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mercredi 12 février 2014

American Political Commentary To Win Friends And Influence People

By Jerri Perry


American political commentary is endlessly fascinating. It can also be irritating, depressing, and exhausting, depending on how much emotion the audience invests in the experience. It is informative but can also be misleading. No matter what the venue, a responsible citizen should seek to establish the truth behind what is said or written. This, of course, is easier said than done.

America is currently a fragmented society. Racial tensions, conservative versus progressive values, and differing opinions on economic issues, foreign policy, and the role of government have made working together hard on many levels. Unfortunately, money is involved in every area of life, and this fact helps to make both public and private people biased and inflexible.

Talk show hosts can become very influential, with growing numbers of followers as well as critics. News anchors and newspaper columnists also attain prominence as their opinions are read and analyzed. Private people become confused by the complexity of the issues, a problem that's not helped by the complicated riders that are tacked on to every bill that comes before the House and Senate.

The mainstream media seizes on every mistake made by conservative politicians while virtually ignoring - at least in the headlines - what many see as serious problems in the current administration or Congress. Major bills are considered by Congress with little effort being made by anyone to publicize the contents of each bill, while Hollywood celebrities are showcased past the saturation point.

Conservatives often have a Christian worldview, which makes absolutely no sense to those who are more humanistic - they would say practical. Conservatives tend to favor less government interference in daily life, education, and the marketplace. Progressives think that government should take care of needy people regardless of the cost, feel that free enterprise leads to income inequality, and think that social programs are key to a stable society.

Without such playing field levelers as a balanced budget amendment, an objective media, and an involved and informed citizenry, policy is pretty much dictated by who spends the most money to influence policymakers and voters. Entrenched politicians tend to vote the party line without considering all the consequences of legislation, issues get too involved and complicated for even lawmakers to understand, and people get used to benefits they receive and don't want to make sacrifices.

Just think about the controversies that rage today in America. Should we support Israel or the Palestinians? Should we give amnesty to illegal aliens? Should we regulate public schools from the federal level or let the states run education? Should we bail out troubled banks and other companies - often regulated by government to an extreme degree - or let them make it on their own? Should we limit free speech and freedom of religion or let people's consciences guide their actions?

Well, there's a lot to say, and American political commentary is saying it. Whether you are afraid of climate change or think the sun is in charge, think marriage is between a man or a woman or think it's more open, think the states should run the schools or like the Common Core, you can find support for your position. God help us all.




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