Okay, I have been thinking about something a lot lately, and it is time to get it off of my chest. And it is about politics, so if you don't care about politics or think I am crazy, I won't be offended if you don't want to read it.
I feel like I am a fairly moderate person. My opinions on some issues, such as the environment, women's rights, and immigration, are obviously more liberal. On other issues, like abortion, taxes, or welfare, I think I have a more conservative viewpoint. But on most issues, I think I am smack dab in the middle where I can see good in both sides, but also bad in both sides.
I have been thinking lately about politics and the American people. Like, how do people get their news, and how do they make rational, unbiased and informed decisions? How do people possibly do this? I sure as heck feel like I can't.
On the one hand you have the news media, which obviously has a more liberal slant. Then on the other hand you have Fox news and conservative radio shows, which very obviously have a conservative slant. How are you supposed to find one place, that is convenient and easy, to learn about an issue from an unbiased point of view? I feel like I am an educated, intelligent person, and I still have yet to find an easy way to do this.
What I have a problem with, is when people obviously have political opinions, and then choose to get their news from somewhere, and then act like that news is the truth. Like for instance, if someone listens to conservative radio stations, and then tries to tell me a fact that they heard Rush Limbaugh say. Honestly? You are honestly trying to convince me of something, by restating something you heard on conservative news radio? Do you think I am a complete moron?
Hello, these stations are completely built on entertainment value, ratings and money. Why on earth would I ever buy into something, when the person who is saying it also announces that he is "on loan from God" or something to that effect. These stations are never fair or unbiased. NEVER. I don't have a problem with people liking these programs, or thinking they are fun to listen to. But I do have a problem with these stations being the only way that someone gets their news, because they are obviously only getting one side of the story.
In the same way, I feel like I can't watch the regular mainstream media and feel like I am getting the truth. I know that it is obviously liberally biased, and I don't like that. I would like a place where I can see facts, learn truth, and then form an intelligent opinion. So, what I end up doing, is ignoring mainstream media all together. I end up reading studies done by professors and political think-tanks, that are on both sides of the issue. At least that way I feel like I am getting FAIRLY reliable data, while still hearing from both sides.
Anyway, just wanted to get that out there. I am really bugged by people who have an opinion, but then can't back it up with intelligent, rational, meaningful explanations. I think we should all be a little more moderate, and look for the good and bad on both sides. Because, like it or not, there is going to be good and bad on both sides. That's why there ARE two sides. If only one was right, then there wouldn't be an argument at all. So, if you are clearly on one side and only listen to the facts from your side, maybe you should think a little bit harder about what you are doing, because it makes you look foolish.
End of my rant.
3 comments:
Have you ever listened to Michael Savage? He calls himself a nationalist and independent conservative, I think he's hilarious and he really does tell it like it is- not afraid to hurt anyone's feelings. I'd say he has an even ground in both the liberal and conservative views. Plus, he's from Brooklyn, which makes him even more hilarious (i think). Check him out- just get a taste & let me know what you think. BTW...he hates all other radio talk show hosts. He calls Rush Limbaugh "Hush Bimbo."
I completely agree. Try PBS for a more accurate source.
Steph, thanks for writing this. We are nearly completely in agreement. One of the most dangerous things a person can do it treat opinion as fact… this goes for people who take as gospel anything uttered by Jon Stewart or Keith Olbermann as much as it does people who listen to Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck. It's no secret or surprise that I tend to listen more regularly to the Conservative side of things, as I generally have a more conservative/libertarian view on things. Having said this, there is a reason guys like Rush, Beck, Olbermann, etc. are called "entertainers" and not journalists. Though, to Beck's credit, he admits as much and even counsels his listeners/viewers to not "take his word for it" and to go out and research for themselves.
As far as your query about where to find reliable, balanced news… well, that’s a little tougher of a pickle. I’m a Senior political science major and it’s something I haven’t completely figured out yet. If you’re willing to do the grunt work, I think there is something in your compare/contrast/synthesize method, as it's probably the closest to the truth you’ll get as far as politics go. I tend to look for the prevailing opinion on the left, and the prevailing opinion on the right and then assume the truth lies somewhere in the middle. If you’re in a hurry, though, or just want the news without having to work all that hard, the BBC is probably as close as you’ll get to actual news. It leans liberal, but slightly (MUCH less than any news source in the U.S.) and isn’t subject to the same advertising influences as cable news orgs like CNN, MSNBC, FOX, et al.
Good luck and happy hunting.
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