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by Sr. Rose Pacatte on Aug. 15, 2011
I became a media literacy education specialist because I started paying attention to the news. Now I am a recovering news junkie because after Tim Russert died, no one seems civil and especially I don't enjoy the Sunday morning talk shows any more. The news isn't what it used to be; it's infotainment at best.
However some news bits and bytes get my attention because they "bite" -- though for different reasons.
Politicians that blame the "lame stream" media get a lot of broadcasting sound bytes that can take a politicians' meaning out of context -- or not. It depends on one's perspective I think.
Here's what I heard on the news yesterday and again this morning:
Michele Bachmann said during the Republican debate in Iowa last Thursday that she introduced "the lightbulb freedom of choice act."
If this is the best we can hope for in a democracy to empower the people, this is a sad sound byte that frankly bit my funny bone. We have a jobless rate of 12 percent; how does this compete with light bulbs?
Mitt Romney said to a heckler at the Iowa State Fair Thursday that "Corporations are people, my friend... of course they are. Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to the people. Where do you think it goes? Whose pockets? Whose pockets? People's pockets. Human beings my friend."
Now this sound byte bit sharply because it is simply not true. Corporations are not people, even though the Supreme Court has given corporations the same First Amendment rights that the U.S. Constitution gives human beings. Corporations are run by people, yes, but relatively few flourish from the experience. And as for money earned, let's face it, the profits go to the top 1 percent of earners in the USA.
Bachmann and others are also calling for the return of the president and Congress to deal with economic and labor issues. Why?
Something seems so "off" to me. But with Congress on break there isn't a lot of news except for the starving people of the Sudan and the endless war in Afghanistan and the tragic loss of life.
For all the Americans who are out of work or are hoping for a functioning democratic government, I think these sound bytes bite because they demonstrate that the gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow and that Congress is dysfunctional. Neither the freedom to choose our own light bulbs or accepting corporations as fellow human beings is the remedy.
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How did we get to this point where the sound of the constant shrill and drill of the media and politics machine sets my teeth on edge?
The comment about the light
The comment about the light bulbs was an argument to keep government out of people's lives, and it played well enough with her constituency. Stick to film reviews, Sister, if you don't understand politics.
I feel the same, sister, and
I feel the same, sister, and I'm a jornalist...
Perharps there is one answer to your question: politics turned into lobbyists working for the good of corporations and the finantial sharks.
People are hungry, unemployed, without hope in the future? Just let turn a stadium in a prayer place and all will be fogotten. In the name of God.
What a sinful system!
Why not revel in the good
Why not revel in the good news. The TP/GOP is schlepping losers for 2012.
What is disheartening is it
What is disheartening is it seems no one will simply say the truth, no one will answer direct questions, and the "dialogue" is on how bad the other person is not how to govern.
As I listened to Meet the Press yesterday, I couldn't believe my ears at the responses of Ms. Bachman. When I read some on-line comments that David Gregory was too shrill or too liberal or unfair, I realized 1. America is filled with all kinds of people and to find a middle ground is virtually impossible, 2. Despite hearing the same words from the same people, listeners hear different things.
I do not see a Republican candidate I can vote for. I'm doubtful if I can vote for President Obama. I believe he is thoughtful. I believe he is besieged by issues that simply were not on the horizon two years ago. I believe the Republican agenda is to get rid of him, not govern. I believe people hate him because he's African American. I believe he is a politician prone to making political decisions for personal gain. I have a difficult time equating a Nobel Peace Prize winner with "We got him."
And for me this is the environment from which I am to vote. As one person put it, people are not running for government to govern, rather to gut an issue or to obtain power. There are times when there is no good candidate for office. And in those times, I can concede the best vote is a non vote. I do have a right to criticize even if I do not vote. By note voting for those I do not want in office, I am free to criticize anyone who is in office.
However, coming back to the main point, we are flooded with words, images, tweets; from this collage is to come a "thoughtful" choice or decision? Nope.
Bachmann is the triumph of
Bachmann is the triumph of style over substance. I am so tired of hearing these so called "Christians" falling all over each other, trying to throw the poor under the bus. The next time I hear one of these apologists for corporate America start talking about Jesus, I might scream.
Let me share what I saw on
Let me share what I saw on Foreign Correspondent this evening: up to 1,500 men, women and children pouring out of Somalia, every day.
Babies born and many dying along the way, some travelling up to 24 day's.
In comparison, 80 million euros spent on Spains WYD.
Feed the poor a corporal work of mercy.
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