State Rep. Zack Fields, a far-left Democrat who represents downtown Anchorage, has a serious bone to pick with local news outlets with which he disagrees, like the Alaska Watchman.
But rather than meet us head on in the public arena of ideas, Fields wants the playground monitor to put us into timeout, or better yet, ban us from the field altogether.
It turns out that Fields spent part of last week carefully penning an angry one-page letter to Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, demanding that he manipulate Facebook’s algorithms to bury conservative Alaska news that he personally deems to be spreaders of COVID “misinformation.”
Writing on official Alaska State Legislature letterhead, Rep. Fields attempts to shame Zuckerberg for daring to allow Watchman content to appear in people’s news feeds.
Fields posted his one-page rant on Twitter with two links to Alaska Watchman news stories and one to a post from Must Read Alaska.
The Watchman stories that so infuriated Rep. Fields dealt with COVID-19. One was a Sept. 27 column highlighting the fact that Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson is frustrated by local mainstream media outlets for not covering the full story about understaffed Anchorage hospitals. We reported Bronson’s observation that hospitals are historically busy this time of year, and yet many are actually firing employees who decline the jab, thereby compounding their woes. In short, Bronson called out the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media for “not publishing the stories of hospital employees who are being discriminated, harassed, and bullied because of their choices.”
In Fields’ ideal world, the only news outlets that should ever see the light of day are those that ignore stories that fail to fit his preferred narrative..
All of this is factually true. Local hospitals have already stated that the unvaxed are no longer welcome, even as they complain of being understaffed and overworked.
Fields was also bothered by a straight news story in which we reported that Alaska’s Chief Epidemiologist Joe McLaughlin acknowledged during a Sept. 2 meeting with reporters that there are recent studies showing that natural immunity to COVID may be better than vaccinations. McLaughlin spoke of new studies that do a head-to-head comparison of the never-infected but fully vaxed and the previously-infected but unvaxed.
“And what some of these studies are finding is that prior infection may be as effective as vaccine or slightly more effective as vaccine at preventing subsequent infection,” McLaughlin stated.
The very fact that the Watchman would dare to print these observations, or that Facebook would allow them to appear on their social media platform is a bridge too far for Rep. Fields.
“In short, you have provided the infrastructure to spread deadly misinformation with maximum efficiency, and rather than do anything meaningful to fix it, your company has maintained algorithms that continue to prioritize inflammatory false information,” Fields scolded Zuckerberg, adding that he lacks any “basic sense of decency.”
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Fields claims people are dying because Facebook won’t “meaningfully” change its algorithms, to block people from ever actually reading content by news sites like Alaska Watchman and Must Read Alaska. Failure to do this is a “fatal mistake,” according to Fields’ emotive letter.
In his ideal world, the only news outlets that should ever see the light of day are those that bury or ignore stories that fail to fit his preferred narrative.
But, of course, this is what the First Amendment and free speech is all about – allowing Americans to freely debate and even vehemently disagree on the most hot-button and divisive issues facing our nation. When this freedom is curtailed or censored, robust debate on the most consequential matters is effectively silenced. This is typically what Communist and Fascist regimes do to push unchallenged narratives on the masses.
We suggest Mr. Fields spend less time attempting to enlist the rich and powerful to destroy the few independent conservative news outlets in Alaska and more effort on the state issues he was elected to address as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives.
28 Comments
Governor Dunleavy must deal with this Completely inappropriate use of State Legislature Name, resources and influence – to demand censorship from a Public Platform.
Um, Facebook is a business and not a public platform. It has no more obligation to permit certain speech than the Alaska Watchman has an obligation to post pro abortion articles.
Correct. Facebook is a business that uses the public as its product. It collects data from its users and sells it to its affiliates for advertising purpose. At least that is the cover story.
Keyword search;
Darpa Life Log
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My advice, everyone should stay off Facebook.
Fact check: partially false and misleading. Look up Section 230. They receive a government exemption. They are no longer platforms, they are acting as publishers with no consequences. They need to be broken up just like the rail roads. I fear they are so powerful they will break the country up instead.
And where do they get their power? From us! We should stay away from it. And our kids as well.
For the life of me, I cannot understand why it is that some individuals ‘believe’ (obviously, NOT THINKING), that Wastebook, TWIT-er, et al, are PRIVATE companies. They were ALL started, using TAX-PAYER money; and CONTINUE to receive TAX-PAYER $$$. Therefore, those ‘companies’ are OWNED by We, The People. Those ‘companies’ are NO DIFFERENT than the Library, Court House, Town/City Hall, Town/City Greens, Parks, ect…..ALL of which were created and are maintained USING TAX-PAYER MONIES…….WE OWN THOSE! Those BILLIONS of $$$-worth of Military Equipment, left left by PedoJosephChinaBiden, in Afghan???? ALL of that Military Equip BELONGS TO US…..We, The People; WE PAID FOR ALL OF THAT!
Understand how that works, now?? If WE PAY FOR IT…….WE OWN IT! Because, if you do not think that that is correct, Law101…..please give me your address, so that I may CLAIM that your house, that YOU PAID FOR, now belongs to ME! lolol
Dear DawnieR, can you clue us in a bit more about these social media companies receiving taxpayer $$$?
The old story is that wastebook was indeed funded by the cia as a platform to manipulate the masses. I have heard this many times.
Sounds like rep Fields is lost his mind either out of fear or hard core communistic rage because no one is falling for his dictatorial demands. He isn’t fit for office and should be fired for using a government letter head to demand Facebook censor those who would disagree with his shallow logic. The governor needs to step up to the plate and do his job he was elected to do just like other governors around the country are doing which is what most Alaskans are demanding. Stop the madness no mask and no dam jabs, I’m sick of the fear mongering…
Sure Mark, “hard core communistic rage”. Geezus, where do you guys come up with such hyperbole.
I agree.
And hopefully there is some way the Governor can help calm down Mr. Fields temper tantrums. Or at least share a good doctor’s name to help his mental health which has now been put on full display for all to see. I feel very badly for you Mr Fields. Please get some help.
A casual observer would easily conclude the left has become quite mentally deranged and thus should not be wielding a scepter real or imagined.
It seems the bioweapon has killed more minds than it has bodies.
Who uses facebook anyway?
Yes, a common Marxist tactic, shameful.
This is what tyranny looks like.
But let’s all take the high road – no Yellow Stars – adopt the decorum of Romney/Bush/McCain – we shouldn’t offend anyone’s sensibilities.
All the while, the Left is ardently attacking the very foundations of Western Civilization.
I’ve even been censored on this site for telling Bronson to “grow a pair”.
Extremism in Defense of Liberty is no Vice.
Moderation in defense of Liberty is no Virtue.
Time is running short – wake up Sheeple!
Agree, I don’t use that diaper Facebook crap never had.
A red diaper doper baby personified.
I can’t imagine why hard-working folks in the Labor Union would allow such a commie soy boy represent them. But anyway, maybe he can take out his angst in a good match of leg wrestling with… hmmmm…. a conservative woman like Sen. Reinbold. Betcha he’d get a lickin’.
Using state legislators letterhead? He doesn’t represent me or my family. He should be censored and have his crayons taken away.
That boy ain’t right.
Rep. (employee) fields is just another jim jones cultist that wandered away from the compound.
Says the man spreading Ivermectin on his morning toast.
Evan, considering your comments on AW collectively, it seems clear that you suffer from being rejected one too many times. Maybe your parents, or a sibling, or a friend, or a girlfriend (or boyfriend?), spurned you and you have found solace in the arms of the morally relative liberal horde, where everyone is accepted so long as they don’t try to think for themselves. It must be much more comfortable for you there.
You know, Evan, you can come out from among them and use your sharp tongue and sarcasm for beneficial purposes. Sarcasm has its place! I can even point to the use of sarcasm in the Bible (which I know you reject)!
C’mon Evan. You don’t have to remain a government slave. You don’t have to be an acquiescent sheep that is scared of being rejected anymore. Don’t be afraid to be a “Fauci forsaker.” He can do you no harm. He is a poor replacement for whoever rejected you, yes? We will take you on our side! Really!
But on the condition that you pull your head out of your backside and use it for something useful.
If only this nut job was as passionate about giving us our PFDs back ! Scream on Wacky Zacky ….
About Facebook: Social media has become the voice of the people, b/c it is being silenced in the national media and on local news stations and newspapers. They promote one and only one narrative. In the olden days, media was more balanced and presented other views. In Anchorage, there were two local newspapers, one liberal and one conservative. As the conservative voice is increasingly drowned out, people looking to get a 2nd opinion turn to social media to see what their friends, neighbors and fellow citizens have to say b/c the media can no longer be trusted to present both sides of an issue. And even now, some of the most vocal advocates of freedom and liberty are having You Tube channels suspended and being put in fb jail for expressing an idea that is contrary to the narrative. Which is actually solid evidence that what they fear you will hear is the TRUTH.
Dear Rep Fields,
Wait a second, aren’t you the party of righteousness, acceptance and inclusion? Aren’t you the party of equality and love draping yourselves in the rainbow flag? Oh but that’s right, it is only Christians and conservatives that you want to have to stomach that trash. Well apparently you Rep Fields need a through cranial enema. Like Spock said, “The torrential flood of illogic would be most amusing.”
“Posted to Twitter” why? Is it just in case Facebook is down? what a tool
“Posted to Twitter” why? Is it just in case Facebook is down?