Pueblo wrote:
In the ancient Greek city states, citizens were expected to be educated in the art of debate, with the idea in mind of presenting all sides of any issue, and then making informed, balanced decisions based on all the facts. Of course, human nature being what it is, some bright and selfish persons learned that they could line their own pockets handsomely, not by informing others as to all the facts of an issue, but by twisting the truth, leaving certain bits of information in and taking other bits out, and thereby persuading, influencing, and directing thoughts, feelings, and actions.
In the USA such deception has been elevated to the status of art and science. I am not sure there is an overall solution to lying, which, after all, is exactly what we are talking about. However, there certainly is a partial solution to knowing when we are being lied to---education. More important than education is breaking away from indifference and selfishness, to a state of mind and emotion where we can care enough to learn when we are being deceived, and then to transform that knowing into purposeful action.
Amerikans are mentally and emotionally conditioned by mass media to accept, platitudes, one-liners, and simplistic ideas in place of what are really required to understand the issues at hand for making intelligent decisions. Deep knowledge and experience are what are required. Power monopolizers pay big money to understand the psychies of the masses, and to know how to exploit for their own purposes, not yours, not mine---theirs.
I am well aware of the problem of mass media used by power monopolizers to truncate the truth, or to murder it, for their own interests.
Do I have a solution to the problem? I wish I did. I would be rich if I could figure out a solution to that problem. The people are willing dupes, and this is a fact proven over and over again, even when it has caused them great and irreperable harm by the multiples of millions, they still buy into the game. It is not only media that are the problem here. It is also human nature.
What humanity need is an objective moral code.
The people are willing dupes, and this is a fact proven over and over again, even when it has caused them great and irreperable harm by the multiples of millions, they still buy into the game. It is not only media that are the problem here. It is also human nature.
I agree. It is ever so obvious, that propaganda, lies and "half-truths," are the "death blood" of our so-called "free press." Ignorance ALWAYS, takes the path of least resistance. It's always spoon-fed, and easily digested by the "brain dead" who elect to believe it's 'venomous bite."
Even within my own family, they simply don't want to listen. I have four sisters who quite frankly, don't have the time to listen to my nonsense. However, in the midst of raising a family, they still find the time to digest the "excrement," generated by the "fox and friends," of our corporate media. Having any kind of a political discussion, is next to impossible!!
I always have said, that if the "powers that be," would simply pull ignorance off the face of the earth, problem solved!! Since it's "bi-product" of ignorance is arrogance, we could "instantly," become once again, a "beacon of light," to the world community.
...unfortunately, the "religious right," are very aware of this as well. They will always have an adequate supply of villans. And unfortunately, some of those villans, are the same people, that cannot defend for themselves!!
I cannot count the number of times, that I have prayed to their "corporate Jesus," pleading with him to, when he returns, to not initially step foot on "the mount of olives," but to step foot on every republican first!!
Then, we could throw a few grapes in with the olives, and have a party!!
Additionally, some of my family members are bigots in their hearts. They won't come right out and say so, but I know they don't like the fact that we've got a black president. 