Sunday, August 24, 2008

AGE OF INFLUENCE

This blog will look at, explore, and take a deeper look at the relationship between mass media and politics. Is the media in control of who our politicians are? Is the political arena just manipulating the media? Are our current beliefs in the US political system honestly critiqued by our mass media outlets, or has a mass brainwashing of our society occurred as a result of sensationalized influence (via mass media). 

WE SHALL SEE...

The largest issue seems to be, is the public getting "right" information? Is the public well informed on issues, and is the public getting the whole picture?

"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. Enable them to see that it is their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them. And it requires no very high degree of education to convince them of this. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787

I suspect that the lack of balanced information given to the public (replaced by sensationalism), has a large impact on the lack of social capitalism in this country...can this be changed?









1 comment:

skarppala said...

I personally believe that public interest in politics and governmental issues reached an all time low about two years ago but the public is gradually becoming more aware. The trend started on the east coast and is gradually working it's way west. In fact, it's moving so slow it hasn't hit the west coast yet! The west coast is now at the pinnacle of it's bewilderment and indifference toward governmental issues. An example of this would be Governor Schwarzenegger's recent statements on the best methods of curbing America's demand for fuel. His solution is for people to simply inflate their tires correctly and to get their engines tuned up (even though tune ups are obsolete for most of today's cars on the road.) It seems that the governor, like the majority of the people on the west coast, would rather not deal with real solutions and take the time to tackle the problem on a grander scale. I am optimistic for a reawakening of concern by citizens across our great land. I was recently encouraged when the Fox news did a NY street survey on what they think of Obama's choice of a running mate. Most of the interviews showed that not only people actually knew who Biden
was, they actually had an opinion of him, pro or con. It was refreshing to see! There is hope.