[QUOTE=c.captain;193494]Oh come on John…you could not simply write “Pleasure vessel in collision with WSF ferry”? totally truthful but with no implications of fault (or editorializing)
besides, there is very, very little impartial news anymore. it is almost invariably presented by a provider which has an agenda to support one side or another so why not gCaptain? I believe you should be clearly on the side of a strong and vibrant US flagged merchant marine and maritime industry, the Jones Act and the rights of the American professional mariner because we are your constituency who read your news stories. we don’t want “fair and balanced” or at least I don’t! I want to know and to read in your articles you are on my side in this war.[/QUOTE]
I have hard drives filled with data to prove that no one would read an artilce titled “Pleasure vessel in collision with WSF ferry”. Nor did I have, at time of publishing, any proof that it was a pleasure craft. Plus you can’t put acronyms in a title because no one who lives further than 100 miles from your house knows WTF “WSF” means.
Thank for the second paragraph… I agree with most of it and, I assure you I am on your side in this war, but you are wrong about one thing. Jones Act supporters are a minority of our readership and the opposition party is very vocal and well funded. Over 600,000 unique individuals read our articles every month and nearly 60% of our then come from outside of the USA (the large majority of which HATE the jones act for reasons I believe are inexplicable). Of the remaining quarter million Americans 10-20% have a finacial interest in destroying the act. That leaves less than 200,000 pro-jones act readers… and 60% of them don’t care enough about the act to click on Jones Act articles. And 90% of those Americans who do read Jones Act articles don’t care enough to click any share buttons.
I am pro jones act and I am part of the very small minority of people that cares enough to vocalize my opinion… but too much flag waving only serves to harden the opposition, an opposition that’s larger, more vocal and much better funded than us.
And, here’s one more thing to note… I can’t think of anyone else on the planet right now who has the ability to do more for the Jones Act than YOU (c.captain). Because, I’ve heard all the Anti-Jones act arguments and 99% are full of factual holes. It is suprisingly easy to beat an anti-jones act individual in a polite and factual debate. But there is only one place I can think of have a debate that will reach enough people to make a difference… this forum. But very few foreigners visit this forum because they get beaten over the gead by then American flag then insulted with words like “IDIOT” and “F’n MORON” from a certain person who’s name begins with the letter C.
You want to support the Jones Act? Then go find out who’s against it, extend them a personal invitation to this forum, treat them with dignity and respect and debate them in a polite manner. If you do that then we will win because the facts are on our side.