For those of you following the censorship of Community Business on Flashpoints by KPFA and the finances of KPFA and Pacifica Foundation including their tax-exempt status, federal government funding, banking and endowment investments, I thought I would post recent developments.
The person who wrote a letter accusing me of of self-dealing has written a letter retracting his statement and apologizing for — among other things — not knowing my name. See his letter posted near the bottom of comments at Censored.
KPFA management has not returned my calls, so I have not spoken with them. However, I have been informed by Flashpoints staff that KPFA still will not let me return to the show.
My understanding is that Flashpoints may only have academics and not-for-profits to discuss economic issues. Small business people are not permitted to discuss economic matters on the show.
Stay tuned….
It’s sad and amazing to me how the political left shoots itself in the foot time and time again.
I listened to last Wednesday’s show, the one in which “Dispatches” took the place of Catherine’s segment, and heard to Dennis begging for money (he’s actually quite good at it). Arbitrary rules like not allowing small business owners to discuss economic matters push KPFA, and unfortunately, Flashpoints, towards irrelevancy and insolvency. The internet makes it all to easy for people who believe Catherine has something valuable to say to find her elsewhere and put their time and financial resources towards that outlet.
I guess what remains confusing is why the KPFA management finds Catherine so threatening. Because she has some audioseminars she sells? Has the KPFA management ever listened to a major national radio show like Fresh Air? Are the aware that nearly every guest on that show has something to hawk, usually a book? That’s small business at work. Actually, sometimes quite big business, given the size of the publishers profiting off those book sales.
Ummm, Catherine, I thought you were an academic. You are highly educated. What is their problem over there? They lost me as a listener and I hope everyone else stops listening. I knew you being on their channel was too good to be true. I knew someone would silence you. That is the way it always is. I bet you are on the No-Fly list too.
Dear All,
As a contributor to Pacifica, and DemocracyNow!, I am frankly, very disappointed in KPFA’s inability to allow Catherine to return. Has KPFA ever had small business people on their shows? If so, how many, when, and what did they talk about? I think their policy is shortsighted, especially if someone like Catherine has such great things to say and is so free ranging and creative in her analysis, and a magnet for other such likeminded people. Also, I am suprised that Catherine has not yet been invited on DN! to talk about Tapeworm Economics. I’ll have to seriously consider supporting Solari instead of DN!.
Sorry to hear about this. Let’s hope that KPFA management just doesn’t understand what you’re trying to accomplish, because the alternative is that the station does understand and is simply indebted to the financial status quo.
As someone who has worked for major corporations for twenty years, and hopes to be rid of that bondage before it is too late, I appreciate your efforts to create and promote more viable alternatives.
Of course, you will always be a great hero to many for your past courage and good work. Don’t let them get you down, and let us know how we can help.