I Canceled My Washington Post Subscription

Posted on October 26, 2024 by Charlene Giannetti in Opinion

“Democracy dies in darkness.” That statement from the newspaper that uncovered Watergate and brought down President Richard Nixon meant something to me and other young journalists. But the decision yesterday, by Jeff Bezos, the billionaire owner of Amazon and the Washington Post, to not endorse a presidential candidate when so much is at stake, sent shock waves throughout the journalism community. If the billionaire owner of this preeminent newspaper can be cowed by a would be dictator who is threatening to silence and jail those who fight to reveal the truth, what hope is there for the future of a free press?

We are in very dark times. Every time we look at someone or an institution to save our democracy, we are disappointed. Robert Mueller investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election and all but gave Trump a free pass. The voters in 2016 backed a would be dictator rather than a woman who was an experienced senator and secretary of state. The Supreme Court has given him carte blanche to commit crimes with no consequences. And now we are coming close to electing, once again, a 34 time convicted felon and sexual abuser who has promised to use whatever mechanisms he has at his disposal to go after his enemies. How can you be sure that you are not not one of the enemies he will go after? In this fascist environment no one is safe.

Early voting has already begun and so, we can assume, millions of votes have already been cast to return Donald Trump to the White House and give him the power he needs to target his detractors and make them pay. The man who fancies himself a modern day Hitler is ready to act.

The question is, because billionaires like Bezos have decided not to speak out, what will you do to stop a would be dictator to deliver a death knell to our democracy?

Top photo: Bigstock

About Charlene Giannetti (752 Articles)
Charlene Giannetti, editor of Woman Around Town, is the recipient of seven awards from the New York Press Club for articles that have appeared on the website. A graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Charlene began her career working for a newspaper in Pennsylvania, then wrote for several publications in Washington covering environment and energy policy. In New York, she was an editor at Business Week magazine and her articles have appeared in many newspapers and magazines. She is the author of 13 non-fiction books, eight for parents of young adolescents written with Margaret Sagarese, including "The Roller-Coaster Years," "Cliques," and "Boy Crazy." She and Margaret have been keynote speakers at many events and have appeared on the Today Show, CBS Morning, FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and many others. Her last book, "The Plantations of Virginia," written with Jai Williams, was published by Globe Pequot Press in February, 2017. Her podcast, WAT-CAST, interviewing men and women making news, is available on Soundcloud and on iTunes. She is one of the producers for the film "Life After You," focusing on the opioid/heroin crisis that had its premiere at WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, where it won two awards. The film is now available to view on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and other services. Charlene and her husband live in Manhattan.

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