What's up with democracy? Is it really the best form of government - in all cases? Can we count on the majority of people doing the best thing for themselves if they have been lobbied, brainwashed and bribed by media outlets who are not reporting in a balanced way all the facts of the state of affairs with government?
As the USA runs up to its mid-term elections in early November and Democrats and Republicans publish their cases for personal re-election in the state, local and federal cases... I cannot help but wonder about the omissions taking place in the media. What stories have NOT been told? What facts are NOT in evidence? All because somebody in the media decided they would rather have the advertiser be happy as a paid supporter of the paper or the radio outlet than be a responsible reporter of fact to an already cynical public. This public who probably wont believe the "facts" anyway... because hey - who really tells them the TRUTH anymore anyhow?
What is the truth anymore? Who really knows what truth is? How can a guileless public - the electorate - determine who to vote for in any election when the media is dirty? And how does the media clean up its act? Who cleans up the media and how is the public assured that it has been cleaned?
Commentators like Howard Zinn, Molly Ivins, Jon Stewart point fingers and make fun; Geraldo is a joke; Anderson Cooper is a one man army of self righteousness; Katie Couric's just arrived and already people are remarking on her ankles, not the news. Who is a respected news caster anymore? Everyone has a little hype attached.
When will we see news without spin again? And could we recognise it and reward it if we ever do see it?
I wonder.
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