The Zuckerberg shakedown begins.

ZUCKERBERG MEETS NEW PARTNERS, CONGRESS

PAY UP OR WE WILL PUNISH YOU

The interrogation of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was the latest media event in Washington. Of course, we are told it is all about our politicians concern for our privacy. This is all about the politicians seeing that Zuckerberg is very rich, Facebook is very rich, and they have not been spreading the wealth around, particularly not to the politicians and their cronies. 

This brings back memories of the same tactics used against Ted Turner the founder of CNN, who started the idea of a cable news channel, he was very successful, was very objective, and stayed out of lobbying and political contributions. This is not how it works in the corrupt Washington.  You will pay up, or they will put you out or worse. Turner eventually sold CNN to Time Warner and retired to his ranch in Montana. CNN has now descended into a partisan deep state propaganda tool.

Then there was Microsoft founder Bill Gates, He was threatened with anti-Trust and other federal lawsuits, until he agreed to form the Gates foundations and give billions to the groups or causes he was instructed to contribute to, his problems were solved and faded away.

Zuckerberg is just the newest and latest to be targeted for extortion. All of sudden politicians have become so concerned with citizen privacy and the protecting of the public from foreign influence, that they must take corrective action now. The internet has been a haven of the first amendment, it is really the only place left. The most shocking, was revelation that Facebook information may have been used by the Trump campaign. When it was revealed years before that the Obama campaign used this information, they were declared geniuses and far ahead of the opposition in their methods.

Zuckerberg may be able to make all his problems go away, by forming a foundation, handing money to progressive causes, and hiring a team of lobbyist to wine and dine and make large political donations to federal political campaigns.

Zuckerberg explained that Facebook does not sell information. They sell access to ad space which can be used to analyze responses from members and compiled into information used for marketing. This could be marketing of products or ideas, even political candidates. Sounds like first amendment to me.

Remember no one has bought a Chevrolet when they really wanted a Ford, or really wanted Hillary but voted for Trump. Facebook does not have personal information like social security numbers, etc. It seems like many people are willing to share their lives with everyone who is interested.

Zuckerberg came across as very smart, adjusting to political non speak, to make no commitments or say anything controversial. It was basically an exercise in ass-kissing of the interrogators. Senators love ass-kissing.

You could see the wish list through the smoke, New Jerseys Corey Booker wants more minority hiring at Facebook, he probably could provide a list of candidates. I am sure some are looking to place themselves  or friends and family on the board of directors. Others would like to be able to control the use of Facebook to push their political agenda.

Zuckerberg agrees to monitor for terrorist activities or other illegal activity, which they already do. He tentatively agreed to more regulation, while no one was specific. If congress has its way, it will regulate speech it deems not to their liking.

Regulation will require penalties and fines, shape up, or we will punish you.

Extortion is so much a part of the federal government, that maybe they should form a new department, label it the department of "Financial and Information justice" or some other Orwellian label. It is just plain extortion plain and simple. It will soon become such a profitable course that we should fear states and local governments will soon see the positive results of extortion as a new source of revenue. I suspect this is a major tactic in big city politics already.

 Americans are very naive when it comes to political and government corruption, they want to believe that government is acting in their best interest. Sadly, they more likely are operating in their own interest and using the public's concerns to give them credibility.

I only saw 1 questioner ask about the NSA using Facebook to gather information on American Citizens. Zuckerberg stated that was classified information, he was not allowed to make any statements on that.

Zuckerberg is a bright guy, he better realize what the real agenda is here. They will force him out and make Facebook a tool for themselves.

Zuckerberg has much more power to resist than he may realize. All he has to do is put up his own pop-ups, explaining what the government wants and what it will lead to. He may even list the names of Senators who want to take control of Facebook. People love Facebook more than they love Senators and the federal government.

What we have is third world corruption with a pretty face. The face seems to becoming less pretty by the day.