Reply #48: Contrast this to the early '70's when the media brought down a corrupt, criminal sitting President [View All]

[Harry Monroe]

You are absolutely right in your assertions. The media now prefers to serve up "bread and circuses" whetting the American appetite for what really sells. It is a sad state of affairs when we have a cowering, compliant media that is more reminiscent of "National Enquirer" than the Washington Post or New York Times back in the '70's. The politicians used to respect the print and television media back then, now they hold them in contempt, knowing full well that they're able to get away with anything, unless it involves some transgressions in their personal life. Then the media is on it like flies on shit, smelling profits and ratings in the wind.

Edited for this appropriate quote:

"Thomas Jefferson taught that a democracy was impractical unless the people were educated. No matter how stringent the protections of the people might be in constitutions or common law, there would always be a temptation, Jefferson thought, for the powerful, the wealthy, and the unscrupulous to undermine the ideal of govermnent run by and for ordinary citizens. The antidote is vigorous support for the expression of unpopular views, widespread literacy, substantive debate, a common familiarity with critical thinking, and skepticism of pronouncements of those in authority - which are all also central to the scientific method"

Excerpt from Carl Sagan's book, "Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millenium"