Comments on: The Player http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/ Keeping a jaundiced eye on the corporate media. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:48:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Susie http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134650 Susie Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:42:53 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134650 While it's possible his feelings have changed, I tend to think he's merely doing the political thing. I didn't pull this out of my ass; I spoke at a panel on blogging at the Inky, and it's what several of the employees mentioned in discussions afterward when I noted his absence. (This was two or three years ago.) I think he'd know better than to let it become obvious. After all, editorial board types are all about appearing to be "fair and balanced." While it’s possible his feelings have changed, I tend to think he’s merely doing the political thing. I didn’t pull this out of my ass; I spoke at a panel on blogging at the Inky, and it’s what several of the employees mentioned in discussions afterward when I noted his absence. (This was two or three years ago.)

I think he’d know better than to let it become obvious. After all, editorial board types are all about appearing to be “fair and balanced.”

]]> By: Jane http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134641 Jane Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:36:46 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134641 One point -- Satullo doesn't hate bloggers. He wrote a wonderful piece on a group of local bloggers discussing what the voters owe democracy. It was in July 2005. Full disclosure -- my blog was the one most mentioned in the op-ed. In our emails he was both courteous and respectful and did not seem overly concerned with my anonymity. Can't speak for his interaction with other bloggers, but that was my experience. One point — Satullo doesn’t hate bloggers. He wrote a wonderful piece on a group of local bloggers discussing what the voters owe democracy. It was in July 2005. Full disclosure — my blog was the one most mentioned in the op-ed. In our emails he was both courteous and respectful and did not seem overly concerned with my anonymity. Can’t speak for his interaction with other bloggers, but that was my experience.

]]> By: LWomer http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134613 LWomer Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:08:49 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134613 Agreed that Satullo is an elitist jerk. But he isn't wrong about the future of those without college degrees. Unless you are in a skilled trade (effectively blocked to minority Philadelphians), you have to have some post-high school education to get a job that pays enough to support a family. There are always a few people with incredible energy and inborn entrepreneurial traits that will allow them to succeed without a degree, but these days a BA/BS is what a high-school diploma was a generation ago to the average person. And 20 years from now even that won't be enough. In the large company where I work, most of the new hires have advanced degrees of some kind. The degree may not be necessary to do the job, but it's a way of making yourself stand out among the dozens of qualified applicants for each opening. And companies see it as proof of goal orientation, persistence, diligence, commitment--all those good work qualities. And re: cutting business taxes to lure companies to the city: when all the jobs are in the suburbs, most non-affluent city dwellers can't get to them. We need more jobs in the city, and with companies focused on maximizing revenues and profit, they will go where they get the best tax break. There is no altruism involved. Agreed that Satullo is an elitist jerk. But he isn’t wrong about the future of those without college degrees. Unless you are in a skilled trade (effectively blocked to minority Philadelphians), you have to have some post-high school education to get a job that pays enough to support a family. There are always a few people with incredible energy and inborn entrepreneurial traits that will allow them to succeed without a degree, but these days a BA/BS is what a high-school diploma was a generation ago to the average person. And 20 years from now even that won’t be enough. In the large company where I work, most of the new hires have advanced degrees of some kind. The degree may not be necessary to do the job, but it’s a way of making yourself stand out among the dozens of qualified applicants for each opening. And companies see it as proof of goal orientation, persistence, diligence, commitment–all those good work qualities.

And re: cutting business taxes to lure companies to the city: when all the jobs are in the suburbs, most non-affluent city dwellers can’t get to them. We need more jobs in the city, and with companies focused on maximizing revenues and profit, they will go where they get the best tax break. There is no altruism involved.

]]> By: Dr. S http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134610 Dr. S Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:52:59 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134610 I knew there was a reason I'm not filthy rich: I view profit as evil and dirty! That also explains the guilt I feel every time I cash my paycheck and feed my family. Thanks for the insight Wendy. I knew there was a reason I’m not filthy rich: I view profit as evil and dirty! That also explains the guilt I feel every time I cash my paycheck and feed my family.

Thanks for the insight Wendy.

]]> By: Wendy Whinner http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134563 Wendy Whinner Mon, 14 Jan 2008 01:31:22 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134563 Michael: That is a good idea but the real "left" views profit as evil and dirty so any newspaper they run would have trouble surviving financially. Plus many people already view the MSM like the Inkquirer as already on the left. Just my two cents. Michael:
That is a good idea but the real “left” views profit as evil and dirty so any newspaper they run would have trouble surviving financially. Plus many people already view the MSM like the Inkquirer as already on the left. Just my two cents.

]]> By: Michael Bloom http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134557 Michael Bloom Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:46:27 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134557 Why isn't it a priority for the left to start and support a newspaper? Why isn’t it a priority for the left to start and support a newspaper?

]]> By: Susie http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134544 Susie Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:19:40 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134544 I agree. And I wasn't arguing about policy, only about Satullo's Olympian style. I agree. And I wasn’t arguing about policy, only about Satullo’s Olympian style.

]]> By: Chris http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134543 Chris Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:50:15 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134543 The gross receipt portion of the BPT does kinda suck. The gross receipt portion of the BPT does kinda suck.

]]> By: Molly Ivors http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134539 Molly Ivors Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:08:31 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134539 Susie, The failure of states and counties to pay their fair share of community college costs is everywhere, unfortunately. We face it every year. Ideally, CC should be free. Susie,
The failure of states and counties to pay their fair share of community college costs is everywhere, unfortunately. We face it every year. Ideally, CC should be free.

]]> By: Wendy Whinner http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134537 Wendy Whinner Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:52:55 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/01/13/09/12/the-player-2/#comment-134537 Scatullo is a dick Suzie but I told you before you don't look good in green. Today, college is affordable IF someone will provide a roof over your head- that means it is very very tough for single Moms- but that is life! How would you fix that? Just give everyone free daycare, etc? That's stupid- being responsibile and smart for yourself is the path to success and economic security. I always advise young people to re-assess their career path every five years at a minimum. Scatullo is a dick Suzie but I told you before you don’t look good in green. Today, college is affordable IF someone will provide a roof over your head- that means it is very very tough for single Moms- but that is life! How would you fix that? Just give everyone free daycare, etc? That’s stupid- being responsibile and smart for yourself is the path to success and economic security. I always advise young people to re-assess their career path every five years at a minimum.

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