Definitely applies 50 years later. Turned off national tv news in fall of 2019. Depression and hypertension lessened immediately and have remained low since. Read online news to keep up but avoid the hype, the personality cult that depicts average people as beings of superior intellect, and the glaringly blatant ads for unproven med treatments, among others. Tape most tv shows so we can skip the ads. Life is not much better overall, but at least we have some control over how it affects us.
Back in ‘72, it was the people deciding to trust the press rather than the president. According to a Spring 2020 survey by Reuters Institute, when they asked 2000 people each, in 46 countries, “Can you trust most of the news, most of the time?” US media came in dead last, 46th place, with only 29% answering Yes. This was lower than Malaysia, and lower than Bulgaria. The US press is no longer trusted, because they have repeatedly shown they are not trustworthy.
“A managed democracy is a wonderful thing… for the managers… and its greatest strength is a ’free press’ when ‘free’ is defined as ‘responsible’ and the managers define what is ‘irresponsible’.”― Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966; winner of the Hugo award in 1967, for best science fiction novel)
sandpiper over 2 years ago
Definitely applies 50 years later. Turned off national tv news in fall of 2019. Depression and hypertension lessened immediately and have remained low since. Read online news to keep up but avoid the hype, the personality cult that depicts average people as beings of superior intellect, and the glaringly blatant ads for unproven med treatments, among others. Tape most tv shows so we can skip the ads. Life is not much better overall, but at least we have some control over how it affects us.
Purple People Eater over 2 years ago
I don’t know about the people being disinterested, but I like the idea of a third party.
Mediatech over 2 years ago
Your opinions only matter when you agree with me.
raybarb44 over 2 years ago
Question. Where do the people get their information from? Answer. An unbiased press. Yeah, that will be the day…..
car2ner over 2 years ago
the leadership and the media try to bounce The People back and forth like a ball in a tennis match
Ray Helvy Premium Member over 2 years ago
Back in ‘72, it was the people deciding to trust the press rather than the president. According to a Spring 2020 survey by Reuters Institute, when they asked 2000 people each, in 46 countries, “Can you trust most of the news, most of the time?” US media came in dead last, 46th place, with only 29% answering Yes. This was lower than Malaysia, and lower than Bulgaria. The US press is no longer trusted, because they have repeatedly shown they are not trustworthy.
“A managed democracy is a wonderful thing… for the managers… and its greatest strength is a ’free press’ when ‘free’ is defined as ‘responsible’ and the managers define what is ‘irresponsible’.”― Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966; winner of the Hugo award in 1967, for best science fiction novel)
brklnbern over 2 years ago
Of course the media doesn’t do that anymore, except if Trump is in the White House.