Letters to the Editor
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Re: Apathy Rules
I think the reason most people don't really examine issues in depth can be explained under the "Ignorance is Bliss Principle." If one takes a close look at what transpires under the guise of governance in Congress, it is bound to create a fair amount of cognitive dissonance. Even though polls shows that the majority of Americans do not believe the tripe Petraeus posited as fact, our Congress takes time out to censure an advertisement that basically parrots our beliefs. Also, since our votes are not issue based, i.e. we only elect an official who in turn votes as he or she deems fit rather than in response to the constituency's desires, voting and getting involved can be seen as an exercise in futility. Just look at the mandate and political capital of the Democrats in last November's election - and what have they done - nothing. It's almost like a damned if you do damned if you don't situation. By not voting at least you didn't have to stand in line. Lastly, despite exasperation with our politicians and process, life for most in America is pretty comfortable. In my case, as long as I can afford a juicy steak and my favorite beer, as well as find an outlet that will sell it, all is good. Most of the issues that get my dander up, like the war and equal justice for all are ones that do not directly affect me(yet), but someday they may, and then I will pay for my apathy.
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the "Apathy Generation"
I have am engaged as are most my friends.
But I guess I'm just a political junky.
Growing up my parnts and older sibings
always engaged in political discussions.
I however cnme fo age in a genertion that
pushed for change, civilrights, women's right, etc.
My friends often discuss the generation
we call the "apathy generation (ages 35-55).
I find people this age don't even want to engage in
discussion about poltics, much less do anything.
Most of the don't even read the daily newspaper,
or pay attention to what is going on in congress.
The generation appear to have an attitude if it doesn't affect them directly why bother. Of course they are too busy making sure their children lead perfect lives
and protecting them from the realty of life experinces
to engage. It seems even political focus groups are
giving up on the 35-55 year olds.
I am however hopefull as I see the NEXT generation
engaging and getting envolved.
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Very Well Put By Ron Legro
Hire that man to write for Salon, before someone else gets him.
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Apathy and the Corporate Media
I am retired. I have time to read my newspaper and visit the internet ...
I feel for most people . The stats show that Americans are now a two income proposition and work more hours than ever .
The Main Stream Media seldom tackles issues in depth . The Main Stream Media shields its advertisers and the government for its ad revenues (Big Pharma) and for Regulatory preferences by the FCC and other agencies ...
Just look at the MSNBC memo on the termination of Phil Donohue , it says it all ...
What I think is that there are 3 Medias ... Corporate , Right and Left ...
The corporate plays the right against the left while protecting Big Pharma , HMOs and the Congressional Military Industrial Complex.
All the ' Experts ' who got Iraq wrong are back again in spades . The Health Care debate is alll but ignored . There is NO questioning of military spending while SChips gets heavy scrutiny ...
It is Corporate Media that is the problem ...
mmckinl
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Don';t blame the victim
Americans are not dumb and they are not bad people. There is an orchestrated effort to keep the American public as uninformed and ignorant as possible. The media plays a huge role in this effort. It is no coincidence that Americans know everything about Britney's latest train wreck but have no idea about the financial crises we are living in, the sellout of the healthcare system to big pharma and insurance companies and the Iraq mess. On the other hand, reality is so ugly that it is understandable that Americans prefer to dull the pain with cheap entertainment. To grow out of this, Americans will need to forgo the comfort of ignorance and face reality, as painful as it may be. It is not an easy process.
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Information Asymmetry
Too uninformed? While a nation of progressive political autodidacts would be this current regime's worst nightmare, there's really a problem with information asymmetry between the privileged, the powerful, the connected (the political insiders) -- and the majority of Americans (the political outsiders in our system) forced to either find out for themselves some semblance of what's what, and/or those who (unfortunately) rely on the mainstream media for the majority of their information.
Clearly, Americans can't rely on the mainstream media to be an effective or objective agency for information or change -- all too often, they parrot official lines on stories, fail to pursue important stories as they develop (like Israel's secret bombing of Syria, for example), or they blow off stories and then later refer to them as "old news" when they never gave them good coverage to begin with, maybe because they're afraid of angering their advertisers, or the authorities.
In this atmosphere, it takes real work to stay informed, and, yes, most Americans don't do that work, but I sympathize with them, because our workweeks are getting ever longer, not shorter, and when you're parceling out your leisure moments, doing the heavy mental lifting required on policy issues isn't exactly tops on most people's "to do" lists. There's been so much chaff thrown out on major topics, for so long, that even seemingly simple issues get very complicated when you start looking into them -- and complexity is not favored in the telecommunications industry; sound bites are.
The one sure thing is that information asymmetry serves the bad guys in our current system, the insiders and the hucksters and the charlatans and the demagogues and profiteers -- so, I would think that anything that gets information out there to as many people as possible is an antidote to that.
If it's done well and often enough, the fear of being scooped will force the reluctant, complacent mass media to cover stories that it doesn't want to cover, and previously, didn't have to. The media can't tell you what to think, but they can tell you what to think about -- and what people think about will, over time, become things that are important to them, worth voting for, and, if need be, fighting for.