The Quadrennial Exploitation Of The Moronic Masses

I said to a friend of mine the other day - "why can't people discuss politics anymore?"

The problem is polarisation.

No one wants to listen anymore. Instead they want to to say their thing, ram it down your throat and put you on ignore because you don't agree with them.

Its throwaway, soundbyte disposable politics and - heres the kicker - its easy.

Its far far easier to play on someones fears and tweak their curiosity with an allegation than it is to sit down, discuss the allegation, debate it and possibly refute it.

ATS is not the place for the former, it most definitely should be the case for the latter.

What can we do about it? The best advice i can give is in my signature

very nicely put neformore.

I'd like to add that you can always check out this thread

for insights as to HOW you can be the change you want to see

reply to post by neformore

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neforemore....not trying to suck up, or anything....but your input on this thread has been outstanding! Someone should applaud you....that's what I'm trying to do.

I resisted the temptation to use the (!) as much as I could....

Oh...and I love the way you spell the 'Queen's English'....guessing many Americans wont't git that bit....but still...not sucking up!!

Cheers!!! (See! All of those silly exclamation points?)

Great stuff, really.....

potential edit....oops, I had a typo....but on second thought....STET!

[edit on 8/19/0808 by weedwhacker]

AGREED. I have listened to and read a good deal about this.

Polarisation is exacerbated by the state of current news outlets.

The news used to be "loss-leaders" and every network allowed that they wouldn't be a profit center, but rather a "public service".

Once CNN and the talking heads came into play and showed the news could turn a tidy profit...well then you start thinking about demographics and selling commercials and thus start "choosing" stories and slanting news to appeal to your demographic. Downward spiral away from objectivity.

Now that talk radio and news outlets understand that you can make money by TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR...well objective news gets sacrificed on the altar of the allmighty dollar.

And the Right listens to Fox News and Rush, they feel warm and fuzzy having their beliefs affirmed rather than challenged...Ditto with the left and news outlets slanted that way. Everybody's views get affirmed and polarized.

Toss in the internet where people are able to choose their news outlet to a very specific, biased degree and the downfall of Newspapers...the reasons for polarization become clear really fast. It doesn't help that opportunistic politicians see this and play upon the growing divide to their advantage.

We hear what we want to hear and never has it it been more easy to do so.

FYI - I prefer National Public Radio news since it is non-commercial, though I understand much of the Right feels they lean left...I disagree, but who knows? I am on the left and might be blind to it. BUT at least they aren't slaves to the dollar and constantly playing to a demographic.

[edit on 21-8-2008 by maybereal11]

[edit on 21-8-2008 by maybereal11]

[edit on 21-8-2008 by maybereal11]

This issue with elections is only a microcosm of the problem , and is due to all sort of factors that the government have endeavoured to shape and limit the US public's general awareness with, including education, media manipulation, social engineering.. over many decades. To tackle the problem you mention here would involve a radical and fundamental change to institutionized doctrines , something you may never really accomplish.. short of a collapse of the present system and starting anew. And even after that , it'll take generations to see any great deal of change.

[edit on 27-8-2008 by Gun Totin Gerbil]

I think the problem here is the corporate control of the media.Any canidate that
actually believes in the constitution is marginalized as a kook or nut.It makes no difference if they are a republican or democrat Paul,Kucinich(sp).The canidates who are given priority pay no attention to the constitution at all.Both McCain and Obama swore oaths to the constitution both vote against it.You will see no third party canidates in the debates.The two branchs of the corporate party,dems and repubs,have grown more and more visious in thier attacks upon each other for a reason.They take the issues off the table and put registered dems and repubs at war with each other.This in turn takes thier attention away from the fact neither one of those branchs supports the constitution,they both support corporate america.Jefferson told us this was comming and the moronic masses still pay no attention as the media fuels the fire.As long as the corporate media controls the morons we'll get corporate government for the corporations by the corporations for the corporations.

ATS has MSNBC adds that constantly run on the page. There are constantly anti-plain/McCain threads featured on the main page. The idea that ATS has balanced mods or ownership is completely laughable. I couldn't beleive when I read this thread from the owner of the site. The guy is obviously completely partisan, but is one of these guys who has convinced himself hes middle of the road objective. Its a joke.

reply to post by Marcus Calpurnius

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No, what a joke is that a person that's been here less than 2 weeks is complaining about this. I was here for 2004, it was a mess. This time around we took the proactive stance not to play this BS. I applaud the Amigos for taking this stance. You claim "bias". Really? Look around, there is a much more active Repub. advocacy here than anything else.

You're going to need another chestnut than "media bias" here mate. It may fly with the MSM but it doesn't apply here.

reply to post by Marcus Calpurnius

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MC....you seem to view this site through 'Red Colored' partisan glasses.

I'm sorry, when you have been 'brain-washed'....oops! That, in effect, is the WRONG thing to say! I now apologize...I could have 'deleted' it, but I left it, so others may come along and see it, as well as you.

MC....in my time on this site I have seen it to be one of the most fair, from a political bent. If you'd paid attention to the title of this thread you'd have realized that this Partisan bickering only happens about every four years....

I DO have to take exception to the use of the word 'Moronic'....except, it was not a 'stand-alone' word, it was used in a phrase.....and on further reflection, given the added word 'exploitation' I am prone to agree with the premise of the OP.

Speaking of 'exploitation'!! Has anyone been watching the news lately???

Well, in keeping with the spirit of this thead, I will NOT invoke my personal political opinions about the Upcoming Presidential Race.

I just hope that everyone pays close attention, and not just to FOX 'News' while they make up their minds....

If you don't know it by now, a majority were conned into voting for a non-descript candidate with extremely little or no background which has been deftly hidden. Its a shame when a candidate president-elect still hides the most important information that binds a a candidate to a preferred choice among the electorate. I say we and the people who voted for this candidate were bamboozled in to voting for a false messiah. A false messianic figure that portrays himself through external definers as a savoir for the masses. In the end said Prez-elect will not live up to expectations as have been done with past presidents. I call it mass hypnosis which will result in the mass indifference to the government.

On second thought I shall reserve my judgment my words have been up for a few moments now so i am sure some have already read them... But for now I shall edit my post to keep my mouth shut and to watch and wait and see just what you guys have in mind...

All the same good luck...and may none of us be moronic in our quest to deny ignorance.



[edit on 12-10-2009 by titorite]

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