Majority rule.

[regular.joe]

Originally Posted by smoothmoniker

Any conversation about politics that starts with the presumption of the stupidity of the masses will inevitably lead to some very scary conclusions. After all, if the wisdom of the few exceeds the wisdom of the many, then don't we few wise ones have an obligation to enact our wise plans, for the benefit of those foolish masses?

I didn't say that the masses are stupid. I said that only a minority of voters actually vote. I guess the majority does vote, by abdication.

That is what I meant to start the conversation with.

[spudcon]

Originally Posted by regular.joe

I didn't say that the masses are stupid. I said that only a minority of voters actually vote. I guess the majority does vote, by abdication.

That is what I meant to start the conversation with.

The masses aren't stupid, but they are inundated with stupidity from the mass media. It isn't just the Brittany Spears news that's distracting them, it's also the rest of the media, including network news, news magazines like Newsweek and Time, and most newspapers. Unfortunately, the media think that negative whiny news sells. Maybe it does, but it doesn't mean positive stories about America or Americans belong on page 23, while minor scandals belong on the front page, so to speak, above the fold.

[regular.joe]

Originally Posted by spudcon

The masses aren't stupid, but they are inundated with stupidity from the mass media. It isn't just the Brittany Spears news that's distracting them, it's also the rest of the media, including network news, news magazines like Newsweek and Time, and most newspapers. Unfortunately, the media think that negative whiny news sells. Maybe it does, but it doesn't mean positive stories about America or Americans belong on page 23, while minor scandals belong on the front page, so to speak, above the fold.

If what is in the mass media didn't make a profit, it would not sell. The masses control what is printed or put on the tv, and other places in the mass media market with their dollars. It's not the "media" fault It's our own.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by regular.joe

If what is in the mass media didn't make a profit, it would not sell. The masses control what is printed or put on the tv, and other places in the mass media market with their dollars. It's not the "media" fault It's our own.

I partly disagree. I believe there are three forces which dictate what will be on the news.

First, what you pointed out, the natural market.

Second, the media's agenda. There is a clear difference between the agenda's of CNN and FOXNEWS so we can't say that the media's agenda does not play a role in this. The American people do have a major role in it, but the media companies are to blame as well.

Third, the government has to some filitering system. I am not talking about conspiracy theories here but there has to be some single source where all the media gets there information from and to think that the government doesn't filter or alter some infromation is very tough to believe since they have their own agenda as well.