Monday, January 11, 2010

At What Price Freedom?






Health Care—Stimulus—Omnibus—Cap & Trade—Bank Bailouts—Auto Bailouts—Immigration—Social Security—Medicare—Medicaid—Two Wars--Energy Independence—The Economy—Lobbyists—Czars and of course TAXES.

Fuel for Pundits, Fodder for the Press, Frustration for Politicians and most importantly
FURY of the PEOPLE!
We are: exploited, taken for granted, overlooked sometimes even insulted, such is the experience of the American Citizen today.
All of the above and more. Peal back a layer or two and you will find a bulls-eye on your back, we are also TARGETS!
Marketing Experts and Madison Ave Executives cleverly chart and dissect the passions and fears of the general public just as they have since the cavemen first drew on walls. The Talking heads of Television target the consumer and do it with a great deal of success. Politicians employ the same tools and tactics to target the voter.
As long as there is money to be made from controversy, problems will never be solved. In simple terms, solving the problem isn’t profitable. Creating and dramatizing the problem on the other hand makes a fortune.
Whether an elitist attitude permeates the Beltway is just the tip of the iceberg. Combine that with Political Pundits debating process and policy for a fee and a free press blinded by ideology and the problem becomes that of Main Street.
We can discuss how Bill O’Riely isn’t looking out for you, why Chris Matthews couldn’t tell a Hardball from a snowball and Wolf Blitzer’s Situation Room is more concerned with ratings than informing his audience. You can rely on one thing though, but it's: 'Coming up after the break'! 
Our elected officials are detached, the press is disengaged and 'Paid Political Pundits' are so full of useless information, (their own opinions), they make the Talking Heads look like heroes.
Just give us the facts, not the facts as you see them!
And so begins the search for Truth! One we must make if we are to hold government accountable and our 'free press', independent.


Thomas Jefferson, a defender of a 'free press'  would be so offended by an uniformed public:
"I am persuaded that the good sense of the people will always be found to be the best army. They may be led astray for a moment, but will soon correct themselves. The people are the only censors of their governors, and even their errors will tend to keep these to the true principles of their institution."

 Jefferson on Politics & Government: Freedom of the Press


It is painfully obvious that each of us must be more responsible when ferreting out the truth, in media and in politics. Decisions we make have definite consequences, usually beyond imagination. The decisions we make effect our nation for generations. For the sake of our and that of future generations it is up to us to make informed and responsible decisions.
For a 'free press' to be truly free it must maintain it's independence and must therefore be held to a higher standard. This is the responsibility of the the 'We the People"!

3 comments:

  1. A corrupt press, a corrupt government and an apathetic citizenry, is this what Nikita Khrushchev meant when he said he will: "bury us from within"

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  2. did you see today's jobless claims and December Retail Sales #'s, not very promising, will we ever learn that truly free markets are best in fixing themselves, government can only screw it up more.

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  3. Since the first income tax was levied have we ever really been free?

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