We all must insist on getting the truth
I played a lot of sports in my younger years and was actively involved in politics for many years after that. Sports and politics are a lot alike. You have to work hard, don’t give up and, most of all, believe in yourself. Don’t be influenced by what your critics say, particularly critics in the media. They often promote their own political, economic and cultural bias.
I follow local, national and international issues and events very closely. But after watching the U.S. Senate hearings all this week about President-elect Trump’s Cabinet selections, I have to conclude, if knowledge, truth and experience are important for the public to hear, why does the public often get sensationalism, distortion and opinion? I think the TV audience of the Senate Cabinet confirmation hearings this week received a distorted and confused version of the truth. The public was torn between fact and fake news. It’s no wonder people are disillusioned with the credibility of the media. We kept hearing several members of the press referring to the First Amendment and freedom of the press.
But nobody mentioned that the people are also entitled to hearing the truth.
People are entitled to hear the truth in the public arena in order to make an informed opinion. That’s called democracy. But that’s not what people are getting today. The airways belong to the public, not big corporations, public relations consultants or major political parties. A debate between two slick, savvy partisan political operatives on TV usually results in the public being more confused and frustrated than before the political discussion. The partisan shouting match with the moderator provides no information.
I’m frequently asked by people I talk to on the street, outside church or at the supermarket, “Ray, politics and government has really changed, hasn’t it?”
Yes, it has, but that doesn’t mean we have to accept it. We have many decent elected officials who are honestly trying to do a good job representing us. But we cannot give up or give in to a failed system of government.
You still have the power to change things.
Here’s one thing you can do today. Let the commercial sponsors of these TV and social media programs know how frustrated you are. If you don’t demand change, nothing is going to change. The public will continue to do what they are doing now, giving up on the media and politicians even while they love their country.