The Journal has been running polling results all week.
Among the first they ran, the results when people were asked
which are the most important issues.
According to the Journal, when 406 registered voters
were asked to name the top three problems,
they named; (plus or minus 5%)
Health Care ...........................53%I am disappointed that public corruption and incompetence
Economy/week job market ..47%
Education ..............................12%
Budget Deficit .........................9%
Afghanistan war .....................8%
Iraq war .................................6%
don't even make the list.
By my estimation, there is not a single legitimate agenda on
any of these other issues, that does not move forward on the
day that the politicians and public servants whose job it is to
solve these problems, are inescapably accountable to
unequivocal and meaningful standards of conduct and
competence, within their public service.
Why is such a fundamental issue, not an issue at all?
And even if people don't think that ending public corruption
and incompetence is important, shouldn't we do it anyway?
if only as a matter of principle.
Transparently accountable government as a matter of principle.
I wonder how it is that people decide which problems are more important. Certainly if one is experiencing economic problems, they would naturally list the Economy as a most important issue. But beyond that, what drives their decision making?
Does the media report public opinion, or do they create it?
Take for example the question, what are republicans?
The media would have you believe that Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, or even some fringe lunatics, speak for republicans. It is the media who decides to pay attention to the most outrageous opinions, and for obvious reasons; it sells papers.
They submit as proof that these are our leaders, the "fact" that
we have not stood up in opposition to them.
How are we to stand up except through the media? who won't
tell our stories because they don't sell newspapers.
On Clearly New Mexico, link, tdingman wonders if conservatives are listening to their "leaders". The loudest mouth screaming the most outrageous nonsense is not "the leader", except in the minds of those would like to support their prejudice concerning "republicans" and "conservatism".
The issues are the issue. This is about the message.
It is not about the messengers. Stop the name calling.
Red herring for dinner, from the narrow minded media.
1 comment:
Hey Ched,
My point in that brief piece was to call conservatives out for LETTING people like Limbaugh and Beck and the worst of the Tea Partiers APPEAR to be their leaders. I have written much elsewhere about my sincere desire to listen to those who oppose a greater government role, and to respect their arguments for what they are. But it makes it very hard to listen when people like that are allowed to grab the spotlight. Until serious thinkers like you stand up and tell them to show some restraint and decency, you have to expect and accept that your messages will continue to be eclipsed.
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