Pundits in Perpetuity

The concept of 24 hour news has been totally corrupted by ambitious journalists and would be politicians who see the medium as a way to control and manipulate public opinion to suit their own purposes. What was the original justification for 24 hour news? Well, the world was getting complicated and people began to mistrust the government (thank you Nixon.) It was proposed as a way to keep people satisfied that nothing was happening that they didn't know about. Knowledge is power, right? But what it is now is a form of appeasement that more readily serves a system that makes money and keeps journalists employed. 24 hour news agencies scurry to develop different on air personalities that reflect the prevalent views of Americans to improve their demographics for the purpose of increasing advertising revenue. Ad revenue on cable. I remember when cable was commercial free, but apparently that was just a come on. Media is in cahoots with corporate and political America. How else can it get the inside scoop? Media beats a dead horse. It expounds and elongates issues that are inconsequential in the long run. Most important issues can be summarized in 15 minutes. It has been my experience that Jon Stewart conveys more useful information in a half hour than other "news" organizations do all day long. The rest of the chatter, for some, only serves to numb the public into a feeling of helplessness.

The media portrays itself as a watchdog for the public but it never solves anything. If it did, the system would eventually collapse but it hasn't and it won't. Media and Power sleep in the same doghouse and eat from the same bowl. Its why politicians have a hard time getting things done . Forget the promises that they made to the voters, it ultimately comes down to personal survival in a lucrative, but cutthroat environment. Its a back and forth that preserves the status quo while lulling the public into a mindless state of satisfaction and perceived power. We tell ourselves that nothing gets by us, but 24 hour news is just a soothing chant that subdues the revolutionary mind. Now, turn the TV on and go back to sleep. It's what we do.