The Role of The Media

[edgray]

Before I get cracking I want to point out this is neither a 9/11 conspiracy thread nor a healthcare thread, but more about the current hatred being leveled at Obama's administration and the power of the media in shaping public opinion. Here's the video that started it:

YouTube - 20/20 Hindsight: Censorship on the Frontline (4/9)

The implications of this video reminded me of Chomsky's theory about the media "manufacturing consent".

Given that Obama's healthcare bill would cost the US some $1trillion over ten years and the Pentagon announced the day before 9/11 they had $2.3trillion go missing (in one year), does anyone have any idea why people (the teabaggers etc) are so mad over the healthcare reform but for the most part this far larger amount of money that has so callously disappeared from the public coffers has been kept out of the common discourse?

This certainly bolsters Chomsky's theory regarding the mainstream media acting as propagandists for the govt and ruling elites as it simply doesn't make sense for this not to be receiving considerably more attention than the cheap by comparison healthcare reform.

Given also the information that's recently come to light regarding the part of the pentagon that was destroyed on 9/11 conveniently being the same part of the building responsible for auditing this missing money, should this also not be raising eyebrows in line with some kind of cover-up?

In a video I posted recently, where Chomsky explains that the hatred being leveled at the govt is indeed valid, but perhaps misguided, I think this is a shining example of that.

I'm not after an argument here, I'm after genuine thoughts on the subject of the content of the mainstream media and it's effect on shaping public opinion by keeping the focus away from the more serious issues.

-----

The House Ways and Means Committee agreed on legislation on Monday that would raise $544 billion over 10 years to pay for the plan's estimated $1 trillion cost in part by raising taxes on the wealthy. Critics say that measure would harm small businesses who fall into this tax category.

Source: Reuters

 

[Shaolin Sauce]

The government = money hungry S.o.B.'s

Everything is so tightly woven and if you pay attention to it you are called a conspiracy nutjob.

I believe in the 9/11 government cover up..there is just waaaay to much they didn't explain and waaay to much they tried to make everyone forget..I could go on all day but I won't...

 

[edgray]

The government = money hungry S.o.B.'s

Everything is so tightly woven and if you pay attention to it you are called a conspiracy nutjob.

I believe in the 9/11 government cover up..there is just waaaay to much they didn't explain and waaay to much they tried to make everyone forget..I could go on all day but I won't...

so do you think this is something that should be discussed much more in the mainstream media?

 

[Shaolin Sauce]

Of course.

but if it was mainstream more people would hear about it and question the truth and that is the last thing the government wants. To this day I watch the George W. Bush and Dick Cheney video in where they are asked about 9/11 they dodge nearly every question quite brilliantly actually.

 

[edgray]

Of course.

but if it was mainstream more people would hear about it and question the truth and that is the last thing the government wants. To this day I watch the George W. Bush and Dick Cheney video in where they are asked about 9/11 they dodge nearly every question quite brilliantly actually.

I think that's very true. Obama's administration are equally guilty in all of this by simply diverting attention away from it onto other things and not making a huge deal out of this.

In the video above, Rumsfeld does an outstanding job of answering but not answering the representatives questions. Yup I've seen Cheney in action too, quite brilliant!

 

[Shaolin Sauce]

I wish more people cared about this stuff... maybe then something could get done about it. Come on Sheeple wake up!

 

[Accountable]

[...] does anyone have any idea why people (the teabaggers etc) are so mad over the healthcare reform but for the most part this far larger amount of money that has so callously disappeared from the public coffers has been kept out of the common discourse?

[...]

I'm not after an argument here, I'm after genuine thoughts on the subject of the content of the mainstream media and it's effect on shaping public opinion by keeping the focus away from the more serious issues.

Well, it seems the media definitely has had an effect on your views and attitudes. What, in your view, are "the teabaggers"?

 

[edgray]

Well, it seems the media definitely has had an effect on your views and attitudes. What, in your view, are "the teabaggers"?

I suppose that does reinforce my point somewhat - the tea baggers is the rather disrespectful name that I've heard the liberal mainstream media using to refer to the folk that attended the tea parties... more generally, these people:

YouTube - 9.12 DC TEA PARTY - MARCH FOOTAGE WITH INTERVIEWS

 

[retro]

and there are plenty members of the "tea party movement" that are intelligent and well spoken. But the media, and especially the producers of that video, have sought out those that seem unintelligent or who don't understand much of anything about politics or government. But that's no different than the Obama supporters who were convinced that a black president would mean they wouldn't have any bills to pay anymore because he was going to take care of them. There are idiots on both sides, it's just that the idiots on the right tend to be put out into the spotlight by the media more than the idiots on the left.

 

[Peter Parka]

As much as the media are to blame for manipulating things for their own agenda, sadly these people exist. A lot of the problem is, I find, the more stupid someone is, the louder they spout their views, this applies to the right, left and pretty much anything in life.

 

[Accountable]

True. True. But hey, at least we keep OTZ interesting, eh?

 

[Accountable]

I suppose that does reinforce my point somewhat - the tea baggers is the rather disrespectful name that I've heard the liberal mainstream media using to refer to the folk that attended the tea parties... more generally, these people:

I'm surprised that you, being aware of "the power of the media in shaping public opinion," would blindly accept that derisive name and prejudicial description.

 

[edgray]

and there are plenty members of the "tea party movement" that are intelligent and well spoken. But the media, and especially the producers of that video, have sought out those that seem unintelligent or who don't understand much of anything about politics or government. But that's no different than the Obama supporters who were convinced that a black president would mean they wouldn't have any bills to pay anymore because he was going to take care of them. There are idiots on both sides, it's just that the idiots on the right tend to be put out into the spotlight by the media more than the idiots on the left.

Very true. And I would also add that there are many on the left who have grown equally disenfranchised with the govt. I would say that this shows that neither side is immune to manipulation by the media.

As much as the media are to blame for manipulating things for their own agenda, sadly these people exist. A lot of the problem is, I find, the more stupid someone is, the louder they spout their views, this applies to the right, left and pretty much anything in life.

Yup, can totally agree with that.

True. True. But hey, at least we keep OTZ interesting, eh?

lol agreed.

 

[edgray]

I'm surprised that you, being aware of "the power of the media in shaping public opinion," would blindly accept that derisive name and prejudicial description.

No I'm afraid I'm just as susceptible to the mainstream media as anyone else - it's only really recently I've been looking around for more independent media outlets. They've certainly had as large effect on my views towards current affairs as anyone, the Tea Party movement being a prime example.

 

[edgray]

Speaking of which, are there any independent news sources that you guys trust?

 

[Accountable]

Nope.

Trust .... but verify.
Ronald Reagan

The Drudge Report is pretty thorough, though.

 

[Meirionnydd]

Nope.

Trust .... but verify.
Ronald Reagan

The Drudge Report is pretty thorough, though.

Isn't the Drudge Report like a conservative version of the Huffington Post?

 

[Tangerine]

So in other words, you are saying that the ONLY reason anyone could possibly find fault with the Obama administration is because we've been brainwashed by some slanted perception that the media exposes us to? It's not possible that we could just simply disagree with his policies, political ties and complete lack of action on ANYTHING?

Bullshit.

 

[edgray]

Nope.

Trust .... but verify.
Ronald Reagan

The Drudge Report is pretty thorough, though.

I'll give that a read, thanks.

Isn't the Drudge Report like a conservative version of the Huffington Post?

I've read the huffington post a few times, and find it to be awfully "light", not much substance, good at the funny stuff, a bit like Olbermann, but not what you could really call news...

So in other words, you are saying that the ONLY reason anyone could possibly find fault with the Obama administration is because we've been brainwashed by some slanted perception that the media exposes us to? It's not possible that we could just simply disagree with his policies, political ties and complete lack of action on ANYTHING?

Bullshit.

No that's not what I was saying at all. What I was saying, and I regret using the Tea Party movement as an example now, was that the movement was perhaps an example of the media shaping public opinion by focusing on what they want for their own goals, and avoiding the topics that they really should be focusing on. There's plenty of reason to find fault with the Obama administration - the right are unhappy with his proposed increase in govt intervention and the left are unhappy because he's sold them out and watered down the original policies that got him voted in.

Sorry if it came across otherwise, but this isn't about left or right, but the influence of the media.

 

[Jazza1]

the media is becoming more and more tarty (for lack of a better word) in my opinion