Ignorance, American Media and Partisan Polarization

[The New Sea Territory]

Yes. This is why we need a publicly funded mainstream public broadcaster in the USA, similar to the BBC.

......I wouldn't go that far....you may be labeled a social atheist communazi.

[Death Metal]

Yes. This is why we need a publicly funded mainstream public broadcaster in the USA, similar to the BBC.

There is NPR, but they have a very limited market share.

[Atlanticatia]

Yes. This is why we need a publicly funded mainstream public broadcaster in the USA, similar to the BBC.

There is NPR, but they have a very limited market share.

That's mainly privately funded, i.e. non profit. I like NPR, but I think that we need something to compete against the mainstream cable news. Maybe we could expand NPR into a publicly funded BBC style apparatus.

[Viritica]

The left demonizes those who disagree with them. But they don't throw around words like "communist" and "socialist". Instead they use terms like "racist", "sexist", and "xenophobic".

Let me remind you there is no "Left". You, I assume to be a conservative in American terms, are far-right. The Democrats are, by and large, Centrist, somewhat leaning right in practice when they try to compromise with you.

America has no real leftist party.

No, I'm not conservative. I'm center-right, but nice try.

[Andarro]

Communism, Socialism, and Fascism are variations of collectivism.

Collectivism is a vague term referring to almost any kind of sociopolitical/economic organization that gives precedence to the group over the individual. In other words, the individual is at all times expected to subordinate his or her preferences for the greater good of the larger unit. The trouble with collectivism is that while the justification for decision-making is the greater good, inevitably there is usually one dominant person (perhaps several) who is actually making the decision that is presented to the "community" as the greater good.

Collectivism as a philosophy has been used to support numerous movements, many of which were popular in the 20th century, including socialism, communism and fascism.

Collectivism is in its application a fraud that inevitably allows a few powerful people to loot others while hiding behind the concept. Collectivism at best is a kind of exploitative mercantilism. At its worst it creates the conditions for genocide.

Ok, Alex Jones. Calm down. I'm a huge individualist, but I don;t blame everything on collectivism.

And all philosophies are inherently collectivist by your definition anyway, because if more than one person follows it, a group follows it.

The opposite of collectivism is individualism. It’s individualism that allows us to form our own voluntary collectives. But it’s not the simplistic individualism that begins and ends with “just leave me alone.” The doctrine of individualism rests on the protection of individual rights – to person, property, and liberty – but that’s only the basis of the free society, not it’s perfection. What individualism promotes, especially in practice, is free association, or in other words individualism respects the liberty of people to leave and enter and change social networks in pursuit of happiness as they see it, and encourages them to accommodate others in the same way.

It doesn’t ask us to agree on an endless laundry list of priorities – a Complete Ethical Code – in order to belong to the society. Instead, diverse people come together out of genuine mutual interests, not contrived ones.

[The Serbian Empire]

Yes. This is why we need a publicly funded mainstream public broadcaster in the USA, similar to the BBC.

But they'll still get their sources from Reuters and AP. There's no such thing as original journalism these days.

[The New Sea Territory]

Ok, Alex Jones. Calm down. I'm a huge individualist, but I don;t blame everything on collectivism.

And all philosophies are inherently collectivist by your definition anyway, because if more than one person follows it, a group follows it.

The opposite of collectivism is individualism. It’s individualism that allows us to form our own voluntary collectives. But it’s not the simplistic individualism that begins and ends with “just leave me alone.” The doctrine of individualism rests on the protection of individual rights – to person, property, and liberty – but that’s only the basis of the free society, not it’s perfection. What individualism promotes, especially in practice, is free association, or in other words individualism respects the liberty of people to leave and enter and change social networks in pursuit of happiness as they see it, and encourages them to accommodate others in the same way.

It doesn’t ask us to agree on an endless laundry list of priorities – a Complete Ethical Code – in order to belong to the society. Instead, diverse people come together out of genuine mutual interests, not contrived ones.

I agree with everything you say about individualism, but the entire world is not a dualistic black and white, good and bad, red and blue or collectivist vs individualist struggle.

There are shades of gray. And communism, in a libertarian/anarchist sense, should fit in with individualist thought, as all anarchism should.

How this relates to the topic, I don't know.

[Sebtopiaris]

Well, this is America. I am in no way suprised that this bastion of ignorance, corruption and overall stupidity has produced such crap from its news departments and media. I mean, come on, is the country that produced Alex Jones really going to be full of sane people?

[The New Sea Territory]

Let me remind you there is no "Left". You, I assume to be a conservative in American terms, are far-right. The Democrats are, by and large, Centrist, somewhat leaning right in practice when they try to compromise with you.

America has no real leftist party.

No, I'm not conservative. I'm center-right, but nice try.

Center-right in American terms means you are a conservative.

Center-right in the "anyone who actually gives a fuck about real politics not a red vs. blue knockoff political system", or world politics, would make you more in line with Democrats, or an independent.

So what are you?

[Viritica]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing_politics

[Viritica]

No, I'm not conservative. I'm center-right, but nice try.

Center-right in American terms means you are a conservative.

Center-right in the "anyone who actually gives a fuck about real politics not a red vs. blue knockoff political system", or world politics, would make you more in line with Democrats, or an independent.

So what are you?

Center-right.

[The New Sea Territory]

Well, this is America. I am in no way suprised that this bastion of ignorance, corruption and overall stupidity has produced such crap from its news departments and media. I mean, come on, is the country that produced Alex Jones really going to be full of sane people?

Very, Very true. But would you say the media affects politics more than it should? Like how the real reason America is SO divided is due to mainstream news on TV?

[Sebtopiaris]

How is that related? I'm saying you are quoting someone that you have proven on other threads you are very, very opposed to.

Stalin was a leftist who had control of the media. Orwell had some good points.

Of course Orwell had some good points. Most people do- but seriously, out of all the people who hated Stalin, why are you quoting the awesome guy you disagree with?

[Libantica]

Does mainstream media foster ideological ignorance? Yes.
Can the Media be somewhat blamed for increasing partisan polarization? Yes.
Why does the Religious Right throw the word "Communist" around like McCarthy is running for president? Because the fear of 'communism' is still around from the Soviet Era, so it's a good straw-man to use on political enemies.

[The Serbian Empire]

Well, this is America. I am in no way suprised that this bastion of ignorance, corruption and overall stupidity has produced such crap from its news departments and media. I mean, come on, is the country that produced Alex Jones really going to be full of sane people?

And a government news agency would scream Pravda given the nationalistic nature of the citizenry.

[Sebtopiaris]

Well, this is America. I am in no way suprised that this bastion of ignorance, corruption and overall stupidity has produced such crap from its news departments and media. I mean, come on, is the country that produced Alex Jones really going to be full of sane people?

Very, Very true. But would you say the media affects politics more than it should? Like how the real reason America is SO divided is due to mainstream news on TV?

Exactly, my friend. People are so gullible nowadays, feeding off the teat of the media whether it's corrupted or not. Not trying to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but for fuck's sake, the media is not always correct and usually it's sensationalist bullshit with a self-serving agenda.

[The New Sea Territory]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing_politics

What does this have to do with anything? Please Elaborate beyond links.

Center-right in American terms means you are a conservative.

Center-right in the "anyone who actually gives a fuck about real politics not a red vs. blue knockoff political system", or world politics, would make you more in line with Democrats, or an independent.

So what are you?

Center-right.

I see you either don't understand or are just being difficult for the sake of wasting bandwidth. Regardless, you have lost legitimacy in my eyes because of one of the two previously stated reasons.

[Sebtopiaris]

Well, this is America. I am in no way suprised that this bastion of ignorance, corruption and overall stupidity has produced such crap from its news departments and media. I mean, come on, is the country that produced Alex Jones really going to be full of sane people?

And a government news agency would scream Pravda given the nationalistic nature of the citizenry.

It doesn't have to be state-controlled information tyranny. Just publicly funded and well-sourced.

[-Arabiyah-]

Hello. *clears throat*

I just got back from a somewhat heated conversation with an elder relative of mine. In a conversation she was not a part of, but butted into, she claimed that Homosexuality in America became an issue when Birth Control became legal (how the fuck are those related? ), Vladimir Putin is a Communist, and the Hobby Lobby case was about taxpayer funded abortions.....Also, she remarked that everything Bill O'Reilly says is true and everything MSNBC says is false, lies, communist (what?!?!) and atheist.

I've met hard core Communists (who are self proclaimed Communists) who adore putin. Also MSNBC is the wirst out of all the Zionist America news next fox they are tied they are all run by Shaytan O'reilly is a Nazi and MSNBC is a Communist news station. I hate MSNBC and fox may they both burn in hell.

[The Serbian Empire]

And a government news agency would scream Pravda given the nationalistic nature of the citizenry.

It doesn't have to be state-controlled information tyranny. Just publicly funded and well-sourced.

The problem is Americans aren't exactly known for journalism anymore. If it bleeds, it leads is the mindset.

[Libantica]

Very, Very true. But would you say the media affects politics more than it should? Like how the real reason America is SO divided is due to mainstream news on TV?

Exactly, my friend. People are so gullible nowadays, feeding off the teat of the media whether it's corrupted or not. Not trying to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but for fuck's sake, the media is not always correct and usually it's sensationalist bullshit with a self-serving agenda.

I don't know if it's gullibility or laziness; people are too lazy to find out information for themselves so they just listen to what the media tells them.

[The New Sea Territory]

Well, this is America. I am in no way suprised that this bastion of ignorance, corruption and overall stupidity has produced such crap from its news departments and media. I mean, come on, is the country that produced Alex Jones really going to be full of sane people?

And a government news agency would scream Pravda given the nationalistic nature of the citizenry.

Yeah, I gotta agree here.

Very, Very true. But would you say the media affects politics more than it should? Like how the real reason America is SO divided is due to mainstream news on TV?

Exactly, my friend. People are so gullible nowadays, feeding off the teat of the media whether it's corrupted or not. Not trying to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but for fuck's sake, the media is not always correct and usually it's sensationalist bullshit with a self-serving agenda.

That's not conspiratorial...that's reality. It IS sensationalist, and I accused the relative I talked with (which spawned this thread) of being sensationalist and using personal attack rather than logic. Of course, she glossed over that.

[Viritica]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing_politics

1. What does this have to do with anything? Please Elaborate beyond links.

Center-right.

2. I see you either don't understand or are just being difficult for the sake of wasting bandwidth. Regardless, you have lost legitimacy in my eyes because of one of the two previously stated reasons.

1. Just felt like leaving it there.
2. No, I'm just find your arrogant attitude of "I'm gonna tell you what political views you have and if you don't agree with me you're stupid" to be utterly fascinating.

[The New Sea Territory]

Hello. *clears throat*

I just got back from a somewhat heated conversation with an elder relative of mine. In a conversation she was not a part of, but butted into, she claimed that Homosexuality in America became an issue when Birth Control became legal (how the fuck are those related? ), Vladimir Putin is a Communist, and the Hobby Lobby case was about taxpayer funded abortions.....Also, she remarked that everything Bill O'Reilly says is true and everything MSNBC says is false, lies, communist (what?!?!) and atheist.

I've met hard core Communists (who are self proclaimed Communists) who adore putin. Also MSNBC is the wirst out of all the Zionist America news next fox they are tied they are all run by Shaytan O'reilly is a Nazi and MSNBC is a Communist news station. I hate MSNBC and fox may they both burn in hell.

As fucked up a world view you have, I hate Fox and MSNBC right alongside you.

Exactly, my friend. People are so gullible nowadays, feeding off the teat of the media whether it's corrupted or not. Not trying to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but for fuck's sake, the media is not always correct and usually it's sensationalist bullshit with a self-serving agenda.

I don't know if it's gullibility or laziness; people are too lazy to find out information for themselves so they just listen to what the media tells them.

Apathetic laziness leads to ignorance, which leads to gullibility. Which leads to our current predicament.

[Sebtopiaris]

Hello. *clears throat*

I just got back from a somewhat heated conversation with an elder relative of mine. In a conversation she was not a part of, but butted into, she claimed that Homosexuality in America became an issue when Birth Control became legal (how the fuck are those related? ), Vladimir Putin is a Communist, and the Hobby Lobby case was about taxpayer funded abortions.....Also, she remarked that everything Bill O'Reilly says is true and everything MSNBC says is false, lies, communist (what?!?!) and atheist.

I've met hard core Communists (who are self proclaimed Communists) who adore putin. Also MSNBC is the wirst out of all the Zionist America news next fox they are tied they are all run by Shaytan O'reilly is a Nazi and MSNBC is a Communist news station. I hate MSNBC and fox may they both burn in hell.

Putin is not a communist. Just because he was formerly in the Soviet Communist Party doesn't mean much- after all, were there any other parties?
Also, work on that grammar and please realise that conservatism and Americanised bullshit is NOT communism, zionism, nazism or whatever you want to call the things your alleged magical sky fairy disapproves of.