Mr. President, the world is not a business

Almost 50 years ago the movie “Network” (1976) was released. The film is best known for the anchorman rant scene that features Howard Beale’s: “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!” But it is also known for another dramatic scene, a five-minute oratory by a man named Arthur Jensen (chairman of the conglomerate that owns the network) who convinces the same Howard Beale “the world is a business.”

That concept was introduced to Beale because he had earlier caused a hysteria among the American public that was responsible for stymieing a Saudi attempted takeover of the network...