From A Demon's Nest of Sentiments
Oct. 20th, 2014 09:28 amUnenlightenment forms the granitic foundation of all decision-making on Earth.
A half-baked, easily manipulated citizenry flourishes only where the air is rich with political gobbledygook, eyewash and tergiversating bushwah; which is why the news media and the ruling bestiary are so stingy and selective in meting out fact. Reporters and politicians are pimps for ignorance.
http://www.gocomics.com/pibgorn/2014/10/19
I read Walter Cronkite's autobiography probably 15-20 years ago, and he related what was a very sad incident that bodes ill for all. In it, while he was reporting the news at CBS, an edict came down from upon high that the news wing of CBS would be monitored by the Nielson Ratings people. Just monitored, they didn't need to worry about it. Then after the monitoring some bright C-level moron decided that the news should earn ratings, just like every other division of CBS in order to sell more advertising.
This was the beginning of the end for quality news.
I actually met Uncle Walter at a book signing, I opted out of shaking his hand as he looked absolutely miserable. A couple of weeks after the even he had major bypass surgery.
This is why I read a half-dozen, sometimes more, online news sources. One does its best to be as objective as possible, and I think it does a good job. The others lean towards liberal, but still present good reporting. I'm constantly impressed by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow: whenever she explains something complex, then brings on a subject matter expert, she always asks them if what she just explained was accurate. Most of the time she's spot-on, on occasion they correct or amplify a point or two.
A half-baked, easily manipulated citizenry flourishes only where the air is rich with political gobbledygook, eyewash and tergiversating bushwah; which is why the news media and the ruling bestiary are so stingy and selective in meting out fact. Reporters and politicians are pimps for ignorance.
http://www.gocomics.com/pibgorn/2014/10/19
I read Walter Cronkite's autobiography probably 15-20 years ago, and he related what was a very sad incident that bodes ill for all. In it, while he was reporting the news at CBS, an edict came down from upon high that the news wing of CBS would be monitored by the Nielson Ratings people. Just monitored, they didn't need to worry about it. Then after the monitoring some bright C-level moron decided that the news should earn ratings, just like every other division of CBS in order to sell more advertising.
This was the beginning of the end for quality news.
I actually met Uncle Walter at a book signing, I opted out of shaking his hand as he looked absolutely miserable. A couple of weeks after the even he had major bypass surgery.
This is why I read a half-dozen, sometimes more, online news sources. One does its best to be as objective as possible, and I think it does a good job. The others lean towards liberal, but still present good reporting. I'm constantly impressed by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow: whenever she explains something complex, then brings on a subject matter expert, she always asks them if what she just explained was accurate. Most of the time she's spot-on, on occasion they correct or amplify a point or two.