Dylan Ratigan Goes Populist

What's in the water over at MSNBC?

I'll admit that I wasn't thrilled a few months ago when MSNBC gave a show to former CNBC talker Dylan Ratigan. It had nothing to do with Dylan per se, it was more because, in my opinion, even by the low standards of American journalism today, financial reporters are incredibly inept. The 'journalists' on CNBC, FNC, the Wall Street Journal, etc. tend to be little more than cheerleaders for Wall Street, don't you think at least some of our recent economic problems could have been avoided if a few members of the financial press asked a few tough questions about the way 'The Street' had been cooking the books on the mortgage and real estate markets for years?

But a funny thing has happened with Dylan Ratigan. Since coming back from his late August vacation, Dylan's turned into a rabid populist. Check out this column he wrote a few days ago for the Huffington Post, where he basically calls Congress and the President out for caring more about Wall Street than Main Street and asking why, after last September's economic meltdown, haven't new laws been passed to regulate the financial industry? I happened to catch part of his "Morning Meeting" show today and he was similarly wound up about the health care debate.

Rather than slamming the White House for trying to take over America's health care system though (the main conservative talking point on the issue), Dylan was slamming them, and Congress, for pushing a 'reform' package that will entrench the grip a few insurance companies currently have over the system. He was fuming that the proposals, so far, don't allow consumers to shop around for their own health care - assuming they are covered by their employer, and asked why the debate so far had focused on the very rich, or very poor, ignoring - again in his words - the 200 million Americans in the middle.

Dylan was fired up and asking tough questions about the government and the economic system. It's an example I wish other members of the financial press would follow, hell, I wish members of the press in general would follow it too.