Quote:
Originally Posted by Bebe
You know, thousands of Americans have died in Iraq since the war started. People die senselessly ALL THE TIME. Genocide is committed all over the world all the time. More children die of malnourishment or dysentery than this every day. Why are these 4000-ish people so special?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lambboy
I think there are many different answers to that question. But some of the main reasons are politicians and the media.
Since Sept. 12th politicians have been using it as a way to get what they want. From passing the patriot act to illegally spying on Americans. They like to use it as a scare tactic to rule the populace. When the people are scared you can get away with more. Since there was a war on Bush had a scandal damn near once a week. But he got away with it because everyone was scared.
And since Sept 12th the media has fanned the flames of fear. They are no longer just reporting the news. They make the news. They are no longer held accountable for false and misleading stories. As long as people are watching or reading they make money. Thats what it is about for them. For fucks sake more than 1/2 of Americans still think Iraq was responsible for 9/11.
It's still going on.
Right now the Republicans are running their campaign on a platform of fear. They are yelling at the top of their lungs "If you vote for Obama you will all DIE!!!!"
They have scared a lot of people into being afraid all the time and are offering to save them.
It's sad really.
Personally I am more afraid of any cop in America than I am of terrorism. The odds of one of them fucking up my life or ending it are unbelievably higher than a terrorist attack.
Every one jumped on Michelle Obama for saying that for the first time in her adult life she was proud of her country.
Right now I'm on the other end.
For the first time in my life I am ashamed of my country.
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Wow, great post.
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On the subject of the media:
Most all of the news in the US is also commercial. Special interest groups can pressure advertisers, and affect how news is reported.
Reporters go so far out of their way to not appear biased, they often report bullshit. If party
a has idea
a, and party
b has idea
b, both ideas will get equal time, even if one of the ideas is a blatant lie.
If network
x reports that every scientist who disputes that global warming is caused by man is bought and paid for by the oil industry, they don't just lose oil-company ads. Those oil companies can call up their paid-for congressmen who will call up people like Limbaugh and O'reily, who tell their audience to boycott products advertised on
x. That political machine writing letters to other network sponsors about supporting
x's "biased" reporting will have a direct effect on how
x reports stories in the future.
The american media don't report researched facts, they just present two arguments as being equally valid, even if one is full of lies (often, even if both are full of lies).