hogwash

The daily criticism and insults of collective media of this country is total Hogwash, and quite frankly, an affront to our Constitution.  Yes, it is true that the media is slow to do their jobs at times, and many times it is too late, but I believe that in the long-run, the press ultimately gets it right.

Basically, we are not giving the media enough credit.  I agree with the media criticisms in one sense, that all the main stream media is ultimately concerned in the long run with its bottom line.  This is only a major problem with consolidated media.  Before mainstream media was so consolidated, different media outlets would compete ruthlessly for the truth.  If a paper had a history of not telling the truth, people would not buy it and that would be the end of it, thanks to the plethora of independent alternatives.  That is one reason why the average, every day American citizen, is the fifth check and balance of this great country.

Now, there are not very many alternatives as it relates to mainstream media, although the playing field has been leveled a bit with the Internet.  All a mainstream media company is interested in is selling advertising and promoting their other businesses, not the reporters necessarily, but the parachutist at the top of the media companies.  Ultimately, the big wigs are only concerned that they are telling just enough of the truth on both sides, without any real depth for either side, so that they do not have to be all that concerned about aggravating anyone other than the extremes of both sides so bad that they will not come back in the future.

The democratic Internet media, on the other-hand is full of all types of media, from flat out fabrications to breaking stories about stains on blue dresses.  Credible bloggers blog and write out of passion.  They value their credibility.  They are in it for the truth, and for the passion of it.

The emergence of these blogs, many of whom do have a particular level of credibility, have forced some of these mass media outlets into doing their homework a little better, and for that, we should be thankful.

Mass media does not like to be out-scooped, especially by pesky little computer dorks.

In the end, the media (all of it), love them or hate them, are essential to the long term success of our democracy.  In history class we always learn about how we have a system of three checks and balances…the legislative, the judicial, and the executive.

What they always leave out in the lesson, is the fourth and a fifth check and balance…the press, and the American people.  The press is the only industry specifically protected by the constitution, and the people…well, we are the Constitution.

The press is mentioned for a reason.  Whether it has a liberal or conservative bias, the press has the protected right to report as it pleases.  If the press as a whole reports falsehoods, they will lose credibility, and that is just not good for business.  Bias comes from the very idea to decide to cover a story or not, but what matters is if the story is the truth, or The Maverick Truth, or a flat out lie.

For instance, if a particular media outlet thought John McCain was a reincarnation of Herbert Hoover, they would find all kinds of examples of parallels between John McCain and Herbert Hoover to prove their point.  The parallels would most likely be true, while the main idea itself may be a little subjective, but the point is, it was liberal bias to decide to cover the story to begin with.  If Fox News wanted to put it in peoples minds that Obama was a Muslim, even if it wasn’t true, they would lead the story with, “Is Obama a muslim?  Some say that he is…”  Well, is it true that Obama is a Muslim?  Absolutely not, but is it true that some people say that he is?  Sure.  (Mostly people on Fox News about two years ago, but true none-the-less).  And that would be conservative bias.

The press plays an important role, and we should not be so quick to demean and demonize them.  I think in the long run, the media as a whole gets the big stories right.  It is like one big case of “Crowd Wisdom.”  It’s just on a day to day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second basis that individual writers and media outlets are trying to get your individual, undivided attention, and a great deal of the time, they will feed you hogwash in the process.

But do not let that get you down.  Don’t let it get you angry.  Have faith in the press.  Have faith in our Constitution. Even if it is not the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, because, you have to ask yourself, where would this country be right now without Silence Dogood?  Would we even be here…or would we all be calling each other bloody fools, sitting around with our powdered faces eating crumpets, drinking tea, and playing cricket?