Reviews from

Is Democracy Dying?

If we can't believe the news we hear, we live in darkness.

29 total reviews 
Comment from Tom Horonzy
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Defined: In a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in person, while in a republic, they assemble and administer it by their representatives and agents. The country was was originated as a republic. Is it possible to change it? idk

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023


reply by the author on 14-Oct-2023
    Thank you Tom. I appreciate the review and comment. I'm sure you realize from the beginning we have always been both. A common definition of "republic" is, to quote the American Heritage Dictionary, "A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them"?we are that. A common definition of "democracy" is, "Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives"?we are that, too.
Comment from damommy
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I have to agree with those people. I don't trust the news anymore. I do believe they're told what to broadcast, hoping we'll believe everything they say. It's a sad fact that we've all become afraid of the government.

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023


reply by the author on 13-Oct-2023
    Thank you the review and comments. I agree that some station do tell their reporter what they can and can't say. The most accurate stations are PBS, AP, and NPR. They give the bare facts with having someone on to comment or put their slant on in. Some station score really low on accuracy but I know the you don't get much other than lies on the social media sites.
    Beth
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
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My husband is constantly asking, "Who is they?" "They" is a convenient word people who are uninformed and too lazy to do a bit of investigative work to find out who may be behind some of the things that we hear. I question just about everything I hear these days, which is a sad state of affairs. I do try to stick with the handful of news outlets that I feel DO have credible sources and fact checkers. Even the podcasts I listen to will list the people who did the fact-checking for their shows.

I wasn't aware of some of the figures you quoted; which makes this even more depressing.

I am with you 100% on this, Beth.

Stay tuned, I guess, to see if The Washington Post's slogan gets it right.

xo
Pam

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023


reply by the author on 14-Oct-2023
    Thank you, Pam. I really appreciate your review and commens. I've lost my trust in most things too. When I'm pretty sure what I'm hearing might not be true. I do go to several truth checking sites, Even then, you csn't be sure.
Comment from karenina
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I'm glad you feel better! I can't imagine anyone disagreeing with you...although some may say it's more prevalent and some may say less.

Our civil society has eroded. The internet and "AI" has magnified the ability to sew "false facts" and "alernative truths" -- and it's not one part or the other.

I, on occason watch FOX report on a critical event...
Then I turn to MSNBC...

(Are they even talking about the same thing? These aren't political slants...they are propoganda disguised as press reporting!)

I do not know the solution. I hope there is one before it's too late!

____________
Please take a look at the two things below:

" This is not >>case<< in other counties where the government tries to control the information their people have." (Check "case")

"Around 2017, destroying the credibility of the mainstream press >>aparently<< became a White House priority (Check aparently)

An informative and somehow satisfying rant! I'm glad to know I'm not alone in feeling manipulated...

Karenina


 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023


reply by the author on 14-Oct-2023
    Thank you so much Katrina. Fox and MSNBC and both rated low on the truth scales but in opposite directions. If you want the pure news story without the spin doctors you have to listen to PBS or NPR. Those two stations hire personalities who give their own opinion of the news. They are partly enterrainment stations. I have made the corrections. I have a 5 line poem called Waf and Peace which is still active for another 2 hours, It is stuck on 25 reviews. I need your help if you havent reviewed it.
reply by karenina on 14-Oct-2023
    On it!

    :)
Comment from Lea Tonin1
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You did a superior job on this one! It's so very true though and you made me think of Trump and his so called "fake news" statement.
Personally, I think there are incidences on both sides of the fence. Yes there are crappy news casters/shows going on out there. Yes, there are some high integrity news casters/shows that I do find credible.
I'd say if there's a doubt, we should all go out and do our own research.
Having rolled alongside your rant. I must say, you have done a great job writing this and you've done your homework.
This is clear, concise, factual, no embellishments or drama. If I had another six, it would be yours. I'm sending you a virtual six. Are you a reporter per chance? LOL. Have a great night!

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023


reply by the author on 14-Oct-2023
    Thank you Lea. You are right and if you think it might be fake, research it. A few stations like PBS and NPR gives the news without comments on it, but people want to here news personalities that lean the way they do and then we think the ones that lean in the other direction are the ones lying. They are both slanting toward what they think we want to hear. The news outlets just want to make money without getting sued.
Comment from royowen
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Yes, conspiracy theories have always been, but they seem to be gathering momentum these days. I tend to believe nothing, mainly because who can we trust with the absolute truth, there will always be a hint of bias whatever is true. I've solved that problem by killing bias, trouble is, everything is cast in doubt. It drives me closer to God, He's my source, He cannot lie. Numbers 23:9, bless you Beth, don't fret dear girl, blessings Roy
Typo : This is not (the) case...

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023


reply by the author on 14-Oct-2023
    Thank you Roy. I appreciate your excellent review. Yes, there is bias on both sides and we can't really trust either side. They tell us what they think we want to hear. That is the way news outlets make their money.
reply by royowen on 14-Oct-2023
    Only one we can trust
Comment from judiverse
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This is a great article, Beth. Certainly, social media isn't the way to get your news. I agree with you the lack of trust in the media must be at an all-time high. Some people don't trust Fox news, but when you see pictures of the migrants at the border, how can you not believe that? The media will also use partial quotes to make their case. I like Real Clear Politics because often when they include articles on their opinion section, they usually chose some from both sides. I can often from the source they cite which side the article takes. People need to be knowledgeable about the sources they read and consider that when they form an opinion about the trustworthiness of the writer. It is too bad that the public is losing trust in the media, but it's the media's fault. Some journalists think their job is to take a stand. You make some great points in your article, and best of luck. judi

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023


reply by the author on 14-Oct-2023
    Thank you for a great in depth review. It is the media's fault but the listener are partly to blame, because they seek our personalities that express what they thinking and the personalites are hired for their popularity with the people. Some lean left and some lean right and both sides accuse the other side of lying. PBS, AP, and NPR are pretty accurate without putting a spin on the news. I'll check out Real Clear Politics. Thanks for the tip.
Comment from Teri7
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This is a very good rant about a very real problem with the news media today and the ones in the White House. I don't think I could ever become a journalist in this time we are living in. Best wishes in the contest. love and blessings, Teri

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 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023


reply by the author on 13-Oct-2023
    Thank you Teri, I wouldn't want to be a journalist either. At least not one that had to go to foreign counties where you might be put in prison or killed for telling the truth.
    Beth
Comment from JSD
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Ranting so fast and hard, there are a few typos here, but it's understandable. A great subject for your post and so important an issue. Well done for researching and writing this so well. And good luck in the contest. John x

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 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023


reply by the author on 13-Oct-2023
    Thank you John, I appreciate your review. I have to read these things at least twice to catch the typos and errors. I read it again and corrected quite a bit. Hopefully I got them all.
    Beth