Posted on 12/15/2019 8:30:48 AM PST by The Houston Courant
Another American Civil War or Manipulations by the Media?
The Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service recently released a poll that asked voters to rate the level of American divisions from 0-100, with 100 being “on the edge of a civil war”. The mean response was 67.23.
No reasonable person believes two thirds of the population is poised on the edge of their seat, wringing their hands with worry over a pending civil war. A physical battle between Republicans and Democrats in the United States sounds like a ridiculous notion and perhaps a bestselling fiction novel. Imagine for a moment, millions of tree-hugging liberals who wholeheartedly believe that guns are evil engaged in a civil war with second amendment supporting Republicans. The hypothetical battle would be short lived and decisive.
Seven generations maintained quiet reverence for the sacrifices suffered to unite citizens during the American civil war of the 1800s. Today the term civil war is being used by media outlets to arouse the audience. Ominous headlines to shocking stories of division and contention certainly draw attention. The comparison of the environments and the implication of a brewing fight is offensive and ignorant. Our great nation faces enormous obstacles, but the disputes are far removed from the point of physical conflict, and everything is still within the realm of civil discourse. Unfriendly disagreements among neighbors and antagonistic mobs of like-minded political activist fall short of the passions and human rights issues that lead to a war.
The true enemy is disinformation, verbal chaos, modern society’s growing appetite for the shock factor and emotionally jolting headlines reinforced with bombshells of fire and fury. All Americans face a daily barrage of propaganda delivered by media outlets competing to get a click, view, like or a retweet, to increase their bottom-line. The media has weaponized disinformation like a mind-altering biological agent, infusing its victims with toxicity. The nation relies on headlines for reality-based accounts of events, but it is a challenge to watch a news report or read an article that doesn’t contain phrases that forgive the truth and welcome bias. Reporters, news anchors and commentators constantly interject the what-ifs in news stories, blurring the lines of fact and fiction and lead their followers into preconceived notions. The more far-fetched the headline the greater the odds the intended audience will take the bait.
Society must admit that journalism is dead, that journalistic integrity is now an oxymoron, and that clashing ideologies are continually being fueled by media maniacs. The elections of 2016 brought this truth forward. Journalism continues to hit new lows. Each stirring headline must be reviewed and researched, leaving the work of the journalists in the hands of the receiver. The trust once garnered by icons such as Walter Cronkite is long gone and now, we must operate under the guise of observational suspicion. We must question each headline and doubt the ostensibly heartfelt presentation of each anchor or author.
A revolt may be in order to reestablish the dignity and logical parameters of the first amendment. Freedom of speech is now the right to lie. A recent poll finds 50 percent of Americans have lost faith in the mainstream media. Democratic supporters particularly are fueled by headlines that tempt with lies. Most reports begin with the following statements: allegedly, if true, perhaps, it seems as though, seemingly, and the list goes on to cover any and all far-fetched theories as to why Trump shouldn’t be the president. The facts seem less important than ever before.
Perhaps the appetite evoked by constant propaganda can be satisfied. Some long for the truth and maybe the public is beginning to realize the media is fueling an unhealthy and biased narrative. Reporters who cried wolf repeatedly over stories such as Russian collusion and impending world war now face a backlash of a once trusting audience. Major news networks are suffering the results by way of lower ratings. According to the latest Neilson reports, all cable news outlets have seen declines in viewership from this time one year ago.
Society reached this pinnacle of irritation by way of baseless accusations and continuous bombardment of misinformation. Unfortunately, the common bond of humanity is being pulled and poked at by puppet masters delighting in our mental weakness. It is the duty of each person to seek out the facts and push back the temptation to rely on the regurgitated headlines of profit driven corporations.
Ideologies are at a fever pitch in America and next year a historic fight will be fought at the ballot boxes across the nation. Hopefully, Republicans and independents who once sat quietly by and counted on others to the decide the election will arm themselves with the weapons of choice, the truth and their vote.
Source: https://www.houstoncourant.com/houston-voices/2019/the-american-civil-war
Watch the video of Schiff from today and tell me we aren’t on the brink.
Search Predictive Programming American Civil War!
GyG
*****
Search Predictive Programming American Civil War!
GyG
*****
Walter Cronkite and his star pupil Dan Rather were a great deal responsible for the beginning of the decline in public trust towards journalists.
<< everything is still within the realm of civil discourse. >>
Has Schleicher been watching the impeachment hearings?
Watch the timidity of the right and tell me we are.
Watch the video. It is impressive. Take an extra couple minutes and watch two. The people screaming about Liddle especially but more than a few very large guys were obviously very pissed off.
Americans would have to lose a lot of creature comforts to go to full-blown civil war; we’re a far way from that. We are already at the point of a low-profile guerilla war; the attempted assassinations of Republican congressmen (in which Steve Scalise was shot) made that very clear.
It’s not a civil war.
It’s law abiding American citizens demanding that the criminal leaders of the Democrat Party be brought to justice.
“tell me we aren’t on the brink.”
We are. If the liberals don’t get what they want, and soon, then they will turn to violence as they always have throughout history.
You must not live in Virginia like I do. Some 90 counties and towns are telling Northam civilian disarmament will not be happening. We are weeks from Lexington and Concord here in The Old Dominion.
“Watch the timidity of the right and tell me we are.”
Our right-wing politicians are wimps, but the people have been arming up for this conflict for 20 years.
Well that all sounds good but people in this country are divided. We have taken sides and we are not interested in common ground. Barring a foreign invasion or the grid going down we are not going to unite. There will at some point have to be a winner and a loser. Civil war is likely. We are already in a cold civil war the shooting just hasn’t started yet.
“We are weeks from Lexington and Concord here in The Old Dominion.”
Good. Virginia will have the country’s support against the liberal tyrants.
IMO the author is dead wrong on his assessment. All one needs to do is google “bundy ranch standoff” and click on images to understand how close we are. It only takes a spark to set off a tinder box.
What video?
And if you ask ‘who’ controls the media, expecting an honest answer, you will be ‘banned’ and ‘disappeared’ from the social media platforms and most news web pages.
“To know who rules over you...”
I live in NJ; disarmament happened years ago (primarily with handguns) - yet one of our representatives just switched from Dem to Republican.
I don’t see confiscation working here - or even being implemented/tried.
Oh right....
Coup, selling baby parts, anti white bigotry, total debasement of our culture.... but let them step over the line... then!! THEN!! The right is on guard.
Impotent, fantasy-land, childish boasting.
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