Thinking for yourself is WORK.

[Atticus]

Perhaps that is why so damn few of us actually DO it.

If we aren't careful, even the most passionate and well-intentioned among us can find themselves victims of---or even parrots of---the group-speak that passes for current political wisdom. Those seeking proof of this need look no further than the obscene and mindless patriotic fervor that led this nation to follow the likes of George W. Bush into an immoral and disastrous war of choice.

How else explain the persistent belief in a Saddam Hussein-Al Qaeda "link" if it is not due to lazy minds accepting "facts" manufactured out of whole cloth? And how explain the silence of those among us who KNEW better if we do not admit that we were unwilling to do the work necessary to speak truth to power and survive?

We need to change what has, sadly, become the norm.

When is the last time you heard anything on a Sunday morning talk show that qualified as truly insightful or wise or even thoughtful? I'm betting you may come up with a time or two, a guest or two, who said something in that category. But, by and large, the same old tired blatherers are trotted out in their turn to offer speculation without foundation, opinion without facts and authority without responsibility.

In many instances, people who have long and documented track records of being WRONG about nearly all their past decisions are asked, by hosts who somehow manage to keep a straight face, what they think about today's foreign policy crisis, today's financial meltdown, today's allocation of ever-dwindling resources.

I don't believe there is any quick or easy solution to the rancor and division now using up all the energy in the political arena. The truth is that a small number of people and their corporate alter-egos are making LOTS of money off the millions of decisions that are spawned by hatred and fear. When banks foreclose instead of renegotiating; when would-be students enter the vast unemployed labor pool because there are no educational loans to be had; when gun stores can't keep semi-autos and their ammo in stock; the "powers that be" are harvesting the fruits of fear and ignorance and hatred.

Read. Read lots. Compare. Evaluate. THINK---and pay attention to your mind's nose: Does this pass the sniff test? You CAN smell Bullshit. You just have to relocate your instincts and practice trusting them again.

"The truth is out there."

[Historic NY]

1. Its interesting because people believe what these so called news...

commentators tell them. We never heard Chet Huntley, David Brinkley or Walter Cronkite tell us what they thought we should think. They presented the news objectively and allowed us to form our own conclusions. I think the News Hours is probably the only one that tries to keep up a journalist viewpoint.

In todays bizarre world all these commentators tell us what they think, what they would do, what we should do, and mostly they don't have a grasp of the facts they spew. If every one was turned off tomorrow and people had to read a newspaper or research a topic we would be better off...really. Why should we have high paid entertainers spouting their beliefs.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Absolutely right.

I could not have said this better myself...

K&R

[Initech]

3. The news media commentators act like fuckin' sheep - spewing the exact same thing.

Which means someone is pulling the strings. Even our president cant give a fuckin' speech without a bunch of morons on Fux News calling it "socialist propaganda". We have to stop this.

[samplegirl]

4. Excellent Post

your right the TRUTH is out there!!!
K&R

[lamp_shade]

5. "...the same old tired blatherers are trotted out..." - Ain't that the truth. Good essay. Rec'd

[Rocky Sullivan]

6. I agree, don't be a lemming

My mind's nose smells that weird naked human smell.

[Edweird]

7. Nah. I'm a know-it-all asshole. You can't tell me a godamned thing.

I think what I think because I thought it on my own (or witnessed it firsthand or researched it). Nobody tells me what to think. (spare me your 'marketing mind control' spiel as well - I'm not buying it)

That's why I'm a lefty.

[windoe]

8. Good post, it is hard not to assume.

It's very hard to overcome conditioning.

I often envision a group of people talking as sitting around a fire, the fire being the subject, each person looking at the fire from their unique point of view. Each person sees a different view of that fire. And the group of people have a choice, to argue about what they see, opposed to what others see, or they can share. If they choose to share their points of view, the fire can gain dimension like a hologram, everyone can see what everyone else sees.

And then, when my point of view is uncomfortable or leading nowhere, I know that I can get up from that place around the fire, and sit in a more comfortable position. I know I have the ability to change my point of view, even if it just for a moment in order to imagine what another person is seeing- for greater understanding and insight. I do not compromise my identity in doing so, just the way I perceive.

What I see is a lot of people who are overly invested in their place around the fire, they have been conditioned not to move, that it is weak to do so. But if this country needs anything right now, it needs more flexibility, not rigidity. Too much rigidity eventually cracks and breaks. And this is what has happened to a lot of people. their rigid points of view have broken their ability to communicate. We cannot force someone to change their point of view, I think all we can do is work around them, not allowing their polarity to cause us to become rigid too. Our strength is in our flexibility, our abilities to listen and to cooperate. We can work together.

Peace, and have a good Labor Day, Windoe

[Kaleva]

9. On most any given subject, I'll read articles regardless of source

I don't lurk at FR but if I happen to see a link to a post there while cruising Google looking for info, I'll click and read it. Even a broken clock will be correct twice a day.

[LWolf]

10. It is work.

And I don't have to look as far as the republicans to find proof. I can find it on DU any day of the week.

I've never heard anything on a Sunday morning talk show I'd qualify as "wise," but then, I don't look to my tv or radio for wisdom. I don't watch or listen to talk shows, for that very reason.

I will join you in urging this:

"Read. Read lots. Compare. Evaluate. THINK---and pay attention to your mind's nose: Does this pass the sniff test? You CAN smell Bullshit. You just have to relocate your instincts and practice trusting them again."