And Fox News is Playing the Violin

On a partisan press

Let me begin by stating my position clearly.

I hate the partisan press.

In the political world the press needs to hold the government's collective feet to the fire. It is a staple of democracy and a tradition that goes back at least a couple of millennia.

Fox news drives me crazy.

In totalitarian regimes the first thing any dictator does is take control of the media. It is no co-incidence that we believe that the Russian people are completely behind Putin. Putin controls the media.

Why would any newsman in a free society blindly tow the party line?

There is no good answer.

Some results of this in no particular order:

1. People in general do not believe the press,
2. People with partisan viewpoints only watch the news that espouses their point of view giving them a very narrow view of the country,
3. People are more comfortable with the info the get from the Daily Show than from the evening news, and
4. The government gets away with untold evils.

(Send me your additions and I will repost a more complete list next week)

One of my favorite anecdotes

A local and recently elected politician could not wait to deal with the press. You see, the incumbent who was thrashed in the election was vicerated by the media during his entire term. The new representative took this to mean that the press was clearly on his side and would be a great asset during his term.

He was wrong. His vivisection by the local press began with his first decision and he openly wondered where all his friends had gone.

Integral part of the democratic process

The press is an integral part of the democratic process, that is why it has a special place in the bill of rights.

When an administration runs amok and rips up the constitution it is the press that is supposed to step in (remember watergate?) and expose the crimes.

Why?

Well, those under the command of the administration cannot always be counted upon to act in the interest of the people. The press is NOT under the command of the administration and must, yes must, hold the governments collective feet to the fire. If they don't the system fails.

They haven't, and the system has failed.

Disagree?

Don't think the system has failed?

The USA is actively engaging in torture. By doing so they are collecting flawed intelligence and making unilateral decisions based on it. The green back has fallen 50 percent. Inflation is about to grip the nation.

And Fox News is playing the Violin.

Time for a Plymouth... er make it a double.