The only protest that counts today (and saves you money).

DUers, forget the marches. Forget the votes. There is only one protest that counts today. Cancel cable. Turn off the TV. If you want entertainment, subscribe to one of the on-line video mail-out companies like Netflix or Blockbuster. Stop supporting Chris Matthews, et al. The media will listen. Their advertisers will watch what is going on.

I know marching is more fun. But only shutting off your TV will get the message across. I have done this. I do not subscribe to cable. I watch TV only very, very rarely. I get my news on the internet. I get entertainment from Netflix. I refuse to watch their stupid ads. I refuse to play their game. I refuse to listen to their propaganda.

Join me in this protest. This is the first protest that will actually save you money!

of my TV like a zombie for almost all of the hours I was at home.

From being so hooked, I find I haven't missed it at all. I learn so much MORE and get news so much FASTER in the internet - not to mention more objective coverage. AND things that aren't covered AT ALL by our media.

If I'd still been glued to my TV, there's so much that would have passed me by.

I think you make an excellent point and a wonderful suggestion. That would send a BIG statement. Money talks.

EDIT to add:

Stuff I like (Bill Maher, Olbermann, Colbert) always show up on YouTube (and on Comedy Central.com), and ABC even shows Ugly Betty! I'm not missing out on ANYTHING!

in short segments on the internet.

C-Span is also available on the internet.

I get Free Speech TV on Channel 9415 on DISH; all of the programs are VERY progressive. I will continue to educate myself by watching "Democracy Now" and the "INN World Report," as well as specials on Zinn, Chomsky, etc.

I stopped watching in early 2004; I've been much happier ever since.

I make an occasional exception - when I watch a program on one of the CSPAN channels. I also will watch "TDS" or the "Colbert Report."

That's it. It's so nice; the programming I watch educates me, rather than dumbing me down.

It's your choice, but I am suggesting this as a form of protest. Doing without something you might enjoy having for the sake of your country.

it is viewer-supported, and is a progressive oasis.

It's the cable you pay for. I would like more information about it if it is not cable. Thanks.

And, DISH is owned by a rightwinger; however, I believe that we really need to support efforts to broadcast progressively-oriented television. So, I donate monthly to FreeSpeechTV. I have to weigh things, and I'm not willing to allow www.freespeech.org (Free Speech TV) to fail. That's the final decision that I have made.

I hopte that makes sense. I came to the conclusion after reading "Confessions of An Economic Hitman," by John Perkins, as well as his subsequent book. He explains how the corporatocracy works (the worldwide network of multinational corporations that really run countries, and who use our government personnel towards their own ends). After much thought, he came to the conclusion that the best model for addressing the situation was that of the Rain Forest Action Network (R.A.N.). To make a long story short, R.A.N. tends to hammer out agreements for improvement with these huge corporations, after having embarassed them publicly for their shortcomings. It is a terribly effective strategy. I'm not going to forgo cable and satellite connections totally, and punish efforts to bring the truth to the public. I will, however, avoid watching CNN, MSNBC, etc., and I'll let them know it. I used to work for a defense contractor (in the infamous 80's), and my hubby worked for the oil industry for decades, before we came to the Light. I've come to realize that my dollar vote has more impact than my vote at the polls; but, the situation isn't one of totally boycotting everything, if it means failing to reward a step in the right direction. I hope this makes a bit of sense. It's just the decision we made after careful thought.

P.S. I'm not really supporting Chris Matthews, because the bulk of their profits comes from people listening to the commercials and patronizing the sponsors. I do neither. They don't make significant profit from DISH paying them, to my knowledge.

we are supporting the manipulation of our media to the benefit of the corporate interests and to the detriment of our democracy. So, no. I don't think that paying Dish or Cable is good. As you point out, the amount of your money that goes to a liberal station is minuscule and does not fund its operation. When cable first began, we were promised that there would be no advertisements since we were paying for it in our cable fee. That promise was broken long ago. Cable and dish TV are just corporate intrusions, means through which corporate conglomerates influence and control the lives of viewers.

I can only get my telephone from one source; I'm not going to give it up just because Republicans own the majority of the shares in the company.

I want to hurt the individual networks and shows that are propagandists; I don't need to hit the cable and satellite providers (but, that having been said, I'm not giving the $ to Murdoch at least).

Why would you deprive yourself of vital information on your Government. That does not make any sense.