STEPS TO REPUBLICAN VICTORIES IN THE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS
1: Lose the intellectual battle of approval in the marketplace of ideas (news outlets, internet communities, etc), reflected by such measures as opinion polls on individual policies.
2: Condemn marketplace of ideas as “liberal” or “un-American.” Or, worse, “Democrat.”
3: Suggest a “fair” and “balanced” news outlet be established to “better represent” the “diversity” of American politics. See also: Fairness Doctrine.
4: Keep step four a secret as you pack your news outlet with straw-men and not-actually-journalists, a practice Sean Hannity would approve of greatly as a self-declared not-actual-journalist.
5: Rely on continued condemnation of every other news outlet and everyone not sharing your idea.
6: This one must be kept secret too: Where possible, only allow your news outlet to hire attractive young women as newscasters to lure in the lecherous, old, mostly-White men you almost exclusively cast for male anchors.
7: Also secret. Include extremist, token members of minority groups to create claim of inclusiveness, for example an Asian heart-surgeon who you recommend to lead a department other than one he or she is qualified for.
8: Allow your network to openly collaborate with political candidates. Demonstrate favor to the most partisan; reinforce viewer beliefs that the loudest, bossiest candidates are the best ones to run against political enemies. This step cannot possibly backfire.
9: Declare victory! Your news outlet is number one (or two) rated, nearly half of all Americans adhere to your ideology when in fact it is only one of many competing networks in the marketplace of ideas.
*ADAPTATION FOR DEMOCRAT VICTORY: Adapt this list by leaking debate questions and – wait, no, we're past that primary, now. How about we learn from independent media and simply demand accountability on all sides of the isle, huh? Start there and work your way through the list. It’s working, so move past the dumb doldrums of the past and demand accountability moving forward.
**SEE AS EVIDENCE: Presidential Election of 2016, MSNBC Ratings Increases in 2017.
Jesse Pohlman is an author and educator from Long Island, New York. He also enjoys writing Sci-Fi novels.