Scott writes for Examiner.com. Read more at http://www.examiner.com/...
Thank you, mainstream media, for further corrupting the shred of rational discourse that remains in the American consciousness. Thank you for your sound-bite culture designed to create a controversy that will grab any passive viewer by the throat and force a gut-level, emotional response to a topic that could otherwise be explained calmly by a quick glimpse at the facts.
If ratings rule your world, where does that leave us? Misinformed, emotional wrecks, certain the world is falling on our heads at every turn.
America is not a country filled with stupid people, but it is a country overflowing with ignorance. It is a country searching for the quickest route to personal contentment. And if that means opposing change, even change that needs to happen, then so be it. Don't rock the boat, we may be getting the shaft at every turn, but that water looks downright frigid.
Only because of the irresponsible mainstream media are American citizens frightened of "Death Panels." Even as rational, clear-thinking people have explained countless times that what is presented in a proposed healthcare reform bill is clearly not an example of anything remotely resembling a "Death Panel," people are still terrified of them.
Even after your parents open the closet door to show you there is no boogeyman hiding there, you still lay in bed with your covers pulled tight to your chin, eyeing the closet, just in case It was merely hiding in the corner, out of sight from the safe, warming light.
The American public is scared of everything because we're never allowed to grow up.
"Death Panels," although easily explained away(1) simply as a reimbursement to doctors for conducting "consultations" between them and their patients every five years to discuss such things as living wills, final wishes, etc., right-wing extremists(2) misrepresent this as a "mandatory" effort to determine if a person is "worthy to continue living." In reality, a word that seems to be getting in the way of health care reform opponents, is that these consultations every five years will be completely voluntary and are to be used to help people plan for their end of life care.
The major problem with this particular assault on the truth comes from the media's continuing assertion that comments made by former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin(3), and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley(4), not to mention commentating meatheads Glen Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, are somehow credible. The mere allowance of airtime to these people automatically gives them a certain amount of credibility, even if the intent is to poke fun at their statements.
The media, in airing or printing these comments regarding "Death Panels," helps promote this ludicrous stance even while trying to condemn it.
Although, if you work for Fox News, you really aren't trying to condemn these misrepresentations, because that would imply support for something being advanced by the ludicrous far-left.
Why wouldn't these right-wing extremists just see a questionable passage in the health care reform bill and ask for clarification instead of taking a Grand Canyon-sized leap to "Death Panels?" Because their goal isn't clarification. It is blocking any attempt at health care reform, period. And what better way to do that than by presenting a horror show to the American people?
Now a gift for sitting through this diary. Enjoy
http://www.colbertnation.com/...
Links:
(1) http://abcnews.go.com/...
(2) http://michellemalkin.com/...
(3) http://www.facebook.com/...
(4) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...