Our media, whether mainstream or not, tend to engage in gross exaggerations while asserting either opposition or support regarding many controversial issues. In addition, almost EVERYTHING out there of interest has a conspiracy theory connected to it – such as the invasion of Ukraine – portrayed by some sources as Russia’s protection against biowarfare created in Ukraine.
It is important to consider that entities throughout the world have been creating various fabrications to keep us Americans in a state of confusion – possibly to ensure that the divide between people on the right and those on the left remains strong. Maybe that is the way our enemies intend ultimately to take us down. If so, they are off to a good start.
Some conspiracy theories ring true; others, not. I realize that as humans we tend to believe what we want to believe so I cannot even trust myself sometimes. We do not know all the facts because so many of them are distorted or hidden – difficult and even impossible sometimes to uncover in a logical, non-biased way.
One can make the case EITHER WAY regarding the outcome of the 2020 election for president. I have talked to people I respect on both sides – and can say that in spite of the shenanigans committed against Trump’s campaign, Biden may have won due to the high support he received from suburban women after Trump’s terrible showing in the first presidential debate. On the other hand, the countless, easy-to-prove lies about Trump that were spread by the media and the cover-up of what appeared on Hunter Biden’s laptop certainly helped Biden – but such misrepresentation is not considered illegal.
The media do not have to maintain reasonable standards. Their insinuations and lies are legal as long as they concern public figures. It is even difficult to make a case against what we know to be the recently proven “Russian Hoax” because of the permissiveness allowed in political commentary in general. Maybe it’s time that we raise journalistic standards – or I should say, create any standards at all for these “journalists,” tech companies, and so on. I myself have noticed the bias of Google – by comparing its search options to those of DuckDuckGo. Facebook has eliminated my messages several times when what I wrote was clearly stated as opinion based on evidence.
Most of us want to find out the truth. We need consequences for highly paid writers and reporters who do not bother to verify what they affirm as “facts” and all too often hide behind their so-called “reliable” anonymous sources. Perhaps our legislators can come up with a bipartisan bill that encourages journalistic ethics at least in Arizona.
Former member of the Maricopa County Community College District Board and author of three books on the subject of structured English immersion for children who enter our schools proficient in a language other than English.