“Before Washington journalism turned into blood sport, and
politics turned into an exercise in serial lying, there was a fairly firm
understanding by the press that personal failings were none of the public's
business unless misbehavior affected the performance of one’s abilities to perform public duties. No
more. Yet there is a national longing to return to the good old days when political news was more about issues
and policies and less about private lives."
Journalism
is no longer a presentation of occurrences; it is a competition for viewers and
popularity. The public is second to one’s own agenda, one’s pursuit of fame and
money. A story is altered in the interest of attraction and appearance, not for
the enrichment of the public. One of the many problems of this, however, is it
snowballs. One alteration leads to another and another; until soon you see the
rise of “alternative facts”. What even are “alternative facts”? How can you
have a fact and “fact” in coexistence, yet in complete contrast with each
other? Not only does this plague exist among news and journalism, but it exists
in politics as well. A similar appeasement strategy is used by conniving
politicians to attract voters: empty promises and extravagant claims. It does
not matter what you are saying as long as people are listening. Do what the
public wants to get into office, then do what you want once you are in. President
George H.W. Bush’s “read my lips: no new taxes” is a classic example of empty
campaign promises. Seeking the Republican nomination, Bush proclaimed in 1988 that
if he were to become president, there would be no new taxes levied on the American
public. However, once in office, Bush recoiled on his promise and passed new
taxes in 1990.
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