True Patriotism.com

True Patriotism.com

Hubris and hijacking

It's been awhile since I've last posted, and I fervently hope that someone is reading these rants. (Hi, mom!) The thing is...There are so many areas in which the USA is being hijacked by the powers that be, and I'm so angry and pessimistic about it that I'm having a difficult time articulating it. So, here goes an attempt at articulating my frustration at least:

Hubris. It's connected to arrogance and a belief that "they" can do anything "they" want to do: Assume the mantle of "mandate" based on a majority of 51%...then send the attack dogs upon anyone who disagrees. Lie, confabulate, misuse facts, then hire propagandists at taxpayer expense to create a mythology of truth. I don't blame this all on the administration, the Prez or even Carl Rove (although I'd really like to). Part of the blame lies with the 24 hour newstainment networks. You know, the purveyors of short-attention-span news, otherwise known as MSNBC and CNN (I don't count FOX, because that network is simply Republican propoganda central--it might as well be an owned and operated subsidiary of GOP Inc.)

The newstainment networks have the American public figured out. We'd prefer to hear about Michael Jackson for hours on end rather than the number of Iraqi civilians killed or the number of American soldiers killed. We'd rather get our analysis from talking heads shouting talking points at each other than introspective analysis and intelligent debate about important issues. For the latter turn to PBS or CSPAN. Or Jon Stewart.

But it's not that the American public is stupid. It's that broadcast journalism is lazy. There's no depth, no analysis. No digging. Bernstein and Woodward have become quaint museum relics of a different time.

There are exceptions. Keith Olberman tries and often succeeds, where Chris Matthews only wants to hear the sound of his own voice. Aaron Brown used to try. At the beginning. I had high hopes for Aaron when he started Newsnight. Now he throws softball questions to party hacks and "experts" with their own axes to grind. But occasionally he shines.

I usually try to catch the BBC news on BBC America; or the NPR news shows throughout the day. Or Washington Journal on CSPAN in the morning. At least its news and not Newstainment.

More to come...