Almost from their inception, major media outlets have influenced public opinion, which is likely no secret to anyone. This was, of course, long ago also realized by corporate America. A new wrinkle appeared with the advent of social mass media accessed through the internet and it has contributed greatly to recent political wars over what constitutes responsible and truthful information, and what should or should not be allowed over the air waves and the net.
Social media access brought in millions of relatively new faces, and even many computer illiterate folks into the mix. Mass political ignorance and various forms of bias, racism, homophobia, and misogyny are commonly found throughout the country and brought such voices into the mix by the millions. These folks were always there, but now that had a voice, of sorts. As much as any other factors, this has led to the super polarized state of affairs we face today. Ironic because I remember our slogan of the 60s, “Power to the People.” Be careful what you wish for I suppose, in a country as politically backward as we are.
Political truthfulness was also historically avoided by most politicians and the press, which typically appealed to base fears, prejudices and the lowest common denominator of human emotions, planting distortions and lies in the national consciousness. To the extent facts are provided, by leaving critically important ones out, major media today can deceive without making blatantly false statements. When such deviousness is not enough, outrageous outright lies are told. The latter has become a mainstay of the Republican Party, which has now morphed into an openly fascist one. Truth has been tossed out the window, and no lie is too big or brazen to be told. This of course, can and is generating grave and deadly consequences.
When lies are told, they require more and bigger lies be told in their defense. The Republican Party collapsed in large part into fascism because it became generally know that they were corporate puppets opposed to any and all progress and could no longer win fair elections, leaving only the negative side of any issue to promote. Good became bad. Right became wrong. All forms of prejudice, jerrymandering, voter suppression and false consciousness were embraced like never before, it was the only option left for the Republicans. They are running on such fuel, hoping it will not explode in their face.
The First Amendment: R.I.P.?
Which brings us to the First Amendment, which has been rendered almost meaningless not just by the shameless lies of the Republican Trumpers, but also by the corporate media, which is caught between the two parties, but tends not surprisingly to favor the corporate side of issues. Perhaps even worse, privately and corporately owned entities now run most of the humongous social media outlets (case in point Facebook), and are now in a position to “arbitrate” the validity of alleged information that gets spread.
It should be remembered that for better or worse, government and the courts formerly arbitrated First Amendment issues. Privately owned social media is not subject to such control, and is now de facto in a position to decide such matters. Same is true both for corporate news (which deceives more by omissions that outright lies) and the recent news media internet sites which tell 100% lies. It completes the circle of corporate control over information and our daily lives. It’s hard not to welcome the occasional removal of some of the more odious disinformation being spread on social media, but it should be remembered this was done only under pressure, more so than out of any desire to take the right side of an issue.
A Catch 22: Corporate “Arbitration” of First Amendment Issues
The Catch-22 of pressuring corporately run social media is that even when we win on an issue, it also serves to an extent to consolidate and reinforce their control and power to “arbitrate” and censor. Not that I’m suggesting we don’t pressure them on progressive and rational issues. But If you examine the role of corporate media in politics it’s easy to determine that while they feign neutrality, they also pursue a strictly corporate profit orientated strategy on most issues. For example, they could easily have elevated global warming as a national priority and an issue that must be addressed NOW.
Another example is the devastation caused this year by still burning fires, severe drought and storms, they have also clearly dropped the ball on this too. That’s because the corporate order has largely fueled these problems. And should be called what it is, a form of censorship. They also could have done a much better job exposing the anti-vaxxer attacks against COV19 prevention and science, but did not. Likely because they did not what to be perceived as supporting pro-vaccine efforts.
Are the Dark Ages Returning?
Finally, the current national situation concerning the battle between truth and lies has clearly become critical. In response to the tidal wave of historic and bald face lies being jammed into the national consciousness, a fair question becomes, “Can the First Amendment be saved”? And coupled with this, “Is there any way to restore sanity?” It reminds us of the period of the European Dark Ages, lasting hundreds of years. When powerful forces resorted to repression and torture to cover up the fact that they had been teaching falsehoods that amounted to lies. And often put knowledge and science on trial, burning thousands at the stake. In an effort to stay in power, the Republicans have launched a strategy of ignorance and anti-science not dissimilar to that which once happened in Europe. Only history knows the outcome.