jon katz (Score 1)

I've never posted to slashdot before, but a couple of ridiculous assertions from this story made me need to reply.

"This has sparked an epidemic homogenization of popular culture - not a dumbing down, but a dulling down - as controversial, profane, sexual or other "controversial" cultural offerings from books to movies to music are eliminated or pushed to the margins so that safer products can be mass-marketed."

I don't know what movies and TV Jon Katz has been watching, but controversy, profanity, and sexuality are the only things that sell media anymore. I agree with the homogenization bit, but it is impossible to assert that potentially offensive entertainment has been marginalized. It is, in fact, the one thing that can guarantee sales (see: Jerry Springer).

"Younger workers are forced into dead-end and poorly paid positions with little chance of advancement or meaningful work, while older workers are down-sized, re-engineered, laid off in droves."

Once again, the facts don't support this. The US economy has had unprecedentedly low unemployment and inflation for years. They're finding jobs somewhere, Jon! In fact, the majority of job growth comes from (drum roll) small companies. Big companies may be scary, but they're not quite the economic force they pretend to be. There has never been a better time to work than now. Especially for knowledge workers, like most people who read this site, salaries, benefits, and hours are pretty damn great.