The news has never been objective, even in the 1970s, even when Mr. Kunstler himself was a reporter. The mainstream media, at least in my lifetime (starting in the mid-1960s) represented a generally establishment view. The mainstream media still does this, just more so.
"The news existed to register WHAT happened day-to-day." The media, t…
The news has never been objective, even in the 1970s, even when Mr. Kunstler himself was a reporter. The mainstream media, at least in my lifetime (starting in the mid-1960s) represented a generally establishment view. The mainstream media still does this, just more so.
"The news existed to register WHAT happened day-to-day." The media, then as well as now, decided WHAT was news and reported accordingly. That's why, for example, I was pro-Israeli when I was young. "Little" Israel was covered in positive light: "the only democracy in the Middle East" (which was generally correct, though voters can and did pick leaders in Lebanon and Turkey). Palestinians were portrayed as terrorists (hi-jackings, Munich were real events). Guns were, and are, portrayed as always bad. Almost never, then or now, do we EVER here in the news how the presence or use of a firearm deters or stops a crime, though it happens tens of thousands of times a year in the US. Then, as now, the MSM molded opinions. Several things have happened, completely unmentioned today, that have made even more powerful in molding opinions.
First, and most important, starting the 70s and 80s, and accelerating ever since, the American voter is simply more ignorant and less intelligent. While a higher percentage of Americans have college degrees, Robert Putnam, in Bowling Alone (2005) wrote that studies showed that the average 1948 US high school graduate was more proficient in math, science, history, and English than the average 1998 US COLLEGE graduate. So, the public had more discernment and was smarter.
Next, TV, and then the internet, reduced the attention span of the masses. So sound bites became more popular, to the point that a lot of Americans get their news from Facebook, and consider themselves informed. Which also reflected the dumbing down of Americans mentioned above.
The media itself became more concentrated. As late as the 1980s/90s, there were HUNDREDS of newspapers, even though many of their stories came from wire services. Now four or five companies own like 90% of the print papers. And who reads anyway?
As people stopped reading, and as cable, and later the internt, and smartphones, became more popular, the news media, to stay in business or make more money began catering to "customers", and tailoring the news accordingly, while still peddling the establishment message.
The one good thing is that internet has spawned alternative media. CFN is "mainstream" alternative media. A lot of alternative media is more factually correct (CFN certainly is--though as a reporter, Mr. Kunstler adeptly omits the facts that don't fit HIS world view. He totally omits, or worse, justifies Israeli abuses of the Palestinians on the one hand, but does trumpet the facts about the US role in Ukraine, the effects of mRNA on the other).
If one wants to have some idea of what is going on in the world beyond one's neighborhood or small town, one needs to go to VARIOUS alternative sites, and then try to discern the truth.
And that's why Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton want to set "standards" for the internet--to take that small crack of light away.
I've been meaning to ask you, and given Syria's new situation, what might be your take on Turkey now and in the not too far future, and vis-a-vis its general surrounds and States like Iran, as well as Israel in particular?
Also, do you have a blog or Substack or something like that? If so, where, if not, why not?
Strange Bedfellow, thank you for your kind words. I tried to come up with something, but it just gets too long for this space. So, for those interested, I wrote a SubStack.
Writing well and cogently is not easy, especially on a topic with so many angles and variables as the Middle East.
Short-term, post-Assad Syria is a win for Turkey, a win for Israel, a loss for Iran. It is also a loss for many Syrian people, especially the Christians. It will rhyme with the chaos in Iraq following the demise of Saddam Hussein.
Long-term, the demise of Assad and his replacement by Islamic militants has moved the world closer to a global conflagration by increasing the likelihood that US/Israel will bomb Iran and attack Iran’s nuclear program, setting off a chain reaction of nasty events. Assad's demise has also increased the likelihood of an overconfident Turkey starting a war with Greece, which could result in a war that will reshape the map of Turkey.
"Strange Bedfellow, thank you for your kind words." ~ SocratesDetroit (SD)
You never have to thank me for my kind words, unless you insist, or it is specifically requested.
I like to think of this avenue as bit of a livingroom chat, rather than an awards ceremony, where I then walk up with my entourage and you hand me my Oscar, amid audience applause, shaking hands, hugs and kisses.
"Short-term, post-Assad Syria is a win for Turkey, a win for Israel, a loss for Iran. It is also a loss for many Syrian people, especially the Christians. It will rhyme with the chaos in Iraq following the demise of Saddam Hussein." ~ SD
We already know that, more or less. I want your take, ideally one that might have a few curve balls that go outside the plate and hit the catcher, or Pepe Escobar, in the shoulder, assuming you're not Pepe...
Anyway, I'll read your Substack later and won't mind if you get in there after and do some more editions. Just let us know.
"Writing well and cogently is not easy, especially on a topic with so many angles and variables as the Middle East." ~ SD
That's what the edit button (and your Substack, etc.) is for. (I use the former liberally.) Maybe even a drink.
Presumably, you'll include Russia and its relationship with Iran, as well as China's, India's, BRICS+, the Petrodollar, the EU, Yemen and the rest of the ME's and NA's interests in the area too.
If any extraterrestrials happen upon there at the last minute, we can cross that bridge when it comes to us.
Only AI will be able to save us then, if not sooner.
The news has never been objective, even in the 1970s, even when Mr. Kunstler himself was a reporter. The mainstream media, at least in my lifetime (starting in the mid-1960s) represented a generally establishment view. The mainstream media still does this, just more so.
"The news existed to register WHAT happened day-to-day." The media, then as well as now, decided WHAT was news and reported accordingly. That's why, for example, I was pro-Israeli when I was young. "Little" Israel was covered in positive light: "the only democracy in the Middle East" (which was generally correct, though voters can and did pick leaders in Lebanon and Turkey). Palestinians were portrayed as terrorists (hi-jackings, Munich were real events). Guns were, and are, portrayed as always bad. Almost never, then or now, do we EVER here in the news how the presence or use of a firearm deters or stops a crime, though it happens tens of thousands of times a year in the US. Then, as now, the MSM molded opinions. Several things have happened, completely unmentioned today, that have made even more powerful in molding opinions.
First, and most important, starting the 70s and 80s, and accelerating ever since, the American voter is simply more ignorant and less intelligent. While a higher percentage of Americans have college degrees, Robert Putnam, in Bowling Alone (2005) wrote that studies showed that the average 1948 US high school graduate was more proficient in math, science, history, and English than the average 1998 US COLLEGE graduate. So, the public had more discernment and was smarter.
Next, TV, and then the internet, reduced the attention span of the masses. So sound bites became more popular, to the point that a lot of Americans get their news from Facebook, and consider themselves informed. Which also reflected the dumbing down of Americans mentioned above.
The media itself became more concentrated. As late as the 1980s/90s, there were HUNDREDS of newspapers, even though many of their stories came from wire services. Now four or five companies own like 90% of the print papers. And who reads anyway?
As people stopped reading, and as cable, and later the internt, and smartphones, became more popular, the news media, to stay in business or make more money began catering to "customers", and tailoring the news accordingly, while still peddling the establishment message.
The one good thing is that internet has spawned alternative media. CFN is "mainstream" alternative media. A lot of alternative media is more factually correct (CFN certainly is--though as a reporter, Mr. Kunstler adeptly omits the facts that don't fit HIS world view. He totally omits, or worse, justifies Israeli abuses of the Palestinians on the one hand, but does trumpet the facts about the US role in Ukraine, the effects of mRNA on the other).
If one wants to have some idea of what is going on in the world beyond one's neighborhood or small town, one needs to go to VARIOUS alternative sites, and then try to discern the truth.
And that's why Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton want to set "standards" for the internet--to take that small crack of light away.
Hi SocratesDetroit.
I've been meaning to ask you, and given Syria's new situation, what might be your take on Turkey now and in the not too far future, and vis-a-vis its general surrounds and States like Iran, as well as Israel in particular?
Also, do you have a blog or Substack or something like that? If so, where, if not, why not?
Strange Bedfellow, thank you for your kind words. I tried to come up with something, but it just gets too long for this space. So, for those interested, I wrote a SubStack.
Writing well and cogently is not easy, especially on a topic with so many angles and variables as the Middle East.
Short-term, post-Assad Syria is a win for Turkey, a win for Israel, a loss for Iran. It is also a loss for many Syrian people, especially the Christians. It will rhyme with the chaos in Iraq following the demise of Saddam Hussein.
Long-term, the demise of Assad and his replacement by Islamic militants has moved the world closer to a global conflagration by increasing the likelihood that US/Israel will bomb Iran and attack Iran’s nuclear program, setting off a chain reaction of nasty events. Assad's demise has also increased the likelihood of an overconfident Turkey starting a war with Greece, which could result in a war that will reshape the map of Turkey.
Go to my substack for details. Happy New Year!
~ Clusterfuck 2025, by SocratesDetroit ~
"Strange Bedfellow, thank you for your kind words." ~ SocratesDetroit (SD)
You never have to thank me for my kind words, unless you insist, or it is specifically requested.
I like to think of this avenue as bit of a livingroom chat, rather than an awards ceremony, where I then walk up with my entourage and you hand me my Oscar, amid audience applause, shaking hands, hugs and kisses.
"Short-term, post-Assad Syria is a win for Turkey, a win for Israel, a loss for Iran. It is also a loss for many Syrian people, especially the Christians. It will rhyme with the chaos in Iraq following the demise of Saddam Hussein." ~ SD
We already know that, more or less. I want your take, ideally one that might have a few curve balls that go outside the plate and hit the catcher, or Pepe Escobar, in the shoulder, assuming you're not Pepe...
Anyway, I'll read your Substack later and won't mind if you get in there after and do some more editions. Just let us know.
"Writing well and cogently is not easy, especially on a topic with so many angles and variables as the Middle East." ~ SD
That's what the edit button (and your Substack, etc.) is for. (I use the former liberally.) Maybe even a drink.
Presumably, you'll include Russia and its relationship with Iran, as well as China's, India's, BRICS+, the Petrodollar, the EU, Yemen and the rest of the ME's and NA's interests in the area too.
If any extraterrestrials happen upon there at the last minute, we can cross that bridge when it comes to us.
Only AI will be able to save us then, if not sooner.
youtu.be/fgtQMwepAaw?feature=shared
Which Hillary Clinton would that be?