I think I've figured out what's wrong with Trump's supporters. Somewhere in their upbringing they were never taught that "two wrongs don't make a right." It's a basic truth that most parents try to instill in their children. But, when asked about Trump's lies, his supporters often say that Washington DC is based on too many lies. In their minds then, that somehow justifies what Trump is doing. They see him as just playing the game.
Here's a good article exposing that actually motivates Trump's supporters.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/understanding-what-makes-the-right-so-angry/2015/11/29/14a303a2-951c-11e5-b5e4-279b4501e8a6_story.html
The anti-abortion people also follow the idea that by killing abortion providers they are being pro-life. Nothing could be further from the truth. If they truly wanted to reduce the number of abortions, they would be supportive of birth control. And that is one of the services that Planned Parenthood provides.
So, let's be clear. Mom was right! It is a moral principle that two wrongs do not make a right.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Saturday, November 7, 2015
The Fourth Estate
What is the Fourth Estate and why should we care? Sir Edmund Burke, a British politician, first used the term to describe the press. He believed that they were more important than the government. http://uspolitics.about.com/od/politicaljunkies/a/fourth_estate.htm
Today the term applies to all forms of media. Why are they important? If they are doing their job, they are a vital source of accurate information for citizens. We need them because we cannot research everything ourselves. We need informed citizens so they can elect honorable politicians and vote out the scoundrels.
The average citizen has many politicians who are making decisions that directly or indirectly affect their lives. These range from their local town council and school board to state officials and the Federal government. We have the obligation to be informed about these people and the Fourth Estate needs to be a source we can use and trust.
Sadly, many forms of media have now become "entertainment" rather than information sources. Cable news shows run with the first, often incorrect, information on any event so they can beat the others to the punch. We know now that we can't trust them. They sensationalize to gin up their ratings and sell more advertisement.
With the increasing influence of the Internet, we have social media and bloggers trying to fill the void left by the weakening of the traditional Fourth Estate. But, many of those sources are also unreliable.
In my opinion we all need to find good sources of information and then share them with others.
Let’s celebrate #WorldPressDay with a strong commitment to support our free press in all its iterations. https://www.worldpressphoto.org/news/2020/world-press-freedom-day/39871
Today the term applies to all forms of media. Why are they important? If they are doing their job, they are a vital source of accurate information for citizens. We need them because we cannot research everything ourselves. We need informed citizens so they can elect honorable politicians and vote out the scoundrels.
The average citizen has many politicians who are making decisions that directly or indirectly affect their lives. These range from their local town council and school board to state officials and the Federal government. We have the obligation to be informed about these people and the Fourth Estate needs to be a source we can use and trust.
Sadly, many forms of media have now become "entertainment" rather than information sources. Cable news shows run with the first, often incorrect, information on any event so they can beat the others to the punch. We know now that we can't trust them. They sensationalize to gin up their ratings and sell more advertisement.
With the increasing influence of the Internet, we have social media and bloggers trying to fill the void left by the weakening of the traditional Fourth Estate. But, many of those sources are also unreliable.
In my opinion we all need to find good sources of information and then share them with others.
Let’s celebrate #WorldPressDay with a strong commitment to support our free press in all its iterations. https://www.worldpressphoto.org/news/2020/world-press-freedom-day/39871
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)