INDEPENDENT'S LATEST WHINE: CORPORATIONS BAD, GOVERNMENT GOOD! SHOCKER!

The 'Santa Barbara Independent,' ever on the cutting edge of 1960s socialist thought, recently devoted space to a book review that posits a truly groundbreaking theory: corporations are sneaky and manipulative. We here at The Whipping Post must confess, we nearly fell out of our chairs laughing. Who knew that entities designed to make money might, on occasion, prioritize profit? Truly, this insight must have required years of rigorous academic research, probably funded by some progressive think tank convinced that the only good business is a bankrupt one.

Author Amy Westervelt’s tome, ‘Brought To You By: How Corporations Warped the Truth, Conned the Public, and Broke Democracy,’ apparently explores how the 'information ecosystem' is 'polluted.' Naturally, the Independent's review doesn't dare suggest that maybe, just maybe, the mainstream media's relentless cheerleading for big government, endless regulations, and tax hikes might also play a role in warping public perception. No, no, it's always the *corporations* – the job creators, the innovators, the ones actually producing something of value – who are the real villains.

One can almost picture the book club meeting: soy lattes, knowing nods, and solemn pronouncements about the need for more federal agencies to dictate what we can say, think, and buy. Because, of course, government bureaucrats, with their track record of efficiency and unimpeachable honesty, are the only ones capable of delivering 'unpolluted' information. This isn't about discerning truth; it's about pushing a narrative that conveniently scapegoats the private sector while paving the way for more state control, all under the guise of intellectual enlightenment. We guess the Independent forgot to review the books about how government bureaucracy pollutes common sense and economic prosperity.