I don't understand

Got this letter in the mail. Let me share it with you, my fine Blasphemes readers.

Dear Cap'n,

I'm writing to you this question because I guess you seem to have subject matter expertise. Why do screenwriters and script writers striking in Hollywood have more impact in the news than our actions in Iraq or Afghanistan? Is it because the news media thinks Americans don't care? I want your opinion. I'm not questioning the validity of their jobs, just its impact on the news.

If I had a strike, I'd probably be imprisoned via UCMJ violations. Its not something I can do. So, I'm just curious.

Signed,
nevermind

Good question, Nevermind.
First, I'd naturally say that since
"The Iraq war represents the end of the media as a
major actor in war. The indifference, the exhaustion
and the difficulty of reporting leaves the US forces
with a freer hand than they have had in any field of
operations for decades" (link)

The Iraq war has become a disaster that we have chosen
to forget.

But the more realistic answer, the one that's semi-easier to
swallow- is that you're forgetting that the News media is nothing more than
entertainment. They are affected, and the American people need their soma/
distraction from their sh*tty, real life...
or just something to watch while trying to fall asleep.

Daily Show and Colbert Report will be the first to
go on hiatus (on hold) today - and then the other daily type shows will be following.
Read, Letterman and Leno etc.

As I reported earlier, a long strike will effect daily TV shows,
then pilots then shows still in production. Then It'll effect
Hollywood - and unless they have a bunch of crap laying around
(let me look, yep, they do) they'll be next.

So while I have given a little bit of type/ink to the story as well - mostly because it's interesting to see the 'new' media deal with the Unions. The writers are simply the first to stand in line with their cups out. It also reminds me of Peoria...

The Writers Guild is acting a lot like the UAW in Peoria - they're the guinea pigs used to see what's going to fly on the new contracts. They're used to see what's going to stick, or cause issues with the big boys in Detroit. Let me back peddle a little.

The UAW tends to use their workers in Peoria, who work for Caterpillar tractor, as sacrificial lambs to see how far the new demands, dental plans, better retirement packages will hold up against negotiation and (almost always) arbitration. That is, what's are they going to Detroit with. "If it Plays in Peoria" has many meanings, and this is really one of them.

The writer contract is the first of many which will come up soon. This fight is about new medium that wasn't really an issue in the last negotiation, three years ago. In the last three years new media has been making a couple people very rich, especially since no one ever foresaw Gilligan's Island box sets on DVD ever making money.

ever.

So the writers, the camera men, the gaffers, the actors and, I guess the makeup artists all want a piece of the sweet money cake. If not residuals, then higher up-front fees. And the couple people making money off of the smart idea of remastering Gilligan's Island say "forget it, you already cashed your check - and you were overpaid when we hired you in the first place."

As you can see, these two parties ideas of fairness aren't even in the same parking lot, let alone the same page.

Why is this more important than the war that we wage? It all goes back to Family Guy and how DVD sales resurrected that show.

Family Guy celebrated their 100th episode last night. After it was canceled. Then sold 100 million units on DVD. Brought back to FOX. 100th episode last night.

Iraq war? Well, since the surge seems to have locked down all the car bombs and all the negative news - and a little from point one - what've they got to write about?

Besides, who would be writing about it?