analysis is guilt by association but I wonder if it’s more than that. Much more.

Finally Partisans beware, my reading of history suggests corruption, legal and illegal, doesn’t have a party preference.

Senator Elizabeth Warren says she’ll tackle corruption if elected. I wouldn’t hold my breath.

[Editor’s Note: This podcast is incorrectly numbered 868. Yes I know. Haven’t done 867 yet. That’s on the way.)

Sponsored by Fitness Together Personal, Private Fitness Training and Nutrition and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

How-Much-Corruption-Can-You-Handle?-Bob Davis Podcast 868

Ozark The Deuce Stranger Things Golden TV age Snark-Podcast 675

Streaming. Binging. Brand new shows. Hundreds of new offerings on networks that didn’t exist ten years ago. Critics have suddenly discovered streaming television and there is much they do not like. In Ozark The Deuce Stranger Things Golden TV age Snark-Podcast 675.

No Commercials

I cut the cable years ago. Never watch broadcast TV. Despite this, I watch a lot of TV. I have my favorite shows. Shows I binge watch over a week, or weekend. Especially relevant is the fact that we all have our favorites. Whether it’s a weekend of Stranger Things or Ozark on Netflix, or waiting for each installment of the new HBO Show The Deuce, we’re watching serialized TV offerings like long movies.

Peak TV

While the technical infrastructure has existed for awhile, more people are streaming shows. It’s what the experts call ‘peak tv‘. No one wants to be left out, including the critics. In Ozark The Deuce Stranger Things Golden TV age Snark-Podcast 675.

You’ve Got Critics

A few years ago the critics hailed these new offerings as ‘groundbreaking’. Suddenly new shows can’t get a break. Bad acting. Silly plot lines. Critics are desperate to remain relevant, I guess. What they forget is, it’s just Television.

Watch It All At Once and Move On

Television has always been disposable. So have all popular forms of entertainment. Sure, there are world changing plays, movies, songs, radio and television shows. For the most part though, we forget. Do you remember all two hundred plus Miami Vice installments? Were they all great?

Content Creators Don’t Change The World With Every Offering

New media platforms can take as much content as creators can manage. People watch and discard almost as soon as it is produced. We’re in the early stages of an entirely new form of entertainment delivery systems. Creators are still learning the ropes. Is it fair to compare a show with 13 hour long installments in a year, although it’s written, shot and produced like a movie, with a full budget hollywood movie? Do the viewers care that some critic doesn’t think an actor is good enough to do Shakespeare on Broadway?

Binge Weekend

I love my new shows, and I binge watch the old ones all the time. WestWorld. The Deuce. Ozark. House of Cards. Ray Donovan. Boardwalk Empire. Curb Your Enthusiasm. I don’t need to be studying film and literature to enjoy them. In the final analysis, the rest of the viewers don’t either.

Sponsored by Brush Studio in The West End, Saint Louis Park and Ciro 3D Motorcycle Products and Accessories

Ozark The Deuce Stranger Things Golden TV age Snark-Podcast 675

 

 

Podcast 492

Dramatic Distractions. Had a conversation with a friend awhile back and he said, “All these people and they’re shows. They’re asleep”. Didn’t think too much about it for almost a year, and today it popped into my head. To say that I love my shows is an understatement. So for this podcast I made a partial list of some of the series shows I have watched, or am watching on Netflix, iTunes, Hulu. It was a bit of a surprise. I didn’t even make a complete list and it’s way too long! Someone will hear this and think, “This guy does nothing but watch TV Shows”. Well. Uh. No. At least I didn’t think so until I actually made a list. Then I thought, am I that unusual? A lot of us watch these shows. Add to that screen time on FB, Instagram, Twitter and especially You Tube and you have the makings of a real distraction. And this AFTER I’ve scanned and read a huge portion of the news. I talk a lot about how people are watching the political news shows, and listening to talk radio and political podcasts as entertainment. Seldom do I talk about the escapism inherent in watching hour after hour of television drama, which. Is. So. Satisfying. The Walking Dead and the new Don’t Fear the Walking Dead. Ray Donovan. The Affair, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, The Wire, The Sopranos, Sons Of Anarchy, Justified, House of Cards. Mister White isn’t a meth dealer, he’s a TV drama producer in Hollywood! Do this shows influence our thinking about society? Or, are they just a guilty pleasure. By the way, who has time to read East of Eden, or In Cold Blood when these shows are being pumped out. It may be time for a news cleanse, as well as a drama cleanse. Then we get to a discussion of the delights available on You Tube. Endless Illuminati Conspiracy videos, horribly done but immensely entertaining horoscopes and tarot card readers. Finally, FaceBook has become nothing but posts and shares of dogs that can’t catch videos, cute kid videos, mom’s doing yoga videos, Bernie Sanders Memes, Ted Cruz Meme’s, and other nonsense. Who has time to work? Yeah, maybe it’s time we looked at this. Sponsored by Brush Studio In The West End, Saint Louis Park and by Hydrus Performance.