Your Tax Dollars Are Jerked

I'm not a conservative. Not a liberal. Just an American watching this left-right hatefest from the sidelines and getting really, really tired. Not happy to see our country winning the War on Objectivity.

Just wondering where this media outrage was when ALL news outlets were pounding the drums leading to the Iraq war (now THAT was a brilliant government 24-hour infomercial). And if ABC is being criticized for being in bed with an administration, then those same complaints should've been raised with FOX and the Bush administration. Just because you agree with an administration's policies doesn't make media bias OK. The loss of actual news coverage in favor of opinion and hype has done a lot to destroy civilized discourse in our country, but I'm sure it's making a ton of money for all the networks.

Add one more thing to your list of things to do instead of supporting ABC. Watch the movie "Network" and then realize that the liberals aren't the only ones who need to police their media heroes.

I think you missed the point of what I said. Believe me, I was paying plenty of attention back then. I watched just about every MSM outlet not even question the need to go to war. And I saw no mention of the other side of that story on FOX, even though you claim it did. I'd love a link to a video showing any opposing viewpoint to the impending Iraq invasion.

But my post wasn't even about the justification for war. It was about the fact that all media outlets were doing exactly what ABC is getting accused of now. To complain about ABC being in bed with the current administration is hypocritical if you don't acknowledge the fact that FOX was a little too friendly with the previous Oval Office tenants.

An no, I DIDN'T think it was OK to listen to GW Bush hate talk. What gave you that impression? I'm just also against four or eight years of Obama hate talk as well. And it seems that the commentators who said "support the President or get out of the country" last year have had a dramatic change of heart now that a President they don't agree with won the election. Dissent is no longer unpatriotic. In fact, it's the opposite.

And THAT is ultimately the problem. Both sides are trying to frame the other as evil, crazy, and anti-American. Name calling and childish behavior. It's like third grade all over again. Neither side is immune. And because of this it's getting harder and harder to have real conversations and work towards solutions with any modicum of civility or progress.

I know this may be attacked for being a beacon of left-wing corruption and lies, but have you at least even reviewed reports like http://mediamatters.org/reports/200904070005 instead of only relying on FOX for both sides of the issue?

I'm not fully on board with your assessment that FOX is fair and balanced. But I'm not seeing too much balance in any MSM outlet, which is exactly what my original post was about (Still trying to figure out how this keeps getting maneuvered to an ACORN discussion though). For me, the only way to get information about both sides of an issue is to get your information from multiple news organizations. You may not agree with what you hear, but at least you're getting a little more balance. Yes, ABC is tipping the scale blue, but FOX balances out that scale. Remove ABC and the scale dips way into the red. And THAT is not balance.

So I reassert for my final comment on this topic: News as a for-profit industry and the increasing use of politically leaning and hate-provoking opinion shows is destroying our ability to have civilized discourse. Media bias is a real problem. And please, please, please don't throw stones when you're living in a candy glass house.

well 912,

This may be a little off subject, but I think I may have been wrong about something and you neoconservatives may be right. It looks like even though a CBS/New York Times poll dated June 19, 2009 has indicated that 2/3 support the Government medical care plans that have been suggested by our President, the Democrats are about to drop the ball…again. Its not surprise really. It seems every time we the voters give the Democrats an opportunity to keep their campaign promises, the Democrats fizz out and do nothing constructive.

While I may disagree with the policies and ideology of the right-wing, I do have to give them credit on one thing…they do something and have no fear. Now don't get me wrong, I have no intention of supporting the Republican Party. However, if the Dems drop the National health care ball, as it looks like they are doing now, I won't be supporting them either.

news_across, I know a large number of Americans who would be jumping up and down for joy if the Dems drop the nationalized health care program. If it gets dropped, I fear that it will only be dropped temporarily. This type of system has failed in so many places around the world, that I continue to be confused at how blind people are in their desires for such a failed system.

Don't get me wrong! I do feel that our health care system is a mess and way over priced. The facts are that these costs are a direct result of several negative factors. Litigation is probably one of the largest causes for the high costs of health care in the U.S. Another factor that is seldom addressed is the cost comparisons for medications, between the U.S. and other countries. I've heard this discussed in detail and explained how Americans are basically stuck footing the bill for all the research costs to develop these medicines and then the same drugs are heavily discounted when sold outside the U.S. There are so many factors that just are never discussed. Each of which, if addressed and fixed, might help to change these out of control health care costs.

Well if you folks on the right have a good plan I think you would find that we on the left are open to listening. Our concern are the 40 million uninsured and the 55% of bankruptcies that are filed due to the inability to pay medical bills. It seems to me that there must be some answers that are acceptable to both sides of the aisle and if we can agree on a plan to tackle some of these problems then perhaps we could work out the rest too. After all, the way I see it we are all trying to get our Nation to the same place but we just have different routes to getting there. It would be good for our Nation if we could all agree on one route instead of trying to achieve our goal with a hodgepodge of routes. One thing is for sure, I don't think any of the politicians from either party have any answers at all.

912 if you wish to be regarded as non-affiliated I will respect your wishes. As far as the libertarians go, I agree with the libertarians on quite a few issues and I think they have some good ideas. In fact, many liberals are also members of the libertarian Party. Imagine if you will what would happen if all enlightened conservatives and liberals banded together in the libetarian party…the Republicans and the Democrats would no longer be able to drive wedge between us and we might actually end up with a Party that actually responds to the will of the People.