One of the best things about having a web site named “Wisdom Voices” is that we are privileged to profile and feature individuals who have the courage and vision to speak truth to power in today’s world. We all have the need to be heard and our site provides us the avenue to let others with wisdom do the talking.
This month we are delighted to feature Brad Friedman, investigative journalist extraordinaire and editor of The BRAD BLOG as our December Progressive Profile. He was kind enough to share his time and thoughts about one of his favorite topics: electronic voting and how easily votes can be manipulated and eliminated. We aren’t talking about the invented story of “voter fraud.” Instead, Friedman cuts to the heart of the chase and talks about the real threat to our democracy: the insanity of our computerized voting systems in use today and the need to return to paper ballots that can be counted individually. Conspiracy theory you say? Read our interview and see if you feel the same way afterward.
Friedman also keeps alive the vital role that too often disappears from the U.S. media today – that of investigative journalist. In the highest tribute we could pay to Friedman, we believe he exemplifies the important message uttered recently by the great Bill Moyers:
“While it is important to cover the news, it is more important to uncover the news. As one of my mentors said, ‘News is what people want to keep hidden; everything else is publicity.’”
If The BRAD BLOG is not one of your “favorites” or “bookmarks” we urge you to make it so. Reading it is a great reminder of what journalism used to be about in this country before the corporate take over of it. Our Founding Fathers realized the importance of a free press, putting it right there in the First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
A ‘tip of the hat’ to Mr. Friedman for his diligent work to keep the Fourth Estate alive and well.